The last hostile act at sea took place in the Straits of Sunda, in the East Indies, where the United States brig-of-war Peacock captured the Nautilus, a British sloop-of-war.  The three American vessels at sea when the war closed each came home crowned with laurels.  The part taken by the American privateers during the war was considerable and a detailed history of them would fill a volume larger than this.  During the war there were I,750 British vessels captured, against a loss of I,683 American ships.  The spirit and energy of the American seamen, under all their embarrassments, gave an unmistakable indication of the future greatness of the power of the United States Navy.

On the first night after Sukey and Terrence joined Fernando, the three sat about the bivouac fire, while all save the sentries slept, talking over the past which, to Fernando, seemed like a troubled dream.

“Did either of you ever meet Captain Snipes?” asked Fernando.

“Bad luck to him, I did not,” said Terrence.  “It’s bad it would have fared with the spalpeen if I had.”

At mention of Captain Snipes, there came an expression over Sukey’s face which is indescribable.  His face grew pale, and his brow contracted, his teeth set, and his eyes seemed to have the glitter of steel, while he shrugged his shoulders, as if he again felt the cat-o’-nine-tails about them.

“Did he never come aboard the Macedonian again?” asked Fernando.

“No.”

“Did you hear of him?”

“Yes.”

“Where was he?”

“He was transferred to the Xenophon.”

“The Xenophon? was not Lieutenant Matson in command of that vessel?”

“For awhile.”

“Was he not promoted?”

“No; it seems his affair with you got to England.”

“Just in time to spoil a nate little promotion, too,” put in Terrence.  “I heard all about it from the captain of the merchantman I captured.  He told me when we were playing poker one night.”

Fernando looked sadly into the smouldering bivouac and heaved a sigh.  Almost five years had elapsed since he had seen Morgianna, and he had not heard a word from her since he left her in the great stone house on the hill that night,—­she laughing at his misery.

After a long silence Fernando asked: 

“Is he married?”

“Who?” asked Sukey.

“Faith, the captain’s absent minded,” put in Terrence.

“I mean Lieutenant Matson.”

“Not as I know of.”

“Did you see him after we left Mariana?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Only six days before we were captured by Decatur.  We touched at the Canary Islands, and the Xenophon was there.  He came aboard our vessel.”

“Did he recognize you?”

“No,” Sukey answered.  “Had he known me he wouldn’t a-talked with a common sailor.”

“Was he married then?”