ed away, and by daylight was snugly at anchor
in the port of Lisbon.

For some time after this episode, the record of Tucker's seafaring
life is lost. Certain it is that he served in the British navy as an
officer for some time, and was master of a merchantman for several
years.

When the Revolution broke out, Samuel Tucker was in London. Being
offered by a recruiting officer a commission in either the army or
navy, if he would consent to serve "his gracious Majesty," Tucker very
rashly responded, "Hang his gracious Majesty! Do you think I would
serve against my country?"

Soon a hue and cry was out for Tucker. He was charged with treason,
and fled into the country to the house of a tavern-keeper whom he
knew, who sheltered him until he could make his escape from England.

Hardly had he arrived in America, when Gen. Washington commissioned
him captain of the "Franklin," and instructed him to proceed directly
to sea. An express with the commission and instructions was hurried
off to Marblehead, then a straggling little city. He was instructed to
find the "Hon. Samuel Tucker," and to deliver to him the packets in
his charge. When the messenger arrived, Tucker was working in his
yard. The messenger saw a rough-looking person, roughly clad, with a
tarpaulin hat, and his neck bound with a flaming red bandanna
handkerchief. Never once thinking this person could be the man he
sought, he leaned from his horse, and shouted out roughly,--

"I say, fellow, I wish you would tell me whether the Hon. Samuel
Tucker lives hereabouts."

Tucker looked up with a quizzical smile, and surveyed the speaker from
under the wide rim of his tarpaulin, as he answered,--

"Honorable, honorable! There's none of that name in Marblehead. He
must be one of the Tuckers in Salem. I'm the only Samuel Tucker here."

"Capt. Glover told me he knew him," responded the messenger, "and
described his house, gable-end on the seaside, none near it. Faith,
this looks like the very place!"

With a laugh, Tucker then confessed his identity, and asked the
messenger his business. Receiving the commission and instructions, he
at once began his preparations for leaving home, and at daybreak the
next morning was on his way to Beverly, where lay anchored the first
ship he was to command in the service of his country.

In the "Franklin" Capt. Tucker did some most efficient work. His name
appears constantly in the letters of Gen. Washington, and in the State
pa