This state of things, however, could not last long.  For a few minutes the chase was permitted to try her speed against that of her pursuer; but the latter soon found that with the highest pressure of steam she had been able to raise during the short period that had elapsed since the enemy first hove in sight, she was by no means overhauling the chase as rapidly as could be desired.  So the friendly warning having been disregarded, the adoption of more peremptory measures was decided on, and a shotted gun was ordered to be fired over her.

Boom! went the Alabama’s bow-chaser, as she yawed for a moment to permit the gunner to take aim—­and boom! at almost the same instant went one of her broadside guns, the enthusiastic captain of which could not contain himself until the order to fire was given, but must needs bring down upon himself a reprimand from the authorities of the quarter-deck for his precipitation.  Fortunately, however, this irregular shot did no harm—­not improbably, perhaps, from the very fact of its having been launched so totally without consideration.  The first, however, did its errand most effectively, and the shower of white splinters that flew from the chase’s foremast as the shell, after grazing the funnel, struck full against it, afforded most satisfactory evidence of the accuracy of the line.  Happily, the shell contented itself with cutting the foremast very nearly in two, and did not explode until it had passed safely overboard, otherwise the havoc created by it on the crowded deck of the steamer must have been fearful.

The hint, however, was sufficient.  The paddles of the chase ceased to revolve, the huge walking-beam remained poised in midair, and the steamer rounding to, submitted herself to her captors.  A boat was now lowered and, sent on board of the prize, which proved to be, as anticipated, the mail steamer Ariel, from New York to Aspinwall, having on board one hundred and forty marines on their way to join the enemy’s Pacific squadron; several military and naval officers, among the latter of whom was Commander Sartori, on his way to take command of the St. Mary’s; and about five hundred other passengers, a large proportion of whom were women and children.

The Alabama had “bought an elephant,” and now the question arose—­what was to be done with her valuable but most unwieldy acquisition?  The first step, of course, was to send a prize crew on board.  The second to transfer to the Alabama sundry important matters, such as the ship’s papers, three large boxes of specie, a 24 pounder rifled gun, 125 new rifles, 16 swords, and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition.  The marines and officers were then put on parole, the former being disarmed, and all pledged not to fight again against the Confederate States until they should be regularly exchanged.