Captain Biddle threw overboard some of his heavy spars, cut away the sheet anchor and flung several tons of kentledge into the sea.
This helped matters somewhat, but the stranger continued slowly to gain, and secured such a position that Captain Biddle was obliged to go about.
Still he could not shake off the bulldog at his heels, and at daylight he was near enough to begin barking with the bow guns.

Although the shot did not strike the _Hornet_, Captain Biddle dropped his remaining anchors into the sea, including six guns, launch, cables, and everything not absolutely necessary.
The lightening was so considerable that for the first time the _Hornet_ began drawing away from her persistent pursuer.

At the end of a few hours, however, he began creeping up again, and Captain Biddle tumbled overboard all his guns except one, most of his shot, his extra spars, cutlasses, muskets, forge and bell, and indeed everything of which he could free himself.

Not only that, but the men lay down on the quarter deck to help trim the ship.
All in vain.

The shot and shell whistled about the _Hornet_, the enemy came closer, and every American prepared to submit as gracefully as possible to the inevitable.