Sunday, the 15th February, dawned dark and gloomy, the wind blowing nearly a whole gale from the north, and the Alabama dashing along, with the wind well abeam, under reefed topsails.

This boisterous Sabbath, writes Captain Semmes, is the second anniversary of my resignation from the United States navy, and of course it has called up many reminiscences.  I have more and more reason, as time rolls on, to be gratified at my prompt determination to quit the service of a corrupt and fanatical majority, which even then had overridden the constitution, and shown itself in so aggressive and unscrupulous a form as to give us just cause of alarm.

But what shall we say of its course since?  If the historian perform his duty faithfully, posterity will be amazed at the wickedness and corruption of the Northern and Western peoples, and will wonder by what process such a depth of infamy was reached in so short a time.

The secret lies here.  The politicians had become political stock-jobbers, and the seekers of wealth had become usurers and swindlers; and into these two classes may be divided nearly the whole Yankee population.  Such is “Plymouth Rock” in our day, with its Beechers in the pulpit, and its Lincoln in the chair of Washington!  With its Sumners and its Lovejoys in Congress, and its Simmonses et id genus omne in the contract market!

CHAPTER XXV.

Not easily baffled—­Two prizes—­The Olive Jane—­The Golden Eagle—­The white ensign saluted—­In trepidation—­Obstinacy—­The Washington—­The William Edward—­Patience Rewarded—­Case of the John S. Parks.

More than a week passed without the occurrence of any event worthy of record.  Saturday, the 21st February, however, brought an exciting chase.  By 8 A.M. four vessels had been reported in sight.  The first seen proved too far ahead and to windward, to be worth chasing, and sail was then made in the direction of two others, which were observed to be exchanging signals with considerable diligence.  Their conversation ended, they parted company and sailed off in different directions, evidently with the object of distracting the attention of the Alabama which was now in full chase.

But the Alabama was not so easily to be baffled.  Devoting her attention first to the vessel which appeared by her slower rate of sailing to offer the promise of an easier capture, she got up steam as she went along, and the black smoke was already poured from her funnel and the propeller beginning to revolve as she came within hail of the chase.  A blank cartridge was fired as usual; but the stranger kept doggedly upon his way, evidently determined, if he could not escape himself, at all events to do his best to increase the chances of his consort.