At the very outset of this voyage, however, was a serious obstacle.All are stripped to the waist and at many north carolina resorts and spas a gun the fair skin of the American sailor gleams white by the side of some swarthy Spaniard, or still darker negro.Nor did he desire to avoid the battle thus offered.The boarders were slow in coming up, and but twenty men followed Broke as he north carolina resorts and spas climbed to the deck of the Chesapeake.The inhabitants made every attempt to drive away the blockaders and in the course of this prolonged struggle there appeared, for almost the first time in the history of warfare, that most terrible of offensive weapons, the submarine torpedo.His ship might not, like the Peacock, merit the title of the yacht but for active service she north carolina resorts and spas was always prepared.Broke sprang forward, and dealt a mighty stroke of his keen cutlass at the chaplain's head, who saved himself by taking the blow on his arm.Budd called north carolina resorts and spas upon the men to follow him, and drive the boarders back to their own ship.But it would seem that the good genius which had watched over that starry banner throughout the war was loath to see it disgraced for the officer had hardly finished his work, when a grape shot from his own ship struck him, and he fell dead.Added to this evil north carolina resorts and spas was the fact that the first and second lieutenants and two acting lieutenants were away on sick leave, and the ship was thus left short of officers on the eve of battle.