nd crowded on all steam and fled. The "Alabama" was no
match for her in speed, so a more peremptory summons was sent in the
shape of a shell that cut the steamer's foremast in two. This hint was
sufficient. The huge paddles ceased revolving, and a boat's-crew from
the "Alabama" went aboard to take possession. The prize proved to be
the mail steamer "Ariel," with five hundred passengers, besides a
hundred and forty marines and a number of army and navy officers. Now
Capt. Semmes had an elephant on his hands, and what to do with that
immense number of people he could not imagine. Clearly the steamer
could not be burned like other captures. For two days Capt. Semmes
kept the prize near him, debating what was to be done, and then
released her; exacting from all the military and naval officers their
paroles that they would not take up arms against the Confederacy.

After this exploit the "Alabama" went into port for a few days, and
then headed into the Gulf of Mexico. Here she steamed about, capturing
and burning a few United States merchantmen, until on the 11th of
January she found herself off the port of Galveston, where a strong
blockading fleet was stationed. And here she fought her first battle.

About four o'clock of a clear afternoon, the lookout in the cross
trees of the United States sloop-of-war "Hatteras," stationed off the
port of Galveston, hailed the officer of the deck, and reported a
steamer standing up and down outside. The stranger was watched closely
through marine glasses, and finally decided to be a blockade-runner
trying to make the port; and the "Hatteras" immediately set out in
pursuit. This was just what Capt. Semmes desired. He knew that the
ships stationed off Galveston were not heavily armed, and he felt sure
that if he could entice one away from the rest of the fleet he would
be able to send her to the bottom. Accordingly he steamed away slowly,
letting the "Hatteras" gain on him, but at the same time drawing her
out of the reach of any aid from her consorts. When about twenty miles
away from the fleet, the "Alabama" slowed down and finally stopped
altogether, waiting for the "Hatteras" to come up. The latter vessel
came within two hundred yards, and hailed, "What ship's that?"--"Her
Majesty's ship 'Petrel,'" answered Semmes, pursuing the course of
deception that brings so much discredit on his otherwise dashing
career. The captain of the "Hatteras" answered that he would send a
boat aboard; bu