off till daylight to see what
they were. The ship that we had been chasing hauled off after us,
showing a light, and occasionally making signals, supposed to be
for the ships in shore.

On the 18th, at daylight, or a little before it was quite light,
saw two sail under our lee, which proved to be frigates of the
enemy's. One frigate astern within about five or six miles, and a
line of battle ship, a frigate, a brig, and a schooner, about ten
or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase of us, with a fine
breeze, and coming up fast, it being nearly calm where we were.
Soon after sunrise, the wind entirely left us, and the ship would
not steer, but fell round off with her head towards the two ships
under our lee. The boats were instantly hoisted out, and sent ahead
to tow the ship's head around, and to endeavor to get her farther
from the enemy, being then within five miles of three heavy
frigates. The boats of the enemy were got out and sent ahead to
tow, by which, with the light air that remained with them, they
came up very fast. Finding the enemy gaining on us, and but little
chance of escaping from them, I ordered two of the guns on the gun
deck to be ran out at the cabin windows for stern guns on the gun
deck, and hoisted one of the twenty-four pounders off the gun deck,
and ran that, with the forecastle gun, an eighteen pounder, out at
the ports on the quarter deck, and cleared the ship for action,
being determined they should not get her without resistance on our
part, notwithstanding their force and the situation we were placed
in.

At about seven, in the morning, the ship nearest us approaching
within gunshot, and directly astern, I ordered one of the stern
guns fired, to see if we could reach her, to endeavor to disable
her masts; found the shot fell a little short, would not fire any
more.

[Illustration: ESCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION.]

At eight, four of the enemy's ships nearly within gunshot, some of
them having six or eight boats ahead towing, with all their oars
and sweeps out, to row them up with us, which they were fast
doing. It now appeared that we must be taken, and that our escape
was impossible--four heavy ships nearly within gunshot, and coming
up fast, and not the least hope of a breeze to give us a chance of