d now there remains but little more to be said, for the homeward
voyage was short.

At midnight the rain ceased falling; the clouds were partially
dispersed, and we had sufficient light to enable us to navigate the
little vessel without difficulty.

In four and twenty hours, without having come across an enemy, or
anything to cause alarm, we were in Benedict once more, Captain
Hanaford having sailed past his own home in order to land us, and well
was it for all hands that we did not arrive the day previous, because
not until then did the fleet under Admiral Cochrane, with the land
forces under General Ross, take their final departure, leaving the
little village looking as if a herd of cattle had been pastured there.

It only remains for me to say, since this story has nothing to do with
my movements after we were returned from service under Commodore
Barney, that in due time the government honored the commodore's
guarantee, thus enabling Jerry and me to purchase a pungy much larger
and better than the Avenger, and at the same time have quite a
substantial sum of money to give our parents.

And all this I have written in the cuddy of the new boat, which we
have named the "Joshua Barney," while Jim Freeman, Dody Wardwell,
Josiah Coburn, Darius and Jerry have discussed each portion as it was
set down, for we are shipmates in the oyster business, sharing the
profits as well as the work, until a stranger would find it difficult
to say which is the captain or which the cook.

Now that my portion of the work has come to an end, I shall copy here
that which will serve to wind up the yarn in proper shape.

Referring to the close of the battle of Bladensburg, a newspaper
writer says:

"The English sharp-shooters had straggled about, and were doing much
mischief; Barney's horse fell between two of the guns, pierced by two
balls; several of his officers were killed or wounded, the ammunition
wagon had gone off in the general confusion and retreat of the army;
the enemy began to flank out to the right, under cover of a thick
wood, and had nearly surrounded the commodore. His men were nearly
exhausted, having undergone a three-days' march without a regular
supply of provisions. He had received a wound in the thigh some time
before, and was faint from loss of blood, when he ordered a retreat,
which was effected in good order by the men and such officers as could
follow. He retired a few yards with the help of three of his offi