While these two were approaching each other the _Essex_ overhauled the vessel she was pursuing, and found it was the British whaler _Charlton_ of ten guns and twenty-one men. Her captain informed Porter that the stranger approaching the _Greenwich_ was the _Seringapatam_, a ship of 357 tons, carrying fourteen guns and forty men. She not only outweighed the metal of the _Greenwich_, but had a larger crew, and was the most dangerous ship in those waters. Nevertheless Porter saw serenely the two ships engage in battle, nor was his confidence in his officers and men misplaced, for, after a brief conflict, the _Seringapatam_ hauled down her flag. A little later, however, she suddenly made sail and strove to escape. The _Greenwich_ at once opened fire on her and kept it up until the British flag was lowered again. It is likely, however, that the _Seringapatam_ would have escaped but for the rapid approach of the _Essex_, for she could outsail the _Greenwich_. Meantime the third ship, the _New Zealander_, of eight guns and twenty-three men, was taken by the _Essex_. On overhauling the papers of the _Seringapatam_ it appeared that, although she had no commission either as privateer or letter of marque, she had captured one American whaler, trusting to have the capture legalized by a commission she was expecting to arrive. As his act was really one of piracy the captain was sent to the United States for trial, but he was not convicted. The other prisoners were put on the _Charlton_ and sent under parole to Rio Janeiro. The guns of the _New Zealander_ were transferred to the _Seringapatam_, giving her a battery of twenty-two, though this was of no great use, save for one broadside, for the reason that she had only men enough to work her sails. Then the _Georgiana_ was loaded with a full cargo of oil, manned with such of the crew of the _Essex_ as had served their full time and also wished to go home (most of those whose time was up re-shipped in the _Essex_), and on July 25th she sailed for the United States. The _Essex_ with the other three headed for Albemarle Island, and on July 28th sighted another British whaler. It was a region and a season of light airs and calms, but the _Essex_ rigged a drag that when dropped in the water from the spritsail-yard was hauled aft by a line running through a block on the end of an outrigger aft, and this, although laborious, gave the ship a speed of two knots per hour. As the whaler got out boats to tow his ship, Porter sent a couple of boats of musketeers to drive them on board again. So she was headed off and then other boats were sent to board her. The stranger then hauled down her flag, but before the boats could get alongside a breeze came. At that she hoisted her colors, fired on the Yankee boats and escaped, for the _Essex_ did not get the wind until too late. Porter was greatly mortified for the reason that this was the first ship that had escaped him.