rom Jamaica, where her son died in the hospital, and had
married her; and that, moreover, unlike most French husbands, he was
most ardently attached to her.

I had breakfasted the next morning, and packed up my clothes
preparatory to going on board, and had just returned from a visit of
leave-taking with the governor, when who should walk up into my
apartment but the French captain of the privateer, accompanied by
three or four French officers of the army. I perceived by his looks
when he entered that he was a little excited, but I met him cordially.
He began a conversation about his action with Captain Weatherall, and
instead of speaking handsomely as he had done before, he used
expressions which I considered offensive, and I at once took him up by
observing that being under a flag of truce, it was impossible for me
to notice what he said.

"No," he replied; "but I wish we were once more on the high seas
together, for I have a little debt of gratitude to pay off."

"Well," I replied, "you may have; and I should not be sorry to give
you an opportunity, if it were possible."

"May I inquire whether you intend to go home as a cartel, and carry
your flag of truce to Liverpool?"

"No, Sir," I replied; "I shall haul down my flag of truce as soon as I
am out of gun-shot of your batteries. I understand what you mean, Sir.
It is very true that your vessel carries nearly double the number of
men and guns that mine does, but nevertheless I shall haul down my
flag of truce, as I say I will."

"Not if I follow you down the river, I presume?" he said with a sort
of sneer.

"Follow me, if you dare," I cried; "you will meet with your master,
depend upon it."

"Sacre!" replied he, in a passion, "I will blow you out of the water;
and if I take you I will hang you for a pirate."

"Not the last, certainly," I said coolly.

"Look you, Sir," he cried, shutting his fist upon the palm of his
other hand, "if I take you, I will hang you; and if you take me, you
may serve me in the same way. Is it a bargain, or are you a coward?"

"Gentlemen," I said to the officers present, "you must feel that your
countryman is not behaving well. He has insulted me grossly. I will,
however, consent to his terms on one condition, which is, that he will
permit one of you, after he has sailed, to make known the conditions
upon which we fight to his wife; and that one of you will pledge me
his honour that he will impart these conditions as soon as we