The _Constitution_ kept two kedges going all through that summer day, but the _Shannon_ was playing the same game, and the two ships maintained their relative positions.

They shot at each other at such long range that no damage was done.

Before dusk the _Guerriere_ caught a slant of breeze and worked nearer enough to bang away at the _Constitution_, which was, indeed, between the devil and the deep sea.
Night came on.

The sailors, British and American, toiled until they dropped in their tracks, pulling at the kedge anchors and hawsers or bending to the sweeps of the cutters which towed at intervals and were exposed to the spatter of shot.

It seemed impossible that the _Constitution_ could slip clear of this pack of able frigates which trailed her like hounds.