At two in the morning the _Hornet_ tacked to the southward and westward, and immediately the enemy astern did likewise. At daylight the line-of-battle ship was within gunshot on the _Hornet’s_ lee quarter. At seven in the morning the English colors were displayed at the peak of the Britisher, and a rear-admiral’s flag was flown at his mizzen-topgallant mast-head. At the same time he began firing from his bow guns--it must be assumed more as an imperious order for the _Hornet_ to show her colors and heave to than with an idea of crippling her, for the shot overreached her about a mile. Biddle paid no attention at all, but having ascertained that the lightening of his ship made her much faster, he went at it again, cutting away the remaining anchors, and letting every foot of cable go overboard. Then he broke up the launch and left the débris in the wake. Even the provisions were broken into, and barrels of salt-horse and bread thrown out upon the waters. Then more kentledge followed, and, tapping the magazines, he threw over all but a dozen or so of round shot. Then over went the capstan, which was no easy job, and they began on the guns; one after another they plashed overboard. All this time the _Cornwallis_, the great seventy-four, kept up a continual firing, to which no reply was made. In fact, for four hours the English gunners displayed the worst marksmanship on record, for their shot continually went ahead of and all around the _Hornet_ without once striking her, although several passed between her masts.