n never dipped
below the horizon. Sheer good sailing saved the American frigate, and
enabled her to leave her pursuers far in her wake.

For some days thereafter, better luck seemed to attend the frigate
that so pluckily kept up her operations in seas thousands of miles
from a friendly port. With true Yankee audacity, she extended her
cruise even into the Irish Channel, and there preyed upon British
commerce until the enemy was moved to send a squadron to rout out the
audacious intruder. Then Rodgers set sail for home.

On the voyage to the United States, the "President" captured a British
armed schooner by a stratagem which taught at least one British
officer to respect "Yankee cuteness."

It was near the last of September that the frigate was flying along
before a fresh breeze. Her yards were spread with a cloud of snowy
canvas, and the wind sung through the straining cordage a melody sweet
to the ears of the sailor homeward bound. Towards evening, a small
sail was made out in the distance; and, as time wore on, it was seen
that she was rapidly approaching the "President." Rodgers surmised
that the stranger might be a British vessel, and determined to lure
her within range by strategy. In some way he had obtained knowledge of
some of the private signals of the British navy; and in a few minutes
from the masthead of the American frigate, there fluttered a row of
flags which announced her as the British frigate "Sea-Horse." The
stranger promptly responded, and was made out to be the schooner
"Highflyer," a little craft noted for her sailing qualities.
Unsuspectingly the "Highflyer" came under the stern of the American
frigate, and waited for a boat to be sent aboard. Soon the boat came;
and one of Rodgers's lieutenants, clad in British uniform, clambered
up the side, and was received with due honor. He was the bearer of a
message from Commodore Rodgers, requesting that the signal-books of
the "Highflyer" be sent on board the fictitious "Sea-Horse" for
comparison and revision. This the British captain hastened to do, and
soon followed his books to the deck of the frigate, where a
lieutenant met him, clothed in full British uniform. A file of
marines, dressed in the scarlet coats of the British service, stood on
the deck; and the duped Englishman greatly admired the appearance of
the frigate, remarking to the officer who escorted him to Rodgers's
cabin, that so trim a craft could only be found in His Majesty's
service