oe to England.

Among the most adventurous of American merchant seamen in the days
following the Revolution was Capt. Thomas Macdonough. Like others of
his class, his daring and ability as a navigator gained him a
commission in the very small American navy of that time. On one
occasion the United States ship "Siren," of which he was first
lieutenant, was lying at anchor in the harbor of Gibraltar, surrounded
by a number of merchantmen, from the peak of one of which floated the
stars and stripes. While pacing the deck one bright afternoon,
Macdonough observed a boat manned with armed men put off from a
British man-of-war that rode at anchor a mile away. At once his
suspicions were aroused, and with a strong glass he watched the
movements of the British. As he had expected, the boat steered
straight for the American merchantman; and through his glass
Macdonough could see the boarders scramble over the bulwarks of the
vessel, and soon thereafter return to their boat, taking with them a
man dressed in the garb of a merchant seaman, and tightly bound.

The captain of the "Siren" was on shore; and Macdonough, as the
officer in command, determined that so audacious an impressment should
not succeed under the guns of an American war-vessel, small though she
might be.

"Clear away the long-boat," he shouted; and the boat quickly was
lowered to the water, and a dozen jackies grasped the oars. Macdonough
sprung into the stern-sheets, and grasped the tiller.

"Let fall! Give way! Pull hard, men!" He gave the orders in quick
succession, and laid his course straight for the British boat, which
was soon overtaken. He laid his boat alongside the British cutter, and
demanded that the captive be given up. The English officer began to
protest, but Macdonough cut his protests short.

"You have no right to that man. He is an American sailor.--Tumble in
here, my man."

The pressed man, delighted with the prospect of rescue, sprang into
the American boat; and before the British officer had recovered from
his amazement sufficiently to offer resistance, the blue-jackets were
pulling away toward the "Siren," with the long, swinging, man-o'-war
stroke. When he reached his vessel, Macdonough retired to his cabin to
await further developments, which were not long in appearing.

"Boat from the British frigate heading for the ship, sir," reported
the officer of the deck, in a few minutes.

"Very good, sir. Have the gangway manned," returned