AUDUBON 



25 



■*s 



About a fortnight after leaving France a vessel gave us chase. 

 We were running before the wind under all sail, but the unknown 

 gained on us at a great rate, and after a while stood to the wind- 

 ward of our ship, about half a mile off. She fired a gun, the ball 

 passed within a few yards of our bows ; our captain heeded not, 

 but kept on his course, with the United States flag displayed and 

 floating in the breeze. Another and another shot was fired at us j 

 the enemy closed upon us ; all the passengers expected to receive 

 her broadside. Our commander hove to : a boat was almost 

 instantaneously lowered and alongside our vessel ; ^ two officers 

 leaped on board, with about a dozen mariners ; the first asked 

 for the captain's papers, while the lal>.vr with his men kept guard 

 over the whole. 



The vessel which had pursued us was the " Rattlesnake " and 

 was what I believe i? generally called a privateer, which means 

 nothing but a pirate ; every one of the papers proved to be in perfect 

 accordance with the laws existing between England and America, 

 therefore we were not touched nor molested, but the English 

 officers who had come on board robbed the ship of almost every- 

 thing that was nice in the way of provisions, took our pigs and 

 sheep, coffee and wines, and carried off our two best sailors 

 despite all the remonstrances made by one of our members of 

 Congress, I think from Virginia, who was accompanied by a 

 charming young daughter. The " Rattlesnake " kept us under her 

 lee, and almost within pistol-shot, for a whole day and night, 

 ransacking the ship for money, of which we had a good deal in 

 the run beneath a ballast of stone. Although this was partially 

 removed they did not find the treasure. I may here tell you 

 that I placed the gold belonging to Rozier and myself, wrapped 

 in some clothing, under a cable in the bow of the ship, and there 

 it remained snug till the "Rattlesnake" had given us leave to 

 depart, which you may be sure we did without thanks to her 

 commander or crew; we were afterward told the former had 

 his wife with him. 



After this rencontre we sailed on till we came to within about 

 thirty miles of the entrance to the bay of New York," when we 

 ^ " The Polly," Captain Sammis commander. ^ ^ay 26, 1806. 



