“You will learn from London of the loss of the ship John S. Parks, and collection there of insurance on her cargo:  the freight is insured here, at the Great Western Company.  They have thirty days, after receipt of the captain’s protest, to pay the loss in.  Captain Cooper has arrived in Portland, and gone to his home at Hallowall; and the company require a copy of the protest made in London, certified by the Consul, which I have sent for.  In the meantime, I have requested the captain to come to this, and trust not to have to wait receipt of the document from London.”]

This letter would seem to show that Zimmerman, Faris, and Co. are favourite consignees with Davidson, and that he not only consigns his own lumber to them (for it must be remembered that he is a lumber dealer) but endeavours to befriend them by getting them other consignments.  It may be that Davidson in New York, John Fair and Co., in London, and Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., in Buenos Ayres, are all connected in this lumber business, and that the trade is attempted to be covered under the name of the London house; or it may be that Davidson is the sole owner, or a joint owner with Zimmerman, Faris, and Co.  In either case the property is condemnable, being shipped by the house of trade in the enemy’s country.  Ship and cargo condemned.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Discomforts of life at sea—­A stern chase—­Seized—­The Punjaub ransomed—­Rain-squalls—­A luxury—­The Morning Star—­Neutral cargo—­The Fairhaven—­The Ino on the look-out—­The Charles Hill—­The Nora—­Fire-water—­Commercial morality—­The Louisa Hatch—­Black Diamonds—­Coaling at sea under difficulties—­Fernando de Noronna.

Captain Cooper, of the John Parks, and his wife and two nephews, were fortunate in not being condemned to a long period of captivity.  The burning remains of his unlucky vessel were still within sight, when an English barque ranged up alongside of the Alabama, and an arrangement was soon effected with her captain to convey the whole party to England.

A long interval now, with nothing but the Englishman’s excitement—­the weather—­to break the weary monotony of an eventless voyage.  So far, however, as gales of wind could offer a distraction, the Alabama had little of which to complain, and the vessel rolled and tumbled about in the heavy seas in a manner which sorely tried the endurance of, at all events, her unfortunate captain.

The gale still continues, writes Captain Semmes, on the 11th March.  Wind E.N.E.  For four days now we have been rolling and tumbling about, with the wind roaring day and night through the rigging, and rest more or less disturbed by the motion of the ship.  Sea-life is becoming more and more distasteful to me.  The fact is, I am reaching an age when men long for quiet and repose.  During the war my services belong to my country, and ease must not be thought of; but I trust that the end is not afar