The puff of smoke, followed by the roar of the cannon, told of the passage of the shot, but it was not until the smoke had cleared away that it was seen that Tempest's shot had disabled the enemy's gun. But while the men were extinguishing the flames the brave Lieutenant Morris was attempting, with his own hands, to lash the two ships together. He saw that he should fail, and leaping upon the taffrail called on his men to follow him. Instantly Lieutenant Bush of the marines and Mr. Alwyn were by his side, when a volley from the British caused all three to fall back. Bush was killed instantly and the other two were badly wounded. The ships drifted asunder. Lieutenant Tempest went to the long gun and with a hurried request for permission to fire it, sighted with deliberation. A ringing cheer told of the result. The _Guerriere's_ foremast had been shot away and had dragged down the mainmast with it in its fall. The proud, trim-built and rigged Britisher was now a shapeless hulk, tossing on the waters without chance to retrieve its fallen fortunes. CHAPTER XII. ON THE VERGE OF SUCCESS. "'Why, here's a blow,' Said Dacres, as he hauled his flag below." Although the _Guerriere_ was a hopeless wreck, her captain, with true bulldog courage, kept the British ensign floating from the stump of her fallen mizzen-mast. The blow must have been severe to the gallant English officer, for he had fully believed the _Guerriere_ to be invulnerable. The _Constitution_ drew away, but kept firing continuously, and soon secured a raking position. Dacres' eyes filled with tears. "It is no use," he exclaimed to his first officer. "Haul down the flag." "Must we surrender?" asked the officer. "If I had only myself to consult I should say no. I would rather sink with the _Guerriere_ than live dishonored." "There is no dishonor in our defeat, captain; but we are all ready to fight until not a man lives." "I know it; but that would be murder on my part. Haul down the flag." The captain went below. He could not see the flag for which he had fought so bravely lowered in defeat. "Captain Orne, your compatriots have humbled me to-day," he said when he saw the American prisoner. "You are free." Orne could not express the jubilation he felt, for there was something pitiful in the anguish shown by the brave English captain. Lieutenant Read was dispatched by Captain Hull to board the prize. He saw Orne, whom he recognized, and clasped his hand in silence. Captain Dacres staggered to the deck. "Captain Hull presents his compliments," said the American lieutenant, "and wishes to know if you have struck your flag." Captain Dacres looked at the ship, its decks strewn with dead, and slippery with human blood, its shattered masts, and he answered dryly: "Well, sir, I don't know what to say. Our mizzen-mast is gone; our mainmast is gone; and I think, on the whole, you had better report that we have struck our flag."