Sunday, February 14th.—­Visited in force again to-day by the princes, and other chief men.  In the afternoon the high-priest visited me.  He was a fine-looking man—­Arab by descent—­with a well-developed forehead, and easy, gentlemanly bearing.  He wore a sword, and was evidently looked upon with great respect by his attendants.  He expressed much sympathy with our cause, and said he would pray to Allah for our success.  The Yankee whalers, he said, invariably stole some of their slaves.  Said they could not do very well without the whalers, as they were the only traders to the island, and brought them many useful things.

Monday, February 15th.—­Received on board some bullocks and fruit; paid our bills, and were taken leave of affectionately by the simple people.  At meridian moved out of the anchorage under steam, amid the cheers, given in real English fashion, by the many boatmen that surrounded us.

CHAPTER XXXV.

"Man overboard!”—­Blowing hard—­Three Years—­Wearing out—­The Cape again—­Seizure of the Tuscaloosa—­Towards Europe—­War News—­What the Alabama effected—­Case of the Rockingham—­The last capture—­The Tycoon—­Nineteen overhauled—­In the Channel—­At Cherbourg.

From the middle to the 28th February there was but little excitement on board the Alabama.  On that day the usual routine of life on a man-of-war was broken by the cry of “Man overboard.”  The vessel was at once hove to, but before a boat could be lowered a gallant fellow, Michael Mars, leapt overboard, and swimming to the rescue of his shipmate, fortunately succeeded in saving the man’s life.

On the third of March they saw the first Cape Pigeon and Albatross, and on the 4th Captain Semmes writes as follows:—­

The gale still continues, though moderating very fast; sea not so turbulent, though the surf is thundering into it now and then, and keeping the decks flooded.  ’Tis three years to-day since I parted with my family in Washington, on the day in which Washington’s great republic was humiliated by the inauguration as President of a vulgar democratic politician, in whom even the great events in which, by a singular destiny, he has been called to take a part, have not been able to sink the mountebank.  These three years of anxiety, vigilance, exposure, and excitement, have made me an old man, and sapped my health, rendering repose necessary, if I would prolong my life.  My ship is wearing out, too, as well as her commander, and will need a general overhauling by the time I can get her into dock.  If my poor services be deemed of any importance in harassing and weakening the enemy, and thus contributing to the independence of my beloved South, I shall be amply rewarded.

* * * * *

The Alabama still kept on through gales, with creaking cordage and jerking tiller ropes, until on the 11th of March the Cape was sighted, off which they were knocked about until the 20th instant; lying in the track of vessels bounding before the gale at the rate of ten or twelve knots an hour, and only able to see them when within a mile of the ship.