How willingly the men obeyed! How quickly each man was at his post!
The surgeon in the cockpit got his instruments and bandages ready, the powder-monkeys were in line, the middies strutted about every bit as proud as peacocks, and all the officers waited for the action to commence.
The first gun fired was from the American ship.
The ships were rolling in a manner fatal to good aim.
Half an hour was devoted to throwing away good ammunition, for no other object was gained.
A terrific shout went up from the Yankees as they saw that the Englishman's mizzen topmast was shot away.
Captain Carden soon saw that his men could not cope with the Americans at such long range, so, with that bulldog courage which Britishers possess, he disdained all maneuvering and bore straight down on the enemy.
Both began to fire broadsides, and the firing from the American was so rapid that the Macedonian's crew shouted:
"She's on fire! Hurrah for England and her hearts of oak!"