nd three are fifty-seven," said Archie.

Arthur had evidently finished the history of his exploits, for he had
nothing more to say just then. Archie, after waiting a few minutes for
him to resume his narrative, pulled his sombrero down over his eyes, and
thrust his hands into his pockets--two movements he always executed when
he wished to concentrate his mind upon any thing--and began to ponder
upon what he had just heard.

"Vane," said he, suddenly, an idea striking him, "who commanded your
vessel when you were captured?"

Arthur knitted his brows, and looked down at the horn of his saddle, as
if thinking intently, and finally said: "Why, it was Mr.--, Mr.--; I
declare, I have forgotten his name."

Archie again relapsed into silence.

"We had two wars with those pirates," thought he. "The first was with
Tripoli; but as that happened in 1805, Arthur, of course, could not have
taken part in it, for he made his first voyage at sea in 1815. We lost
but one vessel, and that was captured in 1803--two years before war with
Tripoli was declared. It was the frigate Philadelphia, and she wasn't
whipped, either, but was run aground while pursuing a piratical vessel.
She was commanded by Captain Bainbridge, who surrendered himself and
crew. They were not compelled to 'walk the plank,' however, but were
reduced to a horrible captivity, and treated worse than dogs. The
Tripolitans never got a chance to use the Philadelphia against us, for
Decatur--who was at that time a lieutenant serving under Commodore
Preble, who commanded our navy in those waters--boarded her one night
with twenty men while she was lying in the harbor, swept the deck of
more than double that number of pirates, burned the vessel under their
very noses, and returned to his ship with only one man wounded. I never
did care much for history, but a fellow finds a great deal of
satisfaction sometimes in knowing a little about it."

Archie had at first been highly amused by what Arthur had to say; but
now, that the novelty had somewhat worn off, he began to wonder how it
was possible for a boy to look another in the face and tell such
improbable stories. If Arthur was not ashamed of himself Archie was
heartily ashamed for him, and he was more than half inclined to put
spurs to Sleepy Sam and start for home. He was not fond of such company.

Arthur Vane is not an imaginary character. There are a great many like
him in the world, boys, and men, too, who endeavor to