Captain Dacres offered his sword, but the American captain would not take it.
"No, no," he said, "I will not take a sword from one who knows so well how to use it. But I'll trouble you for that hat."
What did he mean by that, you ask? Well, the two captains had met some time before the war, and Dacres had offered to bet a hat that the Guerriere would whip the Constitution. Hull accepted the bet, and he had won.
All day and night the boats were kept busy in carrying the prisoners, well and hurt, to the Constitution. When daylight came again it was reported that the Guerriere was filling with water and ready to sink.
She could not be saved, so she was set on fire. Rapidly the flames spread until they reached her magazine. Then came a fearful explosion, and a black cloud of smoke hung over the place where the ship had floated. When it moved away only some floating planks were to be seen. The proud Guerriere would never trouble Yankee sailors again.