h captain shouted a greeting to David Porter and politely
conveyed his compliments, adding that his own ship was also ready for
action. So close were the two frigates at this moment that the jib-boom
of the _Phoebe_ hung over the bulwarks of the _Essex_, and Porter called
out sharply that if so much as a rope was touched he would reply with a
broadside. The urbane Captain Hillyar, perceiving his disadvantage,
exclaimed, "I had no intention of coming so near you. I am very sorry
indeed." With that he moved his ship to a respectful distance. Later he
had a chat with Captain Porter ashore and, when asked if he intended to
maintain the neutrality of the port, made haste to protest, "Sir, you
have been so careful to observe the rules that I feel myself bound in
honor to do the same."

After a few days the _Phoebe_ and the _Cherub_ left the harbor and
watchfully waited outside, enforcing a strict blockade and determined to
render the _Essex_ harmless unless she should choose to sally out and
fight. David Porter was an intrepid but not a reckless sailor. He had
the faster frigate but he had unluckily changed her battery from the
long guns to the more numerous but shorter range carronades. He was not
afraid to risk a duel with the _Phoebe_ even with this handicap in
armament, but the sloop-of-war _Cherub_ was a formidable vessel for her
size and the _Essex, Junior_, which was only a converted merchantman,
was of small account in a hammer-and-tongs action between naval ships.

For his part, Captain Hillyar had no intention of letting the Yankee
frigate escape him. "He was an old disciple of Nelson," observes Mahan,
"fully imbued with the teaching that the achievement of success and not
personal glory must dictate action. Having a well established reputation
for courage and conduct, he intended to leave nothing to the chances of
fortune which might decide a combat between equals. He therefore would
accept no provocation to fight without the _Cherub_. His duty was to
destroy the _Essex_ with the least possible loss."

Porter endured this vexatious situation for six weeks and then, learning
that other British frigates were on his trail, determined to escape to
the open sea. This decision involved waiting for the most favorable
moment of wind and weather, but Porter found his hand forced on the 28th
of March by a violent southerly gale which swept over the exposed bay of
Valparaiso and dragged the _Essex_ from her anchorage. One of