Leaving the capes of the Chesapeake on July 12, 1812, the _Constitution_ beat her way slowly through light airs up the coast for five days. Then on Friday, the 17th, at 2 P.M., “being in twenty-two fathoms of water off Egg Harbor” (from twelve to fourteen miles offshore) “four sail of ships were discovered from the mast-head, to the northward and inshore--apparently ships-of-war.” Captain Hull thought they were the American squadron under Commodore Rodgers, and so held on his drifting course. Two hours later the lookout saw another sail. The others were northwesterly from the _Constitution_, but this one was in the northeast, and she was heading for the _Constitution_ under full sail. But the fact that she was under full sail must not be taken as indicating that she was making any great headway. In fact, at sundown she was still so far off that her signals could not be made out. However, this ship in the northeast was manifestly alone, and so Captain Hull stood for her. She might be a friend, but if she and the others were of the enemy it would be safer to attack the single one. At about this time the breeze shifted to the south, and, wearing around, Captain Hull set studding-sails to starboard to help him along, and then as the light was fading in the west he beat to quarters. And thereafter with the men at their guns and peering through the ports for glimpses of the stranger the two ships drew slowly toward each other. But they did not get together. At 10 o’clock Captain Hull hoisted his secret night-signal, by which American ships were to know each other, and kept it up for an hour. The stranger being unable to answer, it was plainly an enemy. Captain Hull had correctly concluded that the ships inshore were also of the enemy. So he “hauled off to the southward and eastward and made all sail.” [Illustration: Isaac Hull. _From an engraving, at the Navy Department, Washington, of the painting by Stuart._] As the event proved, the lone ship for which the _Constitution_ had been heading was the _Guerrière_, Captain Dacres, while the squadron in the northwest included the ship-of-the-line _Africa_, the frigates _Shannon_, _Belvidera_, and _Eolus_, and the United States brig _Nautilus_ that the squadron had captured a short time before. The squadron was under Captain Philip Vere Broke, of the _Shannon_, and it had been sent out from Halifax immediately after the squadron of Commodore Rodgers had vainly chased the _Belvidera_.