Soon a large vessel was seen from the deck. On went the Yankee ship with flying flag and bellying sails. The strange ship waited as if ready for a fight. When the Constitution drew near, the stranger hoisted the British flag and began to fire her great guns.
It was the Guerriere. When he saw the Stars and Stripes, Captain Dacres said to his men:
"That is a Yankee frigate. She will be ours in forty-five minutes. If you take her in fifteen, I promise you four months pay."
It is never best to be too sure, as Captain Dacres was to find.
The Guerriere kept on firing at a distance, but Captain Hull continued to take in sail and get his ship in fighting trim, without firing a gun. After a time Lieutenant Morris came up and said to him:
"The British have killed two of our men. Shall we return their fire?"
"Not yet," said Captain Hull. "Wait a while."
He waited until the ships were almost touching, and then he roared out:
"Now, boys; pour it into them!"
Then came a roaring broadside that went splintering through the British hull, doing more damage than all the Guerriere's fire.