ves which heaved their foaming spray
over the vessel from stem to stern.

Yet all on board were in good spirits; all had confidence in the
well-tried strength of their bark, and the joke and jest went round as
gayly and carelessly as if the wind were only blowing a good stiff
way.

"Here, you snow-ball," cried Jack Marlinspike, to the black cook, who
had just emptied his washings overboard, and was tumbling back to his
galley as well as the uneasy motion of the vessel would allow; "here,
snow-ball."

"Well, massa--what want?"

"Haint we all told you that you mustn't empty nothing over to windward
but hot water and ashes--all else must go to leeward?"

"Yes, Massa."

"Well, recollect it now; go and empty your ash-pot, so you'll learn
how."

"Yes, massa."

Cuffy soon appeared with his pot, which he capsized as directed, and
got his eyes full of the dust.

"O, Lord! O, Lord! I see um now; I guess you wont catch dis child that
way agin."

"Well, well, Cuffy! we must all learn by experience."

"Gorry, massa, guess I wont try de hot water!"

"Well, I wouldn't, Cuff. Now hurry up the pork--you've learnt
something this morning."

Such was the spirit of the Raker's crew, as they once more stretched
out upon the broad ocean. It was their third privateering trip, and
they felt confident of success, as they had been unusually fortunate
in their previous trips. The crew consisted of but twenty men, but all
were brave and powerful fellows, and all actuated by a true love of
country, as well as prompted by a desire for gain. A long thirty-two
lay amidships, carefully covered with canvas, which also concealed a
formidable pile of balls. Altogether, the Raker, though evidently
built entirely for speed, seemed also a vessel well able to enter
into an engagement with any vessel of its size and complement.

As the middle day approached the clouds arose and scudded away to
leeward like great flocks of wild geese, and the bright sun once more
shone upon the waters, seeming to hang a string of pearls about the
dark crest of each subsiding wave. All sail was set aboard the Raker,
which stretched out toward mid ocean, with the stars and stripes
flying at her peak, the free ocean beneath, and her band of gallant
hearts upon her decks, ready for the battle or the breeze.

CHAPTER II.

_The Merchant Brig._

Two weeks later than the period at which we left the Raker, a handsome
merchant vessel, with all sail set, was gl