unavailing attempt at flight.

Fourteen-gun brigs, however, were rather small game for a squadron
like that of the British; and it is probable that His Britannic
Majesty's officers were heartily glad, when, some days, later the
United States frigate "Constitution" hove in sight, under
circumstances which seemed certain to make her an easy prey to the
five British ships.

It was on the 17th of July, 1812, that the "Constitution," after
receiving a new crew at Annapolis, was standing northward under easy
sail on her way to New York. About noon four sails were sighted on the
horizon, and an hour later the appearance of a fifth sail was duly
reported. A careful scrutiny of the strangers convinced Capt. Hull
that they were men-of-war, although their nationality could not be
determined. Night fell before the ships could come within hailing
distance; and, though Hull set private signals, no answer was
returned. When day broke, Hull found himself fairly surrounded by
British frigates. In addition to the squadron which has been described
as leaving Halifax, there was the captured "Nautilus" with her guns
turned against her own nation, and a captured American schooner which
had been likewise pressed into the service. Clearly the "Constitution"
was outnumbered, and nothing was left for her but flight.

The events of that three days' chase are told with great minuteness in
the log-book of the "Constitution" to which many of those on board
have, in later publications, added more interesting personal
reminiscences. When the rising mists showed how completely the
American frigate was hemmed in, hardly a breath of air was stirring.
Although every sail was set on the ship, yet she had not steerage way;
and Hull ordered out the boats, to pull the ship's head around and tow
her out of range of her enemies. At the same time, gangs of sailors
with axes cut away the woodwork about the cabin windows, and mounted
two stern guns in the cabin and one on the upper deck. The enemy, in
the mean time, were keeping up a vigorous fire, but without effect.
Their ships were rapidly gaining, as they were enabled to set the
boats of the whole squadron to towing the two foremost vessels. Hull
saw that some new means of getting ahead must be devised.

Soundings were taken, and the ship found to be in twenty-six fathoms
of water. All the available rope in the ship was then bent on to a
kedge and carried far ahead, when the kedge was lowered to the bottom