This was to be only the beginning of it. Now and then breezes would spring from the southward, and the tired sailors would seize the occasion to throw themselves on the deck and rest, often falling asleep leaning across the guns--the crews had never left their quarters. From eleven o’clock in the evening until past midnight the breeze held strong enough to keep the _Constitution_ in advance. Then it fell dead calm once more. Captain Hull decided to give his men the much-needed respite; and, except for those aloft and the man at the wheel, they slept at their posts; but at 2 A.M. the boats were out again. [Illustration: THE “CONSTITUTION” TOWING AND KEDGING] During this respite the _Guerrière_ had gained, and was off the lee beam. It seemed as if it were impossible to avoid an action, and Hull had found that two of his heavy stern-chasers were almost worse than useless, as the blast of their discharge threatened to blow out the stern-quarters, owing to the overhanging of the wood-work and the shortness of the guns. The soundings had run from twenty-six to twenty-four fathoms, and now Hull was afraid of getting into deeper water, where kedging would be of no use. At daybreak three of the enemy’s frigates had crept up to within long gunshot on the lee quarter, and the _Guerrière_ maintained her position on the beam. The _Africa_, the ship of the line, and the two smaller vessels had fallen far behind. Slowly but surely the _Belvidera_ drew ahead of the _Guerrière_, and at last she was almost off the _Constitution’s_ bow when she tacked. Hull, to preserve his position and the advantage of being to windward, was obliged to follow suit. It must have been a wondrous sight at this moment to the unskilled eye; escape would have seemed impossible, for the American was apparently in the midst of the foe. Rapidly approaching her on another tack was the frigate _Æolus_ within long range, but she and the _Constitution_ passed one another without firing. The breeze freshening, Hull hoisted in his boats, and the weary rowers rested their strained arms. All the English vessels rounded upon the same tack as the _Constitution_, and now the five frigates had out all their kites, and were masses of shining canvas from their trucks to the water’s edge. Counting the _Constitution_, eleven sail were in sight, and soon a twelfth appeared to the windward. It was evident that she was an American merchantman, as she threw out her colors upon sighting the squadron. The Englishmen did not despatch a vessel to pursue her, but to encourage her to come down to them they all flew the stars and stripes. Hull straightway, as a warning, drew down his own flag and set the English ensign. This had the desired effect, and the merchantman hauled on the wind and made his best efforts to escape.