ate, the enthusiasm among the gallant tars of the "United States"
grew apace. Visions of battle, of glory, and, above all, of resultant
prize-money, arose in their minds; and their shouts could be heard by
the crew of the distant frigate before the two vessels came within
range of each other.

The vessel toward which the "United States" was advancing was the
"Macedonian," a British frigate rating thirty-eight guns, but said to
have been carrying forty-nine at this time. She had for some time been
reckoned a crack ship of her class in the British navy, and her crew
was in admirable training. From her quarter-deck and forecastle groups
of officers and seamen were watching the on-coming of the American
frigate. One of the powder monkeys, named Samuel Leech, of the British
ship, told graphically and simply the story of that day's doings on
the "Macedonian."

"Sunday (Dec. 25, 1812) came, and it brought with it a stiff breeze,"
so runs the powder-monkey's tale. "We usually made a sort of holiday
of this sacred day. After breakfast it was common to muster the entire
crew on the spar-deck, dressed as the fancy of the captain might
dictate,--sometimes in blue jackets and white trousers, or blue
jackets and blue trousers; at other times in blue jackets, scarlet
vests, and blue or white trousers; with our bright anchor-buttons
glancing in the sun, and our black, glossy hats ornamented with black
ribbons, and the name of our ship painted on them. After muster we
frequently had church-service read by the captain; the rest of the day
was devoted to idleness. But we were destined to spend the rest of the
sabbath just introduced to the reader in a very different manner.

"We had scarcely finished breakfast before the man at the masthead
shouted 'Sail, ho!'

"The captain rushed upon deck, exclaiming, 'Masthead, there!'

"'Sir?'

"'Where away is the sail?'

"The precise answer to this question I do not recollect; but the
captain proceeded to ask, 'What does she look like?'

"'A square-rigged vessel, sir,' was the reply of the lookout.

"After a few minutes, the captain shouted again, 'Masthead, there!'

"'Sir?'

"'What does she look like?'

"'A large ship, sir, standing toward us.'

"By this time, most of the crew were on deck, eagerly straining their
eyes to obtain a glimpse of the approaching ship, and murmuring their
opinions to each other on her probable character.

"Then came the voice of the captain, shouting, 'K