the
result of her eight months' cruise; while the long service had so
seriously injured her hull, that she was condemned as unseaworthy, and
ended her career, a dismantled hulk reduced to the ignoble service of
store-ship at a navy-yard.

The "President" was little more fortunate in her search for prizes.
After parting with her consort, she beat about in the vicinity of the
Gulf Stream, in the hopes of getting a ship or two returning from the
West Indies. But day after day passed, and no ship appeared. Changing
his plan, Commodore Rodgers made for the North Sea, feeling sure that
there he would find in plenty the marine game for which he was
seeking. But, to his astonishment, not an English ship was to be
found. It was then the middle of summer, and the frigate had been at
sea for nearly three months. The jackies on the forecastle were weary
of the long voyage, and fairly at the end of their occupations for
"teasing time." The officers, well knowing the effect of long idleness
upon the sailors, were tireless in devising means of employment. The
rigging was set up weekly, so that the shrouds and stays were like
lines drawn with a ruler. Enough rope-yarn was pulled, and spun-yarn
spun, to supply a navy-yard for months. Laggards were set to scrubbing
the rust off the chain cables, and sharpening with files the flukes of
the anchors. When such work failed, the men were drilled in the use of
cutlasses and single sticks; forming long lines down the gun-deck, and
slashing away with right good will at the word of the instructor. But
the monotony of a long cruise without a prize cannot long be beguiled
by such makeshifts; and it was with the heartiest pleasure that the
sailors heard that the commodore had determined to put into port for a
time, and take on board stores.

It was North Bergen, Norway, that Rodgers chose for this purpose; and
an unfortunate choice it proved to be, for a famine prevailed in the
country, and only water could be obtained for the ship. Leaving the
inhospitable port, the "President" was soon again upon the ocean. She
quickly took two British merchantmen, from which she replenished her
stores. Shortly after, two hostile frigates hove in sight, and the
"President" fled for her life before them for more than eighty hours.
At that season, in those high latitudes, no friendly darkness settled
over the ocean to give the fugitive a chance to escape. Bright
daylight persisted throughout the chase, and the su