The brig _Fair American_ was a privateer and a fast one. It came up with a fair breeze, soon reaching the _Hyder Ali_, which expected a fight. But the privateer wanted prizes more than cannon balls, and went straight on, firing a broadside that did no harm. Captain Barney let her go. The sloop-of-war was coming fast behind, and this was enough for him to attend to. It had more guns than his ship and they were double the weight--twelve-pounders to his six-pounders. As the war sloop came near, Barney turned to his helmsman, and said: "I want you to go opposite to my orders. If I tell you to port your helm, you are to put it hard-a-starboard. Do you understand?" "Aye, aye!" answered the tar. Up came the _General Monk_, its captain thinking to make an easy prize, as the _Fair American_ had been let go past without a shot. When about a dozen yards away the British captain hailed: "Strike your colors, or I will fire!" "Hard-a-port your helm," roared Barney to the man at the wheel. "Do you want her to run aboard us?" The order was heard on board the enemy, and the captain gave orders to meet the expected movement. But hard-a-starboard went the helm, and the _Hyder Ali_ swung round in front of the enemy, whose bowsprit caught and became entangled in her fore-rigging. This gave the American ship a raking position, and in a moment the grim tars were hard at work with their guns. Broadsides were poured in as fast as they could load and fire, and every shot swept from bow to stern. The Englishman, though he had double the weight of metal, could not get out of the awkward position in which Barney had caught him, and his guns did little harm. In less than half an hour down went his flag. It was none too soon. The frigate had seen the fight from a distance, and was making all haste to get out of its awkward position and take a hand in the game. Barney did not even wait to ask the name of his prize, but put a crew on board and bade them make all haste to Philadelphia. He followed, steering now for the _Fair American_. But the privateer captain had seen the fate of the _General Monk_ and concluded that he had business elsewhere. So he ran away instead of fighting, and soon ran ashore. The _Hyder Ali_ left him there and made all haste up stream. The frigate had by this time got out of her side channel, and was coming up under full sail. So Captain Barney crowded on all sail also and fled away after his prize. If the frigate had got within gunshot it would soon have settled the question, for it could have sunk the _Hyder Ali_ with a broadside. But it was not fast enough, and after a speedy run the victor and her prize drew up beside a Philadelphia wharf.