"Fought and sailed and took a prize Even as it was their right, Drank a glass and kissed a maid Between the volleys of a fight. _Don't_ begrudge their lives of danger, _You_ are better off by far, But, if war again comes,--stranger, Hitch _your_ wagon to their star." CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON. The bugle calls to quarters, The roar of guns is clear, Now--ram your charges home, Lads! And cheer, Boys! Cheer! CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE vii CARLO ZENO: HERO OF THE VENETIAN REPUBLIC 1 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE: ROVER AND SEA RANGER 23 SIR WALTER RALEIGH: PERSECUTOR OF THE SPANIARDS 53 JEAN BART: THE SCOURGE OF THE DUTCH 83 DU GUAY-TROUIN: THE GREAT FRENCH "BLUE" 113 EDWARD ENGLAND: TERROR OF THE SOUTH SEAS 137 WOODES ROGERS: THE BRISTOL MARINER 153 FORTUNATUS WRIGHT: THE MOST HATED PRIVATEERSMAN OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA 173 GEORGE WALKER: WINNER OF THE GAMEST SEA FIGHT OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL 199 JOHN PAUL JONES: THE FOUNDER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY 239 CAPTAIN SILAS TALBOT: STAUNCH PRIVATEERSMAN OF NEW ENGLAND 283 CAPTAIN "JOSH" BARNEY: THE IRREPRESSIBLE YANKEE 299 ROBERT SURCOUF: THE "SEA HOUND" FROM ST. MALO 319 LAFITTE: PRIVATEER, PIRATE, AND TERROR OF THE GULF OF MEXICO 341 RAPHAEL SEMMES: DESPOILER OF AMERICAN COMMERCE 373 EL CAPITAN 393 RETROSPECT 397 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "AGAIN THE CANNON MADE THE SPLINTERS FLY" (_See page 273_) _Frontispiece_ ZENO'S FLEET 18 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE 28 DRAKE'S GREATEST VICTORY ON THE SPANISH MAIN 44 YOUNG RALEIGH AND A COMPANION LISTENING TO TALES OF THE SPANISH MAIN 55 SIR WALTER RALEIGH 60 JEAN BART 86 "JEAN BART LED HIS BOARDERS OVER THE SIDE OF THE DUTCH VESSEL" 108 COMBAT BETWEEN DU GUAY-TROUIN AND VAN WASSENAER 135 "'LEFT US ENGAGED WITH BARBAROUS AND INHUMAN ENEMIES'" 146