The news that “the _Constitution_ is again cruising,” was quickly learned on the blockading squadron on its return to the station, for the British had spies a-plenty in all American ports, and especially among the Federalist party in New England. The dread announcement was sent by every passing British vessel in all directions, “and thereafter British ships-of-the-line maintained a double lookout, and their smaller frigates sailed in couples, while their sloops-of-war stood away from every sail that bore the least resemblance to the _Constitution_.” On December 24th, off the Bermudas, the British merchant-ship _Lord Nelson_ was taken. She sailed thence by the way of the Madeiras to the Portuguese coast, and there “for several days cruised within sight of the Rock of Lisbon.” Here, on February 18, 1815, Captain Stewart went in chase of the big liner _Elizabeth_ without knowing what he was after, but he left her to follow a smaller sail seen a little later, and so fell in with a British merchant-ship, the _Susan_, which was taken. Meantime, the British liner arrived at Lisbon, where he learned that the _Constitution_ was offshore. And as it happened, the British frigate _Tiber_ was there and the _Tiber_ was commanded by the Captain Dacres who had been so handsomely beaten in the _Guerrière_ by the _Constitution_ under Hull. Straightway the two started in chase of the Yankee, but they never had the satisfaction of overtaking her. For the _Constitution_, with equal, if not greater, speed, was returning once more down-wind toward the Madeiras. A right curious story of this passage is told by Richard Watson Gilder in “Hours at Home.” He says that, on February 19th, while a group of lieutenants were standing on the quarter-deck of the _Constitution_ talking about the fact that they had met no enemy of equal force during the cruise, and calling it ill-luck, they were approached by Captain Stewart, who had overheard their talk. He said: “I assure you, gentlemen, that before the sun again rises and sets, you will be engaged in battle with the enemy, and it will not be with a single ship.” Captain Stewart was a man subject to presentiments. He believed in them, and this one foreshadowed a combat such as he described and within the time-limit.