While on the deck of the _Florida_, the day after the burning of the _Jacob Bell_, one of the officers did the agreeable by offering to lend me books to read; but looking at him with surprise, I directly exclaimed,--“Books! it would be impossible for me to read just now,--neither in body or mind am I equal to the task!” It certainly betokened a great degree of impudence and hardihood, for one to assist in the plundering of our private effects, and then unblushingly attempt to recommend himself in this way to my regard. I also had, during the same day, a few words of conversation with another officer in regard to the rebellion; in the course of which he made some malicious remark that led me to say,--“We do not hate you as you seem to hate us. Why is it that you at the South hate the North so much?” With the coolest effrontery he answered,--“We have more reason to hate you.” The tone and manner in which this was said was too much even for the benumbed senses of a powerless and defenceless woman, and I quickly answered,--“No, you have not, sir. I feel that I am suffering in a good cause, nor should you hear a murmur from me were I strong and in good health.” Thus to beard the lion in his den was unquestionably imprudent and unsafe; but the unmitigated arrogance and impertinence of one who, from what we had experienced, could be classed only among shoplifters, was rather too much for our sense of honor to let pass unrebuked, and the words leaped from my lips like the “stir of an unbidden thought.” Although outwardly civil, it required no extraordinary power to see plainly that, could it have served their purpose and benefited their cause, it would have cost them no pang to act the pirate to the _death_, as they were acting it to the life; but to carry their feelings of hatred to such an extent, they well knew, would array the whole civilized world against them.