rave Broke he waved his sword,
And he cried, 'Now, lads, aboard;
And we'll stop their singing,
Yankee Doodle Dandy, O!'"

Porter now wished to get rid of some of the prizes with which he was
encumbered. He could not burn them in the harbor, and the British
ships kept too close a watch upon him to permit his ships to leave the
harbor for an hour: so he was forced to wait many days for an
opportunity. On the 14th of February the opportunity came; and the
"Hector" was towed out to sea, and set a-fire. Two weeks later, the
"Phoebe" came alone to the mouth of the harbor, and, after showing her
motto-flag, hove to, and fired a gun to windward. This Porter
understood to be a challenge, and he at once put out in the "Essex."
But the "Phoebe" had no intention of entering a fair and equal fight;
for she quickly joined her consort, and the two then chased the
"Essex" back to port. Much talk and a vast deal of correspondence grew
out of this affair, which certainly did not redound to the credit of
the British.

On the 28th of March the wind blew with such force that the larboard
cable of the "Essex" parted; and the ship, drifting before the wind,
dragged her starboard cable out to sea. Knowing that the British ships
were in waiting outside, Porter lost no time in getting on sail and
trying to beat back into the harbor. But, just as the ship was
rounding the point, there came up a heavy squall, which carried away
the main topmast, throwing several topmen into the sea. In her
disabled state the frigate could not regain the harbor; but she ran
into a little cove, and anchored within half pistol-shot of the shore.
Here she was in neutral waters; and, had Capt. Hillyar been a man of
his word, the "Essex" would have been safe: for that officer, on being
asked by Porter whether he would respect the neutrality of the port,
had replied with much feeling, "You have paid so much respect to the
neutrality of the port, that I feel bound in honor to respect it." But
he very quickly forgot this respect, when he saw his enemy lying
crippled and in his power, although in neutral waters.

Hardly had the "Essex" cast anchor, when the two British ships drew
near, their actions plainly showing that they intended to attack the
crippled frigate. The "Essex" was prepared for action, the guns beat
to quarters; and the men went to their places coolly and bravely,
though each felt at his heart that he was going into a hopeless