Of all duty to a captain, this of sending off boats is the most unpleasant.

He cannot go in person, and if anything unfortunate turns up he never forgives himself.

Now, it's a very different thing with a fight in which all share alike, and the good or evil comes equally on all hands." "Quite true, Captain Cuffe; and yet this is the only chance that the lieutenants have for getting ahead a little out of the regular course.

I have heard, sir, that you were made commander for cutting out some coasters in the beginning of the war." "You have not been misinformed, and a devil of a risk we all ran.

Luck saved us--and that was all.