From the place where the _Ariel_ was captured Semmes went to Galveston to intercept the transports of the Banks expedition, of which he had read in captured papers. As he approached Galveston, on the afternoon of January 11, 1863, the _Hatteras_, a merchant steamer fitted with guns, was sent off to inspect him. Semmes pretended to run, and so drew the _Hatteras_ away from the other blockaders, and then at 7 P.M. (it was dark of course) lay to for her. When the _Hatteras_ ranged up and hailed, Semmes said his ship was “Her Britannic Majesty’s ship _Vixen_.” Capt. H. C. Blake, of the _Hatteras_, said he would send a boat, but when the boat had been lowered Semmes shouted, “We are the Confederate steamer _Alabama_,” and fired a broadside. Semmes was not at any time more than 100 yards away, and the _Hatteras_, a paddle-wheel steamer, was soon riddled. Blake tried to get alongside the _Alabama_ to board, but could not do it, of course, and the _Hatteras_ was soon rapidly sinking. A lee gun was fired and help called for. The living were all taken off by the _Alabama’s_ crew, save the boat’s crew that had started to board the _Alabama_. [Illustration: Raphael Semmes and his _Alabama_ Officers. _From a photograph owned by C. B. Hall._] The _Hatteras_ carried two short thirty-twos and two small rifles--a twenty-pounder and a thirty-pounder--that she was able to bring to bear. The prisoners were landed at Jamaica. From this point Semmes went to the coast of Brazil, and then off to the point near the equator where homeward-bound American Indiamen cross the line. It was on the Brazil coast, in April, 1863, that he gave the Americans good excuse, by his violations of neutral waters, for the taking of the _Florida_. In July he went to the Cape of Good Hope, and at Cape Town was even more heartily welcomed than he had been at Gibraltar when in the _Sumter_. Here is the way he describes his reception: “During my entire stay, my table was loaded with flowers, and the most luscious grapes, and other fruits, sent off to me every morning, by the ladies of the Cape, sometimes with, and sometimes without, a name. Something has been said before about the capacity of the heart of a sailor. My own was carried by storm on the present occasion. I simply surrendered at discretion, and whilst Kell was explaining the virtues of his guns to his male visitors, and answering the many questions that were put to him about our cruisers and captures, I found it as much as I could do, to write autographs, and answer the pretty little perfumed billets that came off to me. Dear ladies of the Cape of Good Hope!” Perhaps while we are about it, it may be worth while to make one more quotation to show the full extent of the gallantry of which Semmes makes boast in every chapter. It will be found on page 620 of the “Memoirs,” where he describes the Brazilian people, but no part of the original is italicized: