"C-o-n-s-t-i-t-u-t-i-o-n."
"The Peacock will lose its tail," said Scarron.
"We shall see some fun," added Mr. Webster.
And the Lively Bee saluted the big war ship, and awaited further developments.
The Peacock, finding itself too far away from the Constitution, fired a broadside at the privateer, which had allowed itself to get within range.
The shots tore up a portion of the deck, and a splinter struck Vernon on the shoulder, ploughing a furrow through his flesh.
Tempest applied the match to his long gun again, and as the shot flew through the air, he prayed it might disable the Britisher.
A cry of distress was plainly heard from the Peacock, and later it was known that the captain and four of his men had been killed by that shot.
The senior officer turned the ship about, and instead of being the pursuer was now the pursued.
The men on the Constitution cheered the little privateer, and the salute was warmly responded to by our friends.