he hulls of the two ships, making any extended vision impossible.
Once in a while a fresher puff of wind, or a change in the position of
the ships, would give the jackies a glimpse of their enemy, and show
fierce faces glaring from the open ports, as the great guns were drawn
in for loading. Then the gray pall of smoke fell, and nothing was to
be seen but the carnage near at hand. The officers on the quarter-deck
could better judge of the progress of the fray; and, the marines
stationed there took advantage of every clear moment to pick off some
enemy with a shot from one of their muskets. High up in the tops of
the "Constitution" were two small howitzers, with which crews of
topmen, under the command of midshipmen, made lively play with grape
and canister upon the crowded decks of the enemy. From the cavernous
submarine depths of the cock-pit and magazine, to the tops of each
ship, not an idler was to be found. Chaplains, surgeons, clerks,
cooks, and waiters--all were working or fighting for the honor of the
flag under which they served.

Again the British determined to board; and the quick, sharp notes of
the bugle calling up the boarders gave warning of their intentions.
The men in the tops of the American frigate, looking down from their
lofty station, could see the crowd of boarders and marines gathered on
the forecastle and in the gang-ways, and could hear the shrill notes
of the boatswain's whistle cheering them on. At that moment, however,
the American fire raked the enemy with fearful effect, and the volleys
of musketry from the marines and topmen made such havoc among the
crowded boarders that the attempt was abandoned. The deadly fire of
the Americans was not slackened. Capt. Lambert was struck down,
mortally wounded; and the command fell upon Lieut. Chads, who, though
himself badly wounded, continued the fight with true British courage.
Over the side of the "Java" hung the wreck of her top-hamper, which
every broadside set on fire. Yet the British tars fought on, cheering
lustily, and not once thinking of surrender, though they saw their
foremast gone, their mizzen-mast shivered, even the last flag shot
away, and the last gun silenced.

When affairs had reached this stage, the "Constitution," seeing no
flag flying on the enemy, hauled away, and set about repairing her
own damages. While thus engaged, the main-mast of the "Java" was seen
to go by the board, and the ship lay a hopeless wreck upon the water.