Having taken the risk, Captain Hull coasted along to the north as far as the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. On August 15th five vessels were seen in a bunch, and on approaching them, four scattered away, leaving the fifth, a brig, on fire. One was chased and found to be an English merchantman in the hands of an American prize crew. Before night the American brig _Adeline_ was overhauled and taken from the British prize crew found on board of her. On the night of the 18th a third vessel was overhauled after a smart race, and this was an unfortunate affair, for she proved to be the American privateer _Decatur_, of fourteen guns, twelve of which had been thrown overboard in her mad race with the _Constitution_. From the captain of the _Decatur_ Captain Hull learned that a British frigate had been seen the day before steering to the southward under easy sail. On hearing that, Captain Hull crowded the canvas on the _Constitution_ in chase of her. There were light westerly breezes during the night and early morning following, but as the day wore on the breeze canted to the northwest and freshened until the _Constitution_, with all plain sail set, was bowling along at little less than the speed she attained in her spurt away from the fleet off Barnegat. Until after dinner nothing was seen, but before the 2-o’clock bell was struck the lookout astride the fore-royal-yard stirred the crew with the prolonged cry of “Sail-ho!” It is said that half the men about deck climbed into the rigging in their eagerness to see the stranger, and within a few minutes their curiosity was gratified, when it appeared plainly that she was a large ship steering to the southwest. So, with sheets eased, the _Constitution_ headed away for her, and by half-past 3 o’clock the Yankee crew had not only learned that she was a British frigate, but that her captain was ready to fight, for he set his flag and made no effort to get away. The first measure of strength between a British and an American frigate--the battle between the _Guerrière_ and the _Constitution_--was at hand. Over on the _Guerrière_, Captain Dacres, when he first saw the _Constitution_ boldly bearing down upon him, was doubtful about her character, and he was good enough to consult in the matter with an American prisoner whom he had on board--Captain Orne, of the American brig _Betsey_, captured some time before. The American skipper said it was a Yankee frigate that was coming. To this Captain Dacres replied that he thought she came down too boldly for an American, but added: “The better he behaves the more honor we shall gain by taking him.” A little later, when the colors had been displayed, he called out to the crew: “There is a Yankee frigate; in forty-five minutes she is certainly ours. Take her in fifteen and I promise you four months’ pay.”