harpy of the
rolling ocean, a vulture preying upon the merchant marine of the enemy
to his country, attacking only those weaker than himself, scudding off
at the advent of men-of-warsmen, and hovering where the guileless
merchantman passed by. The privateersman was a gentleman adventurer, a
protected pirate, a social highwayman of the waters. He throve, grew
lusty, and prospered,--a robber legitimized by the laws of his own
people.

So these hardy men went out upon the water, sailed forth beneath the
white spread of new-made canvas, and, midst the creaking of spars, the
slapping of ropes, the scream of the hawser, the groan of the
windlass, and the ruck and roar of wave-beaten wood, carved out their
destinies. They fought. They bled. They conquered and were defeated.
In the hot struggle and the desperate attack they played their parts
even as the old Vikings of Norway and the sea rovers of the
Mediterranean.

Hark to the stories of those wild sea robbers! Listen to the tales of
the adventurous pillagers of the rolling ocean! And--as your blood is
red and you, yourself, are fond of adventure--ponder upon these
histories with satisfaction, for these stalwart seamen

"Fought and sailed and took a prize
Even as it was their right,
Drank a glass and kissed a maid
Between the volleys of a fight.
_Don't_ begrudge their lives of danger,
_You_ are better off by far,
But, if war again comes,--stranger,
Hitch _your_ wagon to their star."

CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON.

The bugle calls to quarters,
The roar of guns is clear,
Now--ram your charges home, Lads!
And cheer, Boys! Cheer!

CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE vii

CARLO ZENO: HERO OF THE VENETIAN REPUBLIC 1

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE: ROVER AND SEA RANGER 23

SIR WALTER RALEIGH: PERSECUTOR OF THE SPANIARDS 53

JEAN BART: THE SCOURGE OF THE DUTCH 83

DU GUAY-TROUIN: THE GREAT FRENCH "BLUE" 113

EDWARD ENGLAND: TERROR OF THE SOUTH SEAS 137

WOODES ROGERS: THE BRISTOL MARINER 153

FORTUNATUS WRIGHT: THE MOST HATED PRIVATEERSMAN
OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA 173

GEORGE WALKER: WINNER OF THE