happened to go on board the General Monk when she got into
Philadelphia, an' saw the killed an' wounded bein' brought ashore in
hammocks. The prize looked tough; her decks were covered with blood,
an' three of the bow ports were knocked into one. She was sold,
bought in by the government, an' Barney took command of her, sailin'
for France, with despatches to Benjamin Franklin. Then the war came to
an end, an' he settled in Kentucky somewhere. Here's a newspaper story
of what happened after that," and Darius gave me another slip of
paper, the matter on which I read aloud to Jerry, as follows:

"In 1789 Captain Barney, finding his health impaired by his services,
embarked for Carthagena in a small brig belonging to himself and
partner. Thence he went to Havana, and then home. In 1792 he sailed
again, and arrived at Cape Francois. While there the town was burnt,
and he was obliged to fight his way. He brought off fifty or sixty
miserable women and children. His vessel was captured by an English
privateer brig, two others in company. Three officers and eleven men
were put on board, and all the Americans taken out except Barney, the
carpenter, boatswain and cook. They were ordered to New Providence.
The keys of the treasure chest were demanded, but Barney would not
deliver them, which occasioned much abuse and ill treatment. He had
concealed a small blunderbuss, and his men some other arms, with which
they re-took the ship. The Englishmen were made to work the vessel
until they arrived at Baltimore. Barney was compelled, for his own
safety, to sleep on the quarter-deck in an arm-chair. He again sailed
for Cape Francois in 1793; on his return, he was again captured by an
English brig, and taken to Jamaica. When he arrived in Kingston he was
committed to prison, and bills were found against him for piracy. His
ship and cargo were condemned. Once more he escaped, and on his return
was offered command of a frigate; but declined. In 1795 he entered the
French service, remaining in that employ until 1800."

"Now you can see what kind of a man it is who'll be in command here on
the Chesapeake," Darius said triumphantly when I ceased reading. "The
Britishers won't find it all plain sailin' while he's around, and I'm
allowin' he'll make things hum."

It pleased me to know that we would have a live man to protect us, for
if all the rumors were to be credited, the time had come when we
needed protection mighty bad; but with all Dari