It was necessary to slacken speed for a time, and as she did so the Brooklyn again recovered her advantage.

Then gradually the foaming in the Sumter's boilers ceased, and she was again put to her speed.

The utmost pressure was put on; the propeller began to move at the rate of sixty-five revolutions a minute, and the Brooklyn once more dropped slowly but steadily astern.
At length she gave up the chase, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, just four hours after crossing the bar, the crew of the Sumter gave three hearty cheers as her baffled pursuer put up her helm, and, relinquishing the chase, turned sullenly back to her station at the mouth of the river..