ind. Calmly he ordered the lieutenant
to make sail and take the ship to sea, signalling to the two prizes to
follow. The orders were given quietly on deck; and in fifteen minutes
the "Constitution," under full press of sail, was making her way out
of Porto Praya roads. On the shore were more than a hundred prisoners
whom Stewart had landed under parole. Regardless of the dictates of
honor, these men rushed to a Portuguese battery, and opened fire on
the ships as they passed out. Hearing the cannonade, the lookouts on
the enemy's vessels looked eagerly for its cause, and caught sight,
above the fog, of the rapidly receding topsails of the fugitives. At
this sight the British set out in pursuit; and the fog soon clearing
away revealed to the Americans two ships-of-the-line and a frigate
following fast in their wake. The "Constitution" and the "Cyane"
easily kept out of reach of their pursuers; but the "Levant" dropped
behind, and finally, at a signal from Stewart, tacked, and stood back
for Porto Praya. The enemy then abandoned the pursuit of the two
foremost vessels, and followed the "Levant," but failed to overhaul
her before she entered the harbor. This, however, checked the British
not a whit. For the laws of nations and the authority of the
Portuguese flag that floated over the little town, they cared nothing.
On they came, and opened fire on the "Levant," which had dropped
anchor under what was supposed to be a neutral battery. The Americans
soon discovered their error. Not only did the British disregard the
neutrality of the port, but the paroled prisoners on shore took
possession of the battery, and opened fire upon the beleaguered craft.
Thus caught between two fires, no hope remained to the Americans; and,
after a few minutes' gallant but useless defence, the flag of the
"Levant" was hauled down, and she passed again into the hands of the
British.

It was late in May before the "Constitution" reached New York. Peace
had then been declared; but none the less were Stewart and his men
feasted and honored. The old frigate had won for herself a name ever
to be remembered by the people of the nation, in whose service she had
received and dealt so many hard knocks. "Old Ironsides," they called
her; and even to-day, when a later war has given to the navy vessels
whose sides are literally iron, the "Constitution" still holds her
place in the hearts of the American people, who think of her lovingly
by the well-won title