d by the Continental Congress to deliver you
safe in France, and you must go below."

The envoy smilingly complied, and just at that moment the enemy let
fly her broadside. The shot flew through the rigging, doing but little
damage. Though the guns of the "Boston" were shotted, and the gunners
stood at their posts with smoking match-stocks, Capt. Tucker gave no
order to fire, but seemed intent upon the manoeuvres of the ships. The
eager blue-jackets begun to murmur, and the chorus of questions and
oaths was soon so great that the attention of Tucker was attracted. He
looked at the row of eager faces on the gun-deck, and shouted out,--

"Hold on, my men! I wish to save that egg without breaking the shell."

Soon after, Tucker brought his broadside to bear on the stern of the
enemy, and she struck without more ado. She proved to be an armed
ship, the "Martha."

After this encounter, nothing more of moment occurred on the voyage;
and the "Boston" reached Bordeaux, and landed her distinguished
passenger in safety. Two months later she left Bordeaux, in company
with a fleet of twenty sail, one of which was the "Ranger," formerly
commanded by Paul Jones. With these vessels he cruised for a time in
European waters, but returned to the American coast in the autumn. His
services for the rest of that year, and the early part of 1779, we
must pass over hastily, though many were the prizes that fell into his
clutches.

Many anecdotes are told of Tucker. His shrewdness, originality, and
daring made him a favorite theme for story-tellers. But, unhappily,
the anecdotes have generally no proof of their truth. One or two,
however, told by Capt. Tucker's biographer, Mr. John H. Sheppard, will
not be out of place here.

In one the story is told that Tucker fell in with a British frigate
which he knew to be sent in search of him. Showing the English flag,
he sailed boldly towards the enemy, and in answer to her hail said he
was Capt. Gordon of the English navy, out in search of the "Boston,"
commanded by the rebel Tucker.

"I'll carry him to New York, dead or alive," said Tucker.

"Have you seen him?" was asked.

"Well, I've heard of him," was the response; "and they say he is a
hard customer."

All this time Tucker had been manoeuvring to secure a raking
position. Behind the closed ports of the "Boston," the men stood at
their guns, ready for the word of command. Just as the American had
secured the position desired, a sailor