d fiercely at the gun-tackle, and wielded the rammers with
frantic energy; then let fly the death-dealing bolt into the hull of
an enemy only a few yards distant. The ships were broadside to
broadside, when the Englishman's mizzen-mast was shot away, and fell,
throwing the topmen far out into the sea. The force of the great spar
falling upon the deck made a great breach in the quarter of the ship;
and, while the sailors were clearing away the wreck, the
"Constitution" drew slowly ahead, pouring in several destructive
broadsides, and then luffed slowly, until she lay right athwart the
enemy's bow. While in this position, the long bowsprit of the
"Guerriere" stretched far across the quarter-deck of the American
ship, and was soon fouled in the mizzen-rigging of the latter vessel.
Then the two ships swung helplessly around, so that the bow of the
Englishman lay snugly against the port-quarter of the Yankee craft.
Instantly, from the deck of each ship rang out the short, sharp blare
of the bugle, calling away the boarders, who sprang from their guns,
seized their heavy boarding caps and cutlasses, and rushed to the
side. But a heavy sea was rolling and tossing the two frigates, so
that boarding seemed impossible; and, as Dacres saw the crowd of men
ready to receive his boarders, he called them back to the guns.
Although each party stuck to its own ship, the fighting was almost
hand to hand. Pistols were freely used; and from the tops rained down
a ceaseless hail of leaden missiles, one of which wounded Capt. Dacres
slightly. So near to each other were the combatants, that the commands
and the cries of rage and pain could be heard above the deep-toned
thunder of the great guns and the ceaseless rattle of the musketry.
The protruding muzzles of the guns often touched the sides of the
opposing ship; and when the cannon were drawn in for loading, the
sailors on either side thrust muskets and pistols through the ports,
and tried to pick off the enemy at his guns.

While the fight was thus raging, a cry of "Fire!" horrified every one
on the "Constitution." Flames were seen coming from the windows of the
cabin, which lay directly beneath the bow-guns of the "Guerriere." The
fire had been set by the flash from the enemy's cannon, so close were
the two ships together. By the strenuous exertions of the men on duty
in the cabin, the flames were extinguished, and this, the greatest of
all dangers, averted. Shortly after, the gun which