suffering on board the Rebel. The boiler had been hit, and she was helpless. Vance fired a second shot, but this time over her, as a summons for surrender. The Confederate flag at once disappeared. The next moment a small boat, containing half a dozen persons, put out from the Rebel as if they intended to gain the bank and escape among the low willows and dead reeds of the marshy deposits. But before this could be done, two cutters bearing United States flags, were seen to issue from a diminutive bayou in the neighbourhood, and intercept the boat, which was taken in tow by the larger cutter. The Artful Dodger then steamed up to the disabled Rebel and took possession.

At the mouth of the South-west Pass they met the Brooklyn. Vance went on board, found in the Commodore an old acquaintance, and after recounting the adventures of the last twelve hours, gave up the two steamers for Government use. It was then arranged that he and his companions should take passage on board the store-ship Catawba, which was to sail for New York within the hour; while all the persons captured on board the Rebel, together with the detective carried off by Vance, should be detained as prisoners and

sent North in an armed steamer, to leave the next day.

"There's one man," said Vance-" his name is Ratcliff who will try by all possible arts and pleadings to get away. Hold on to him, Commodore, as you would to a detected incendiary. "Tis all the requital I ask for my little present to Uncle Sam."

"He shall be safe in Fort Lafayette before the month is out," replied the Commodore. "I'll take your word for it, Vance, that he isn't to be trusted."

"One word more, Commodore. My crew on board the little tug are all good men and true. Old Skipper Payson, whom you see yonder, goes into this fight, not for wages, but for love. He has but one fault!"

"What's that? Drinks, I suppose!"

"No. He's a terrible Abolitionist."

"So much the better! We shall all be Abolitionists before this war is ended. "Tis the only way to end it."

"Good, my Commodore! Such sentiments from men in your position will do as much as rifled cannon for the cause."

"More, Mr. Vance, more! And now duty calls

me off. Your men, sir, shall be provided for.

Good bye."

Vance and the Commodore shook hands and parted. Vance was rowed back to the Artful Dodger. On his way, looking through his operaglass, he could see Ratcliff in the cutter, gnawing his rage, and looking the incarnation of chagrin.

The Catawba was making her toilet ready for a start. She lay at a short distance from the Artful. Vance, Winslow, Kenrick, and Onslow went on board, where the orders of the Commodore had secured for them excellent accommodations. Before noon a north-easterly breeze had sprung up, and they took their leave of the mouths of the Mississippi.

Ratcliff no sooner touched the deck of the Brooklyn, than, conquering with an effort his haughtiness, he took off his hat, and approaching the Commodore, asked for an interview.

The Commodore was an old weather-beaten sailor, not far from his threescore and ten years. He kept no "circumlocution office" on board his ship, and as he valued his time, he could not tolerate any tortuous delays in coming to the point. "Commodore," said Ratcliff, "'tis important I should have a few words with you immediately.”

“Well, sir, be quick about it.”

"Commodore, I have long known you by reputation as a man of honour. I have often heard Commodore Tatnall "

"The d-d old traitor! Well, sir?"

"I beg pardon. I supposed you and Tatnall were intimate.”

"So we were! Loved him once as my own brother. He and I and Percival have had many a jolly time together. But now, d-n him! The man who could trample on the old flag that had protected and honoured and enriched him all his life is no better than a beast. So d-n him! Don't let me hear his name again."

"I beg pardon, Commodore. As I was saying, we know you to be a gentleman "—

66

Stop! I'm an officer in the United States service.

That's the only capacity I shall allow you to address me in. Your salvy compliments make me sick. What do you want?”

"It's necessary I should return at once to New Orleans."

"Indeed!

there?"

How do you propose to get

"When you hear my story, you'll give me the

facilities."

"Don't flatter yourself. I shall do no such

thing."

"But, Commodore, I came out in pursuit of an unfaithful agent, who was running off with my property."

"Hark you, sir; when you speak in those terms of Simon Winslow, you lie, and deserve the cat."

Ratcliff grew purple in the struggle to suppress an outburst of wrath. But, after nearly a minute of silence, he said: "Commodore, my wife died only a few hours ago. Her unburied remains lie in my house. Surely you'll let me return to attend her funeral.

refuse me."

You'll not be so cruel as to

"Pah! Does your dead wife need your care any more than my live wife needs mine? "Tis your infernal treason keeps me here. Can you count the broken hearts and ruined constitutions you have already made the thousands you have sent to untimely graves-in this attempt to carry out your beastly nigger-breeding, slavery-spreading speculation? And now you presume to whine because I'll not let you slip back to hatch more treason, under the pretence that you want to go to a funeral! As if you hadn't made funerals enough already in the land! Curse your impu