178 Naval War of 1812 



die was just letting go his topsail sheets ; he at once 

 sheeted them home, and, the stranger being almost 

 instantly shut out by the land, made all sail to the 

 west, and again caught sight of her. Captain Dick- 

 enson now, for the first time, saw the American 

 sloop, and at once bore up for her. The position of 

 the two vessels was exactly the reverse of the Wasp 

 and Frolic, the Englishman being to windward. 

 The Hornet hove to, to let her antagonist close ; then 

 she filled her maintopsail and continued to yaw, 

 wearing occasionally to prevent herself from being 

 raked. At forty minutes past one the Penguin, be 

 ing within musket-shot, hauled to the wind on the 

 starboard tack, hoisted a St. George's ensign, and 

 fired a gun. The Hornet luffed up on the same tack, 

 hoisting American colors, and the action began with 

 heavy broadsides. The vessels ran along thus for 

 15 minutes, gradually coming closer together, and 

 Captain Dickenson put his helm aweather, to run his 

 adversary aboard. At this moment the brave young 

 officer received a mortal wound, and the command 

 devolved on the first lieutenant, Mr. McDonald, who 

 endeavored very gallantly to carry out his comman 

 der's intention, and at 1.56 the Penguin's bowsprit 

 came in between the Hornet's main and mizzen-rig- 

 ging on the starboard side. The American seamen 

 had been called away, and were at their posts to re 

 pel boarders, but as the British made no attempt to 



