His accumulated sixty chronometers were sent ashore, and the motto displayed by his ship was "_Aide toi et Dieu t'aidera_," meaning, "Help yourself and God will help you," another version of the old adage, "God helps them that help themselves." The church chimes were sending out their mellow notes on the warm summer air when the _Alabama_ began slowly steaming out of the harbor.

She was cheered by the sympathetic thousands, who heard the drums beating to quarters, and fervently prayed that their favorite might return victorious.
Winslow neglected nothing in the way of preparation.

While calmly confident, his experience had taught him that such a contest is often decided by a chance shot, and he knew that the doom of one of the ships would be sealed before the set of sun.

Having done all he could, he committed everything to the God of battles, content to abide by His will, whatever it might be.
It was about ten o'clock that Winslow, with his glass pointed toward shore, saw the head of the _Alabama_ coming round the point of the mole, some three miles distant.

He immediately beat to quarters.