Tales of Whalers in the Civil War 377 



was again alongside of the Alabama with all his 

 six boats with six men in each, ready to start for 

 the shore. I could not but be amused when I 

 looked over the side into these boats at the amount 

 of plunder that rapacious fellow had packed into 

 them. They were literally loaded down with all 

 sorts of traps, from the seaman's chest and bed- 

 ding to the tabby cat and parrot. Nor had the 

 'main chance' been overlooked, for all the 'cabin 

 stores' had been secured, and sundry barrels of 

 beef and pork besides. I said to him: 



"'Captain, your boats appear to me to be 

 rather deeply laden; are you not afraid to trust 

 them?' 



"'Oh, no,' he replied; 'they are as buoyant as 

 ducks, and we shall not ship a drop of water.' 



"After a detention of a few minutes, during 

 which my clerk was putting the crew under 

 parole, I gave the master leave to depart. 



"The boats, shoving off from the side, one by 

 one, and falling into line, struck out for the 

 shore. That night landing of this whaler's crew 

 was a beautiful spectacle. The moon was shin- 

 ing brightly, though there were some passing 



