culties and into
prison.

A number of English merchants were trading with the people of Turkey
under the name of "The Company of English Merchants trading to the
Levant Sea," and, finding it impossible to ship all of their goods in
British vessels, they often sent them in the holds of French ships.
True it was that France was at war with England at this time, but, as
these were English cargoes, the British naturally thought that they
should be allowed to come through, unmolested, even though the French
vessels might be captured by English privateers. But they had not
reckoned with Fortunatus Wright.

Two French clipper ships were scudding quietly along off the Italian
coast, one bright day in June of 1747, when a rakish vessel appeared
upon the horizon and speedily bore down upon them. They crowded on
sail, but they could not outdistance their pursuer, who was soon near
enough to fire a gun across the bow of the foremost, and flaunt the
English colors in her face.

"Helas!" growled the French skipper. "Eet ees that devil, ze Captain
Wright. Eet is all up with me! Helas!"

So he came to and surrendered; but the other fellow pounded away at
the British privateer with a couple of swivel guns and put up a smart,
little skirmish before a well-directed shot from the deck of the
Englishman, knocked a topmast crashing over the port side. Crippled,
she surrendered.

It did not take Captain Wright long to sail into Leghorn harbor with
his prizes. The holds were filled with bales of rich goods, marked:
"The property of the Company of English Merchants trading to the
Levant Sea."

"I'll sell the bloomin' cargoes," cried Wright. "For the vessels were
under the French flag and we're at war with that nation. Besides this,
one of them put up a fight against me."

Thus--the cargoes were sold--Captain Fortunatus pocketed the money,
and went upon his way, rejoicing.

But he did not rejoice very long, for the British merchants were
furious with anger, and procured--through some means or other--an
order from the English Government to the effect that English cargoes
in French vessels were not to be touched--when captured by British
privateers. Word was sent to Captain Wright to refund the money which
he had secured by the sale of the cargoes captured in the French
ships, and the property of "The Company of English Merchants trading
to the Levant Sea."

To this Captain Wright answered, "Bah! I have the money. I intend to
keep it