On the Ocean 121 



was watched closely and taken advantage of to the 

 utmost. At 7 in the evening the wind almost died 

 out, and for four more weary hours the worn-out 

 sailors towed and kedged. At 10.45 a little breeze 

 struck the frigate, when the boats dropped along 

 side and were hoisted up, excepting the first cutter. 

 Throughout the night the wind continued very 

 light, the Belvidera forging ahead till she was off 

 the Constitution's lee beam; and at 4 A.M. on the 

 morning of the iQth, she tacked to the eastward, the 

 breeze being light from the south by east. At 4 .20 

 the Constitution tacked also; and at 5.15 the &Lolus, 

 which had drawn ahead, passed on the contrary tack. 

 Soon afterward the wind freshened so that Captain 

 Hull took in his cutter. The Africa was now so far 

 to leeward as to be almost out of the race ; while the 

 five frigates were all running on the starboard tack 

 with every stitch of canvas set. At 9 A.M. an Amer 

 ican merchantman hove in sight and bore down tow 

 ard the squadron. The Bch'idcra } by way of de 

 coy, hoisted American colors, when the Constitution 

 hoisted the British flag, and the merchant vessel 

 hauled off. The breeze continued light till noon, 

 when Hull found he had dropped the British frigates 

 well behind ; the nearest was the Belvidera, exactly 

 in his wake, bearing W.N.W. 2 l /> miles distant. 

 The Shannon was on his lee, bearing N. by W. J4 

 W. distant 3^ miles. The other two frigates were 

 five miles off on the lee quarter. Soon afterward 

 the breeze freshened, and "Old Ironsides" drew 

 slowly ahead from her foes, her sails being watched 



VOL. IX. 6 



