be brought to bear. The only possible chance for escape lay in
crippling the big craft with a lucky shot; but broadside after
broadside was fired, and still the great ship came rushing along in
the wake of the flying privateer. Closer and closer drew the bulky
man-of-war, until her bow crept past the stern of the "Yankee Hero,"
and the marines upon her forecastle poured down a destructive volley
of musketry upon the brig's crowded deck. The plight of the privateer
was now a desperate one. Her heavy antagonist was close alongside, and
towered high above her, so that the marines on the quarter-deck and
forecastle of the Englishman were on a level with the leading blocks
of the Yankee. From the depressed guns of the frigate, a murderous
fire poured down upon the smaller craft. For an hour and twenty
minutes the two vessels continued the fight, pouring hot broadsides
into each other, and separated by less than a hundred feet of water.
The brisk breeze blowing carried away the clouds of smoke, and left
the men on the deck of the Yankee no protection from sharp-shooters on
the enemy's deck. Accordingly, the execution was frightful. Tracy,
from his post on the quarter-deck, saw his men falling like sheep,
while the continual volleys of the great ship had so cut the cordage
of the weaker vessel that escape was impossible. At last a musket-ball
struck Capt. Tracy in the thigh, and he fell bleeding to the deck. For
a moment his men wavered at their guns; but he called manfully to
them, from where he lay, to fight on boldly for the honor of the
"Yankee Hero." Two petty officers had rushed to his assistance; and he
directed them to lay him upon a chest of arms upon the quarter-deck,
whence he might direct the course of the battle. But, strong though
was his spirit, his body was too weak to perform the task he had
allotted it; and, growing faint from pain and loss of blood, he was
carried below.

He lay unconscious for a few minutes, but was recalled to his senses
by the piteous cries of wounded men by whom he was surrounded. When he
came to himself, he saw the cabin filled with grievously wounded
people, bleeding and suffering for lack of surgical aid. The firing of
the privateer had ceased, but the enemy was still pouring in pitiless
broadsides. Enraged at this spectacle, Capt. Tracy ordered his men to
re-open the conflict, and directed that he be taken in a chair to the
quarter-deck. But, on getting into the chair, he was suddenl