a more beautiful, sedative, poetic, love-in-a-cottage landscape, than the valleys and hills presented in which lies the town of St. Pierre.  All these charms were heightened by the presence of grim-visaged war.  Our run took every one by surprise—­several of the officers had breakfast and dinner, appointments for several days ahead.  My crew seem to be highly delighted at our success in “doing the Yankee;” but I am not sure that an old boatswain’s-mate, and a hard, weather-beaten quartermaster, who had shaved their heads for a close fight, were not disappointed that it did not come off.

CHAPTER VIII.

Again at sea—­Two captures—­The Montmorency—­The Arcade—­Eastward, ho!—­The Vigilant taken—­News from home—­Dirty weather—­The whale—­Ebenezer Dodge—­In irons—­A cyclone—­The gale rages —­Fire!—­Christmas day—­No luck—­The clank of the pumps—­Cadiz.

Once more afloat on the open sea; and at 4 P.M. of Monday November 25th, a promising commencement was made in the capture of the fine ship Montmorency, of 1183 tons, laden with Welsh coal for the English Mail Packet service.  And, fortunately so for her, or she would have shared the fate of the Golden Balance, the Daniel Trowbridge, and other “burnt offerings” of the little Sumter.  As it was, she paid a light toll in the shape of small supplies of paint, cordage, &c., and entering into a ransom bond for 20,000 dollars, to be paid to the Confederate States Government at the end of the war, her captain and crew were paroled, and she herself permitted to proceed on her voyage.

At 1.30 P.M., on the 26th November—­writes Captain Semmes—­showed first the United States and then our own colours to an English schooner, probably from the Bahamas to the Windward Islands, and at three captured the United States schooner Arcade from Portland, Maine, to Port au Prince, Guadaloupe, loaded with stores.  The master and half-owner of the schooner was Master of the barque Saxony at the time of the loss of the Central America, and was instrumental in saving lives on that occasion, for which a handsome telescope had been presented to him.  I had the pleasure of returning the glass to him, captured among the other effects of his vessel.

Took the master and crew on board (a rough sea running), and set fire to her.  At 4.40 stood on our course.  The blaze of the burning vessel still in sight at 8 P.M.  During the night the wind lulled and became variable.  Hauled down the fore and aft sails, and steered N.E.  The prize had no newspapers on board, but we learned from the master that the great naval expedition which the enemy had been some time preparing had struck at Beaufort, South Carolina, on Fort Royal Sound.  No result known.

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