t on the still
air the sharp crack of a musket. The officer of the deck rushed to see
what was the matter, and was shown a dark object floating near the
ship, at which a sentry had fired. A boat was lowered and soon came
back, bringing in it a sailor who had deserted from the "Madagascar,"
and reached the "Constitution" by swimming. Capt. Hull asked the
fellow his nationality.

"Sure, O'im a 'Merricun, your honor," he answered in a rich brogue
that would have branded him as a Paddy in any part of the world. With
a twinkle in his eye, Hull sent the Irishman below, and told the
sailors to take good care of him.

Early in the morning, a boat came from the "Madagascar;" and a trim
young lieutenant, clambering aboard the American frigate, politely
requested that the deserter be given up. With great dignity, Capt.
Hull responded that the man was a citizen of the United States, and
should have protection. The visiting officer fairly gasped for breath.
"An American!" he exclaimed. "Why, the man has never been out of
Ireland except on a British man-of-war."

"Indeed!" responded Hull blandly. "But we have his statement that he
is an American, and we are obliged to take his declaration to that
effect." And the man was never given up.

During the day, two British frigates cast anchor so near the
"Constitution" that Capt. Hull suspected them of hostile intentions,
and moved his ship to a new anchorage. A frigate followed closely in
her wake. At eight in the evening, Capt. Hull determined to meet the
show of force with force. The drums beat, and the men were called to
quarters. The battle-lanterns were lighted fore and aft. The tops were
crowded with sailors, armed with short carbines, to pick off the men
on the enemy's decks. Along the gun-deck stood the men at the guns;
and an officer, describing the scene, says they took hold of the ropes
as if they were about to jerk the guns through the ship's sides. All
were enthusiastic over the prospect of the coming action.

"Now, then, my lads," said an officer to a group of sailors, "if a
fight comes of this, it will be in the cause of you sailors; and I
expect you to fight like men."

"Ay, ay, sir," was the response. "Let the quarter-deck look out for
the colors, and we'll keep the guns going."

All the preparations for battle were made openly, and the attitude
taken by the "Constitution" was an open challenge. No notice of it was
taken by the British ship; and, after maintaining