NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1908

Copyright, 1900
By Charles Scribner's Sons
All rights reserved

TO

COLONEL JOHN LEWIS GOOD, U. S. V.,

AND THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF
THE FIRST PENNSYLVANIA UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS,
MY COMRADES IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR,
THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

Note

The interests of the story require some slight variations from exact history in the movements of the Serapis and the Bon Homme Richard before their famous battle, for which the author asks the indulgence of the reader. In all other respects it is believed the account of the battle is sufficiently accurate to present a true picture of the most famous single-ship action ever fought upon the seas.

Contents

Book I


THEY MEET AND PART

I[A Stern Chase On A Lee Shore]
II[The Captor Captured]
III[A Gentle Pirate]
IV[Enter Major Coventry]
V[Swords Are Crossed On The Sand]
VI[The Master Player Takes A Hand]

Book II
THEY MEET AGAIN

VII[After A Long Time]
VIII[Lady Elizabeth Does Not Know The Marquis de Richemont]
IX[The Picture On The Wall]
X[Lady Elizabeth Will Keep Her Word]
XI[O'Neill Will Keep His Honor]
XII[Gentlemen All]

Book III
ON THE VERGE OF ETERNITY

XIII[A Desperate Move]
XIV[Almost The End]
XV[A Soldier and a Gentleman]

Book IV
THE SELFISHNESS OF LOVE

XVI[In the Line of his Duty]
XVII[Differing Standards]

Book V
IN THE HELL OF BATTLE, ALL

XVIII[The Boys in Command]
XIX['Tween Decks with the Men]
XX[The Indomitable Ego]
XXI[The Audacity of Despair]
XXII[Sinking, but Triumphant]

Book VI
THE HAND OF GOD

XXIII[On Board the Serapis again]
XXIV[Not Guilty, My Lord]