Now the British had a fine frigate named the Guerriere. This vessel was one of the fleet that had given the Constitution such a hot chase a few days before. Captain Dacres, her commander, and Captain Hull were personal friends, and had wagered a hat on the result of a possible battle between their frigates. The British captain had just written a challenge to the commander of our fleet, saying that he should like to meet any frigate of the United States, to have a few minutes _tete-a-tete_. On the afternoon of August 19, about seven hundred miles northeast of Boston, these two finest frigates in the world, the Guerriere and the Constitution, met for the "interview" that Dacres so much wanted. All is hurry and bustle on "Old Ironsides." {177} "Clear for action!" shrilly sounds the boatswain's whistle. The fife and drum call to quarters. Everybody hurries to his place. The British frigate, as if in defiance, flings out a flag from each topmast. Her big guns flash, but the balls fall short. "Don't fire until I give the word," orders Captain Hull. Now the Guerriere, drawing nearer and nearer, pours in a broadside. "Shall we not fire, sir?" asks Lieutenant Morris. "Not yet," is Hull's reply. Another broadside tears through the rigging, wounding several men. The sailors are restless at their double-shotted guns. Now the two frigates are fairly abreast, and within pistol shot of each other. "Now, boys, do your duty. Fire!" shouts the gallant commander, at the top of his voice. Hull is a short and stout man. As he leans over to give the order to fire, his breeches burst from hip to knee. The men roar with laughter. There is no time to waste, however, and so he finishes the battle in his laughable plight. An officer, pointing to the captain, cries, "Hull her, boys! hull her!" The men, catching the play upon words, shout, "Hull her! Yes, we'll hull her!" {178} "Old Ironsides" now lets fly a terrible broadside at close range. The Guerriere's mizzenmast goes overboard. "My lads, you have made a brig of that craft!" cries Hull. "Wait a moment, sir, and we'll make her a sloop!" shout back the sailors. Sure enough, the Guerriere swings round and gets a raking fire, which cuts away the foremast and much of the rigging, and leaves her a helpless hulk in the trough of the sea. The flag goes down with the rigging, and there is nothing to do but to surrender. In just thirty minutes, the British frigate is a wreck. During the hottest part of the battle, a sailor, at least so runs the story, saw a cannon ball strike the side of the vessel and fall back into the sea. "Hurrah, boys! hurrah for 'Old Ironsides'!" he shouted to his mates; "her sides are made of iron." Some say that from this incident the nickname of "Old Ironsides" took its origin. Captain Hull received his old friend Dacres, kindly, on board the Constitution, and said, "I see you are wounded, Dacres. Let me help you."