We all appeared cheerful, but I know that many a serious thought ran through my mind.

Still, what could we do but keep up a semblance at least of animation?
To run from our quarters would have been certain death from the hands of our own officers; to give way to gloom or show fear would do no good and might brand us with the name of cowards and insure certain defeat." In the desperate hope of warding off defeat, Captain Garden now ordered his helm aport and directed that boarders be called.

The response was prompt, for the British sailor fights with unsurpassable heroism, but at the critical moment the forebrace was carried away, the ship was thrown into the wind and exposed to a raking fire.

The American instantly seized the advantage and swept the decks with murderous destructiveness.
In a brief time the _Macedonian_ was completely disabled.

Her rigging was in tatters and splinters and her hull had been pierced by more than a hundred shot, many of which struck between wind and water.
[Illustration: BATTLE BETWEEN THE "UNITED STATES" AND THE "MACEDONIAN."] Finally the American ceased firing and drew off to make the few repairs that were necessary.