The _Constitution_ appeared off Boston Light on August 30th, dressed in fluttering bunting. Look-outs along shore saw and understood these signals, and horsemen, wild with enthusiasm, galloped into the city. Cannon roared from every fort as she sailed up the harbor, and flags were flung to the breeze from every mast-head. The people in thousands gathered at the long wharf to welcome her. A banquet was given to the officers in Faneuil Hall, where the venerable John Adams, the first advocate of a national navy in the old Colonial Congress, presided. Congress voted a gold medal to Captain Hull and silver medals to the commissioned officers, and $50,000 to the whole crew. A piece of plate was given to Lieutenant Morris by his townsmen. The citizens of Portland, Maine (Falmouth), gave a sword to their townsman, Lieutenant Alexander Scammel Wadsworth. Virginia gave swords to Midshipmen Morgan and Taylor. The people had looked upon the navy with doubt; they had seen with anxious fear the _Constitution_ sail away. But now the whole nation went wild, and the song of the exultant poet rang wherever the people gathered: Ye tars of Columbia, whose glory imparts New charms to the blessings your valor secures, Oh! high be your hopes and undaunted your hearts, For the wishes and prayers of a nation are yours. CHAPTER VI FOUGHT IN A HATTERAS GALE WHEN THE SECOND YANKEE _WASP_ FELL IN WITH THE BRITISH _FROLIC_--THEY TUMBLED ABOUT IN THE CROSS SEA IN A WAY THAT DESTROYED THE BRITISH “AIM,” BUT THE YANKEES WATCHED THE ROLL OF THEIR SHIP, AND WHEN THEY WERE DONE THEY HAD KILLED AND WOUNDED NINE-TENTHS OF THE ENEMY’S CREW AND WRECKED HIS VESSEL--THE _FROLIC_ WAS A LARGER SHIP, CARRIED MORE GUNS, AND HAD ALL THE MEN SHE COULD USE, “FINE, ABLE-BODIED SEAMEN,” SURE ENOUGH! Of glorious memory was the little Yankee sloop-of-war _Wasp_. Though carrying the rig of a ship--square sails on three masts, she was of the size of one of the smaller schooners that in these days cruise along the United States coast. She measured, that is to say, four hundred and fifty tons. But being built to a different model, she stood somewhat higher out of water than the schooners do. Her guns included sixteen short thirty-twos and two long twelves. Her commander in 1812 was Captain Jacob Jones, a Delaware sailor who had worked his way up, beginning as a midshipman under Captain Barry. [Illustration: Jacob Jones. _From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by Rembrandt Peale._]