“As this is the only certificate of the neutrality of the cargo among the papers, and as nobody swears to anything in this certificate, there is no testimony at all.  The ship being enemy’s property, and the cargo being presumed to be enemy’s property also, from being found on board the ship, it was incumbent on the neutral parties, if there are any such in the case, to have documented their property by sworn certificates; and this rule of law is so well known, that the absence of an oath would seem to be conclusive as to the fraudulent attempt to cover.  Ship and cargo condemned.”

* * * * *

This capture was followed by that of the Tycoon, on the 27th of the same month; and as no claim of neutrality of cargo was made, the ship was burned.  This, as it afterwards turned out, was the last of the Alabama’s prizes.  Nineteen other vessels were overhauled before she reached Cherbourg, but not one of them sailed under the Stars and Stripes.  When it is remembered that no less than sixty-five American ships had been taken by the gallant cruiser, it is not much to be wondered at that the Yankee flag was a rara avis on the high seas.

From the 25th of May to the 10th of June the Alabama was making her way north, and on the last-named date she was abreast of the Lizard, and was boarded by a Channel pilot.  “I felt,” writes Captain Semmes, “great relief to have him on board, as I was quite knocked up with cold and fever, and was too ill-qualified physically for exposure to the weather and watching through the night.  And thus, thanks to an all-wise Providence, we have brought the cruise of the Alabama to a successful termination.”

Little could Captain Semmes have imagined, when he penned these lines, that the cruising days of his vessel were so soon to end.  The vessel entered Cherbourg on the morning of the 11th.  Two days after news was received that the Kearsarge would shortly arrive there, intelligence which was confirmed next day by the appearance of that vessel.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

The Kearsarge—­Preparations—­The iron-clad—­State of the Alabama—­Out of the harbour—­The Deerhound—­The Captain’s address—­Armaments of the combatants—­Plan of action—­The engagement—­Rapid fire—­Badly wounded—­Sinking—­The end of the Alabama—­In the water—­Gallant conduct—­Surgeon Llewellyn—­The Deerhound to the rescue—­The enemy’s boats—­Not a wrack—­The informing spirit.

It was written that the Alabama was never to behold the ports of her country!

The latest entries in the diary of Captain Semmes are of an interest too great to permit us to exclude them, prior to the narration of the memorable duel which closes the history of a vessel whose renown, short as her career has been, may challenge that of any ship that has spread a sail upon the waters, and casts a lustre even upon the heroic history of the Confederate States.