ttention.

The American cause on the water suffered some rather severe reverses
in the early part of 1777. In March, the brig "Cabot" fell in with the
British frigate "Milford," and was so hard pressed that she was run
ashore on the coast of Nova Scotia. The crew had hardly time to get
ashore before the British took possession of the stranded craft. The
Americans were left helpless, in a wild and little settled country,
but finally made their way through the woods to a harbor. Here they
found a coasting schooner lying at anchor, upon which they promptly
seized, and in which they escaped to Portsmouth. In the mean time, the
British had got the "Cabot" afloat again.

Two months later, or in the early part of May, two United States
vessels, the "Hancock" thirty-two, Capt. Manly, and the "Boston"
twenty-four, Capt. Hector McNeil, sailed in company from Boston. When
a few days out, a strange sail was sighted, and proved to be a
British frigate. The "Hancock" soon came near enough to her to
exchange broadsides, as the two vessels were going on opposite tacks.
The enemy, however, seemed anxious to avoid a conflict, and exerted
every effort to escape. Manly, having great confidence in the speed of
his ship, gave chase. Calling the people from the guns, he bade them
make a leisurely breakfast, and get ready for the work before them.
The "Hancock" soon overhauled the chase, which began firing her guns
as fast as they would bear. The Americans, however, made no response
until fairly alongside, when they let fly a broadside with ringing
cheers. The action lasted for an hour and a half before the enemy
struck. She proved to be the "Fox," twenty-eight. She was badly cut up
by the American fire, and had thirty-two dead and wounded men on
board. The loss on the "Hancock" amounted to only eight men. In this
running fight the "Boston" was hopelessly distanced, coming up just in
time to fire a gun as the British ensign came fluttering from the
peak.

Putting a prize crew on the "Fox," the three vessels continued their
cruise. A week passed, and no sail was seen. Somewhat rashly Capt.
Manly turned his ship's prow toward Halifax, then, as now, the chief
British naval station on the American coast. When the three ships
appeared off the entrance to the harbor of Halifax, the British
men-of-war inside quickly spied them, raised anchor, and came crowding
out in hot pursuit. There was the "Rainbow" forty-four, the "Flora"
thirty-two, and the