the
_Kearsarge_. "Will she come out and fight? Oh, just for one crack at
this destroyer of our commerce!"

But she did not come out, and the _Kearsarge_ beat around the English
Channel in anxious suspense.

Several days later Captain Winslow went ashore and paid a visit to
the United States Commercial Agent.

"That beastly pirate will not fight," he thought. "All she wants to do
is to run away."

Imagine how his eyes shone when he was handed the following epistle!

"C.S.S. _Alabama_, CHERBOURG, June 14th, 1864.

"To A. BONFILS, Esqr., Cherbourg;

"SIR:--I hear that you were informed by the United
States Consul that the _Kearsarge_ was to come to this
port solely for the prisoners landed by me, and that she
was to depart in twenty-four hours. I desire you to say
to the U. S. Consul that my intention is to fight the
_Kearsarge_ as soon as I can make the necessary
arrangements. I hope these will not detain me more than
until to-morrow evening, or after the morrow morning at
furthest. I beg she will not depart before I am ready to
go out.

"I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

"Your obedient servant,

"R. SEMMES, Captain."

"Ha! Ha!" chuckled Winslow. "We're in for it, now. Hurray!" and he
hastened back to his ship to spread the glad tidings.

"My boys!" said he to his crew. "It is probable that the two ships
will engage on parallel lines, and, if defeated, the _Alabama_ will
seek for neutral waters. It is necessary, therefore, that we begin
this action several miles from the break-water. The _Alabama_ must
believe that she can win, or she would not fight us, for, if we sink
her, she cannot be replaced by the Confederate Government. As for
ourselves, let us never give up, and--if we sink--let us go down with
the flag flying!"

"Hear! Hear!" cried all. "We're with you, Captain. Never give up the
ship!"

"Clean decks, boys!" continued brave Winslow. "Get everything
ship-shape for the coming affair, for we're in for as tight a little
fight as e'er you entered upon."

Preparations were immediately made for battle, but no _Alabama_
appeared.

Thursday passed; Friday came; the _Kearsarge_ waited in the channel
with ports down; guns pivoted to starboard; the whole battery loaded;
and shell, grape, and canister ready to use in any method of attack or
defence,--but no _Alabama_ appeared. A French pilot-boat drifted