_From an engraving by Hoogland of the picture by Corné._] At 7 o’clock one of these long twenty-fours was tried on the _Shannon_, but the ball fell short. It did some good, however, for it showed the enemy that their boats were in danger, and so prevented their towing fairly within gunshot. But this by no means freed the _Constitution_. If they did not dare tow up within range astern, they could with their superior forces tow their vessels out on each side of her, and so far surround her as to absolutely prevent her escape when a wind did come, and the situation was apparently more nearly hopeless for the _Constitution_ than at any time since the chase began. In this emergency the wit of the “smart Yankee” executive officer of the _Constitution_--Lieutenant Charles Morris--gave the ship a new lease of life. Morris had had experience in towing a ship through crooked channels by means of a light anchor carried ahead with a line attached to haul on. This method of towing is called kedging. Dropping a lead-line over the rail, Morris found that the water was but one hundred and fifty-six feet deep, and suggested at once that they kedge her along. A few minutes later the _Constitution’s_ largest boat was rowing away ahead with a small anchor on board, and stretching out a half mile of lines and cables knotted together. When that anchor was dropped to the bottom the men on the ship began to haul in on the line--to walk away with it at a smart pace, and the speed of the _Constitution_, which at best had been no more than a mile an hour, was at once trebled. She was literally clawing her way out of trouble, clear of the enemy. Meantime another kedge and a fresh line were made ready, so that by the time the crew had tracked the ship to the first anchor a second one was in the mud a half mile ahead and ready for them. In this way a substantial gain was made on the enemy, who lagged under the slower work of the men towing with small boats. [Illustration: Towing a Becalmed Frigate. _From a picture drawn and engraved by Baugean._] Finally, at 9.10 A.M., a light air was seen on the oil-smooth water in the south. The yards of the _Constitution_ were at once braced sharp up to meet it, and by the time its breath had filled the sails the willing crew had the boats alongside and hoisted out of the water--some to the davits where they belonged, and some lifted by spare spars, rigged over the rail, just clear of the water, where they could be dropped the instant they were needed.