dered her to show her colors. This Biddle
promptly did; and as the American flag went fluttering to the fore,
the ports of the "Randolph" were thrown open, and a broadside poured
into the hull of the Englishman. The stranger was not slow in
replying, and the action became hot and deadly. Capt. Biddle was
wounded in the thigh early in the battle. As he fell to the deck, his
officers crowded about him, thinking that he was killed; but he
encouraged them to return to their posts, and, ordering a chair to be
placed on the quarter-deck, remained on deck, giving orders, and
cheering on his men. It is said that Capt. Biddle was wounded by a
shot from the "Moultrie," which flew wide of its intended mark.

For twenty minutes the battle raged, and there was no sign of
weakening on the part of either contestant. Suddenly the sound of the
cannonade was deadened by a thunderous roar. The people on the other
ships saw a huge column of fire and smoke rise where the "Randolph"
had floated. The English vessel was thrown violently on her beam-ends.
The sky was darkened with flying timbers and splinters, which fell
heavily into the sea. The "Randolph" had blown up. A spark, a red-hot
shot, some fiery object, had penetrated her magazine, and she was
annihilated.

The horrible accident which destroyed the "Randolph" came near being
the end of the "Yarmouth," her antagonist. The two battling ships were
close together; so close, in fact, that after the explosion Capt.
Morgan of the "Fair American" hailed the "Yarmouth" to ask how Capt.
Biddle was. The English ship was fairly covered with bits of the
flying wreck. Some heavy pieces of timber falling from the skies badly
shattered her main-deck. An American ensign, closely rolled up, fell
on her forecastle, not even singed by the fiery ordeal through which
it had passed.

The "Yarmouth" wasted little time in wonder over the fate of her late
antagonist. In all the mass of floating wreckage that covered the sea,
there appeared to be no living thing. The four smaller American
vessels, dismayed by the fate of their consort, were making good their
escape. Without more ado, the "Yarmouth" set out in chase.

Four days later, the Americans having escaped, the "Yarmouth" was
again cruising near the scene of the action. A raft was discovered on
the ocean, which seemed to support some living creatures. Running down
upon it, four wretched, emaciated men were discovered clinging to a
piece of wreckage,