ve the skipper a hint; and, with a startled "b'gosh," he
got his sails up, and scudded out to sea. The "Alabama" lay in port
some days. The first set of the sailors who received permission to go
ashore proceeded to get drunk, and raised so great a disturbance, that
thereafter they were obliged to look on the tropical prospect from the
deck of the vessel. The next day a United States war-vessel was seen
standing into the harbor, and Capt. Semmes immediately began to make
preparations to fight her. But as she came nearer she proved to be
the "San Jacinto," a vessel mounting fourteen heavy guns, and
altogether too powerful for the "Alabama." So thinking discretion the
better part of valor, the Confederate ship remained safe in the
neutral harbor. The "San Jacinto" quietly remained outside, thinking
that at last the fox was caught. But that same night, with all lights
extinguished, and running under full steam, the "Alabama" slipped
right under the broadside of her enemy, getting clean away, so quietly
that the "San Jacinto" remained for four days guarding the empty trap,
while the "Alabama" was off again on another voyage of destruction,
and the tuneful souls in the forecastle were roaring out the chorus,--

"Oh, our jolly privateer
Has left old England's shore!
Lord, send us lots of prizes,
But no Yankee man-of-war."

Soon after leaving Martinique, the "Alabama" made a capture which
embarrassed the captain not a little by its size. It was Sunday (which
Capt. Semmes calls in his journal "the 'Alabama's' lucky day"), when a
bit of smoke was seen far off on the horizon, foretelling the approach
of a steamer. Now was the time for a big haul; and the "Alabama's"
canvas was furled, and her steam-gear put in running order. The two
vessels approached each other rapidly; and soon the stranger came near
enough for those on the "Alabama" to make out her huge walking-beam,
see-sawing up and down amidships. The bright colors of ladies' dresses
were visible; and some stacks of muskets, and groups of blue-uniformed
men, forward, told of the presence of troops. The "Alabama" came up
swiftly, her men at the guns, and the United States flag flying from
the peak,--a rather dishonorable ruse habitually practised by Capt.
Semmes. In a moment the stranger showed the stars and stripes, and
then the "Alabama" ran up the white ensign of the Confederacy, and
fired a blank cartridge. But the stranger had no thought of
surrendering, a