eighty-odd years ago--_Revenge_, _Atlas_, _Young Eagle_, _Montgomery_, _Teazer_, _Decatur_, _General Armstrong_, _Comet_. Here were some tight little craft that caused their powder-monkeys fairly to smell of prize-money on their return from each successful cruise. All of these vessels were oversparred, overarmed, and overmanned. It was the privateersman’s business to take risks, and many paid the penalty for rashness; but their fearlessness and impudence were often most astounding, and their self-reliance actually superb. Up to the end of the first year of the war Maryland alone had sent out more than forty armed vessels, and, as a writer in the _Weekly Register_ naïvely remarks, “not one up to date has been even in _danger_ of being captured, though frequently chased by British vessels of war.” But to come to the affair of the _Comet_, privateer, of Baltimore. Her name had become familiar all along the Atlantic coast, her “winnings” were anchored in almost every harbor, and she could have the pick of the seamen lucky enough to be ashore at any place where she put in. Her ’tween-decks were crowded with extra crews and prize-masters to man her captures when she sailed out again. The _Comet_ was commanded by Captain Boyle, an intrepid sailor, and a man liked and trusted by his crew of 120 well-trained tars. She was as handy as a whip, and sailed like a cup-defender. She carried 6 guns in a broadside, a swivel, and a gun amidships. It was on the 9th of January, 1813, that Captain Boyle spoke a Portuguese coasting-vessel which had just left the harbor of Pernambuco, Brazil, and learned that in the harbor were three English vessels loaded and ready to sail for Europe--one large armed ship and two armed brigs. Upon hearing this welcome news Captain Boyle shortened sail, and tacked back and forth for five days, waiting and watching. On the 14th of the month his sharp lookout was rewarded by the sight of not three but four sail coming offshore before the wind. The _Comet_ sheered away to the southward, and lay by, to give the strangers an opportunity of passing her. When they had done so, she put after them. It was quite late in the afternoon, a tremendous sea was running, and a freshening breeze lifted the _Comet_ up the sides of the huge waves and raced her down into the hollows. She overhauled the other vessels as if they had been anchored. They kept close together, rising and then sinking hulls out of sight in the great seas. They evidently had no fear of the little vessel bearing down upon them, for they made no effort to spread their lighter sails. The _Comet_ was under a press of canvas, and the water was roaring and tumbling every now and then over her forward rails.