Sir George Collier, who commanded the British squadron in this chase, committed suicide ten years later because his utter failure was thrown into his face at a public gathering. The _Cyane_ reached New York on April 10th, and the _Constitution_ returned to Boston in May, to learn that the war was really ended when the battle took place. The Congress awarded a gold medal and a sword to Captain Stewart, and silver medals to the other officers under him for “gallantry, good-conduct, and services in the capture of the British vessels-of-war, the _Cyane_ and _Levant_, and a brave and skilful combat.” The fighting days of the _Constitution_--the _Old Ironsides_--the most famous ship of the American Navy--were done. The hastening decay of idleness eventually seized upon her timbers, and it was announced that she was to be broken up. But Oliver Wendell Holmes, of blessed memory, wrote a poem and she was spared. Generations of naval cadets have since learned the art of war and cultivated their natural love of the flag upon her decks, and now, although a hundred years have passed since the flag was first raised above her quarter-deck, her name still appears upon the naval register, and there it shall remain so long as one of her timbers will support another. And this is the poem that saved her: OLD IRONSIDES. Ay, tear her tattered ensign down! Long has it waved on high, And many an eye has danced to see That banner in the sky; Beneath it rung the battle shout, And burst the cannon’s roar; The meteor of the ocean air Shall sweep the clouds no more! Her deck, once red with heroes’ blood, Where knelt the vanquished foe, When winds were hurrying o’er the flood And waves were white below, No more shall feel the victor’s tread, Or know the conquered knee; The harpies of the shore shall pluck The eagle of the sea! O better that her shattered hulk Should sink beneath the wave; Her thunders shook the mighty deep, And there should be her grave; Nail to the mast her holy flag, Set every threadbare sail, And give her to the god of storms, The lightning and the gale. CHAPTER XII IN THE WASTES OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC THE STORY OF A BATTLE--THE _HORNET_ AND THE _PENGUIN_ IN THE SHADOWS OF TRISTAN D’ACUNHA--AS FAIR A MATCH AS IS KNOWN TO NAVAL ANNALS--IT TOOK THE YANKEES TEN MINUTES TO DISMANTLE THE ENEMY AND FIVE MORE TO RIDDLE HIS HULL--THE BRITISH CAPTAIN’S FORCEFUL DESCRIPTION OF THE YANKEE FIRE--A MARVELLOUS ESCAPE FROM A LINER--THE _PEACOCK_ IN THE STRAITS OF SUNDA--WHEN THE LONELY SITUATION OF THIS SLOOP IS CONSIDERED DID WARRINGTON SHOW A LACK OF HUMANITY?--IF HE DID, WHAT DID THE BRITISH CAPTAIN BARTHOLOMEW SHOW?