“I suppose that at first he thought all the commodore had been saying was merely a joke,” replied her father. “He seemed astounded, and it was difficult to make him believe that he was really on an American vessel. But the band on the President’s quarterdeck was playing ‘Yankee Doodle,’ and over it the American ensign was displayed, while the uniforms of the marines were suddenly changed from red to blue.
“It would seem that Hutchinson might well feel alarmed at finding himself in the hands of Rodgers, for he had been one of Cockburn’s subalterns when that marauder plundered and burned Havre de Grace a few months before; and it is said that Lieutenant Hutchinson had now in his possession a sword which he carried away from Commodore Rodgers’s house on that occasion.
“He had been warned by Captain Oliver, when receiving instructions as commander of the Highflyer, to take care not to be outwitted by the Yankees. ‘Especially be careful,’ said Oliver, ‘not to fall into the hands of Commodore Rodgers, for if he comes across you he will hoist you upon his jib-boom and carry you into Boston.’”
“And did he do it, now he’d got him?” asked Ned.
“No,” said Captain Raymond. “Well was it for him that the enemy into whose hands he had fallen was an American. Rodgers treated him with courtesy such as is due to a prisoner of war, and soon allowed him to go at large on parole.”
“And did Commodore Rodgers get back to his own country, papa?” asked Elsie.
“Yes; three days after the capture of the Highflyer he sailed into Newport harbor, having his prize with him, her commander and fifty-five other prisoners. He said his cruise had not added much lustre to the American navy, but he had rendered his country signal service by harassing the enemy’s commerce, and keeping more than twenty vessels in search of him for several weeks. He had captured eleven merchant vessels and two hundred and seventy-one prisoners.”
“What could he do with so many prisoners, uncle?” asked Eric. “I should hardly think he’d have room for them in his ship.”
“All but those he carried into Newport had been paroled and sent home in the captured vessels,” replied the captain.
“Did he go out catching British ships again, uncle?” asked Edward.