Such a rigid disciplinarian as Captain Carden would listen to no protests from them, and, should the stranger prove to be an American, it would be a choice between helping to fight her or being shot down by their own officers.
The approaching frigate went through a number of evolutions of such a rapid and brilliant nature that the Englishmen murmured their admiration.

Through their glasses the officers could see groups of men on the quarter deck scanning them closely, while glimpses of sailors were caught as they moved about the deck and of the gun crews standing quietly at their stations.

Then, when there was a change of direction, parties of marines were observed in her tops, muskets in hand, coolly awaiting the time when the ships would engage at close quarters.
While Captain Carden and his officers were in doubt whether the ship was a French one she gave her colors to the breeze.

They were the Stars and Stripes of the American Republic.

One of the finest of its frigates had thrown down the gage of battle to as superb a frigate as belonged to the British navy.
Since all doubt of her nationality was dispelled, one of the American seamen walked resolutely to Captain Carden, saluted and told him that he and his companions had no wish to fight the flag of their country.