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diff --git a/old/63209-0.txt b/old/63209-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5565c1e..0000000 --- a/old/63209-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5007 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Decatur and Somers, by Molly Elliot Seawell, -Illustrated by W. Granville Smith, J. O. Davidson, George Gibbs, and F. -Cresson Schell - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Decatur and Somers - Young Heroes of Our Navy - - -Author: Molly Elliot Seawell - - - -Release Date: September 15, 2020 [eBook #63209] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECATUR AND SOMERS*** - - -E-text prepared by D A Alexander, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 63209-h.htm or 63209-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/63209/63209-h/63209-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/63209/63209-h.zip) - - -Transcriber’s note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -[Illustration: The meeting of the two young captains.] - - -DECATUR AND SOMERS - -by - -M. ELLIOT SEAWELL - -Author of Paul Jones, Little Jarvis, Midshipman Paulding, Children of -Destiny, Maid Marian, Throckmorton, etc. - -Illustrated - - -[Illustration: D.A.&C.] - - -Third Edition - - - - - - -New York -D. Appleton and Company -1896 - -Copyright, 1894, -By D. Appleton and Company. - -Electrotyped and Printed -at the Appleton Press, U. S. A. - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - FACING PAGE - The meeting of the two young captains. _Frontispiece_ - W. Granville Smith - The new master’s mate. 12 - W. Granville Smith - The sinking of the French privateer. 23 - J. O. Davidson - The Enterprise capturing the Tripolitan pirate. 51 - J. O. Davidson - The expedition to destroy the Philadelphia. 108 - George Gibbs - Exploding the “infernal” at Tripoli. 165 - F. Cresson Schell - - - - - DECATUR AND SOMERS. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - -The blue and beautiful Delaware Bay, bathed in a faint haze, looked its -loveliest, one evening about sunset, in June, 1798. The sky above was -clear, and, although there was no moon, the stars were coming out -brilliantly in the sky, that was of a darker blue than the water. The -sun had gone down, but the west was rosy yet. The green, low-lying -country around looked ineffably peaceful, and the only sound that broke -the charmed silence was the rattling of the capstan as a noble frigate, -lying in the stream, hove up her anchor. - -Although the brief, enchanted twilight was over all the earth and sea, -the graceful outlines of this lovely frigate were clearly defined -against the opaline sky. She was stoutly sparred, but in such exquisite -proportions that from her rail up she had the delicate beauty of a -yacht. But one look at her lofty hull, and the menacing armament she -carried showed that she could take care of herself in a fight, as well -as run away when she had enough of it. Every rope and every spar was -“ship-shape and Bristol fashion.” Her bright work shone like gold, and -the rows of glistening hammocks in the nettings were as white as snow. -Everything about her was painted an immaculate white, except the hull, -which was a polished black. A gorgeous figure-head ornamented her keen -bows, and across her stern, in great gold letters, was her name—United -States. Such, indeed, was her official name, but from the day she had -first kissed the water she had been nicknamed “Old Wagoner,” because of -the steadiness with which she traveled. Other vessels might be delayed -by vexing calms, but “Old Wagoner” was pretty sure to strike a favoring -breeze that seemed specially reserved for her. And when old Boreas was -in a rage, it was in vain that he poured out all the fury of his -tempests upon her. She could go through a roaring gale like a stormy -petrel, and come out of it without losing a sail or a spar. - -A little way off from “Old Wagoner” lay a trim and handsome little -sloop-of-war carrying twenty guns—the Delaware—a fit companion for the -great frigate. On both ships were indications of speedy departure, and -all the orderly bustle that accompanies making sail on a ship of war. -The boats were all hoisted in except the first cutter, and that was -being pulled rapidly through the fast-darkening water. In it was a very -young lieutenant, who was afterward to distinguish himself as Commodore -Stewart, and two young midshipmen, just joined, and each of the three -was destined to add something to the reputation that “Old Wagoner” -gained in after-years, of having been a nursery of naval heroes. - -Both of these young midshipmen were about eighteen. One of -them—Decatur—looked older, from his height and strength, as well as from -his easy and confident address. The other one—Somers—seemed younger, -because of a singularly quiet and diffident manner. The lieutenant, in -the stern-sheets, engaged in steering the cutter through the mist upon -the water without colliding with any of the fishing smacks with which -the bay was dotted, yet found time to ask some questions of the young -midshipmen, with whom he had long been well acquainted. - -“I think you two have always been together, have you not?” he asked, -keeping meanwhile a bright lookout. - -“Yes,” answered Decatur, showing his white teeth in a smile. “We have -been together ever since we were born, it seems to me. We both remember -you when we were at school in Philadelphia, although you were so much -older than we.” - -“I recollect you both perfectly,” answered Stewart, “although you were -such little fellows. Somers was the quietest fellow in the school, and -you, Decatur, were the noisiest.” - -“I believe you,” said Decatur, laughing. “I could have gone with my -father on the Delaware,” pointing to the smart little sloop-of-war, “but -I could not think of leaving Somers alone to fight it out in the -steerage of the United States all by himself.” - -At this Somers turned his eyes on Stewart, with a laugh in them. They -were very black and soft, and full of humor, although Somers neither -laughed nor talked much. - -“Don’t mind Decatur, Mr. Stewart,” he said. “Captain Decatur didn’t want -him on the Delaware.” - -“I should think not,” replied Stewart. “I can’t imagine anything more -uncomfortable than for a captain to have his own son among the junior -officers. Captains, you know, have to understand what to see and what -not to see. But a captain with his own son in the steerage would have to -see everything.” - -“Just what my father said,” added Decatur; “and, besides, he really did -tell me he would like to keep Somers and me together for our first -cruise, because Somers is such a steady old coach that he is fit to be -the guardian of every midshipman in the navy.” - -“I wish there were more like him, then,” said Stewart, with rather a -grim smile, remembering what a larky set of youngsters the steerage of -“Old Wagoner” harbored. “Let me give you each one piece of advice,” he -added, as they drew close to the frigate’s great black hull, that loomed -up darkly in the uncertain haze. “Decatur, do you be careful what you -say to your messmates—Somers, do you be careful what you allow your -messmates to say to you. Decatur will be too quick to take the other -midshipmen up, and you, Somers, will be too slow.” - -“Thank you, sir,” said both Somers and Decatur together, who appreciated -Stewart’s few words of caution. - -Just then the band on the poop of “Old Wagoner” burst into “The Girl I -Left Behind Me.” The music rang over the darkening water with a charming -sound, and the capstan rattled around at the liveliest possible rate, -while the men worked, inspired by the melody. The boat was quickly -brought alongside, and, just as Stewart and the two young midshipmen -stepped on board, the officer of the deck called out the quick order: -“Strike the bell eight! Call the watch!” - -The boatswain, with his mates, had been standing ready, and as soon as -eight bells struck he piped up “Attention!” and was answered by all his -mates in quick succession. Then he blew a musical winding call, ending -suddenly by singing out, in a rich bass, “All the watch!” This, too, was -answered, every voice deeper than the other, and then the watch came -tumbling up the hatchways. The wheel and chain were relieved, the -officer of the deck perceived his own relief coming, and put on a -cheerful smile. While all the busy commotion of relieving the watch was -going on, Decatur and Somers were paying their respects to Commodore -Barry, who commanded the ship—an old Revolutionary officer, handsome and -seamanlike, who gloried in his beautiful ship, and was every inch a -sailor. - -The wind had been stealing up for some little time, and as soon as the -anchor was lifted, “Old Wagoner” shook out all her plain sails and -shaped her course for the open sea. - -Decatur and Somers, on going below, were introduced to their messmates, -Bainbridge, Spence, and others, and were shown where to sling their -hammocks. Decatur directed everything in their joint arrangements, -Somers quietly acquiescing—so much so that he overheard one of the -midshipmen say knowingly to the others, “I think our new messmate is the -sort of fellow who likes to be under the lee of the mizzenmast better -than any other place on deck.” Somers did not quite take in that he was -referred to, and went on very calmly stowing his traps away. Decatur did -not hear the remark. - -Dinner was served promptly in the steerage, and by that time “Old -Wagoner” was dashing along in great style, with every sail drawing like -a windlass. - -At dinner the prospects of their cruise were freely discussed. The -United States Government having on hand the _quasi_ war with France, the -frigate and the sloop of war were under orders to sail to the West -Indies, and to clear out the great number of fleet French privateers -that were playing havoc with American commerce. Each midshipman -expressed the conviction that “we’ll meet some of those rattling good -French frigates; and when ‘Old Wagoner’ barks up, they’ll either have to -leg it faster than she can, or they’ll be chewed up—that’s certain.” -Likewise all of them fully believed that they would return from the -cruise covered with glory, and with a hundred thousand dollars each in -prize money. The views of the older officers up in the wardroom were -more conservative; but with a lot of merry, reckless young midshipmen -the roseate hue always prevails. - -Decatur, with his dashing manner, his fine figure, and his ready laugh, -became instantly popular. Somers’s quietness was not very well -understood, and before the day was out, Decatur was asked with the -frankness of the steerage, if “Somers wasn’t a little—er—rather a -milksop?” - -“You think so?” answered Decatur, with a grin. “Very well. I’ve known -Somers ever since I was born. We went to our first school together—and -our last—and I tell you, for your own good, that you had better mind -your p’s and q’s with that sort of a milksop.” - -Everything progressed very pleasantly for the first day or two, but it -was impossible that two new arrivals in the steerage could escape the -“running” which, according to the code prevailing then, makes a man of a -midshipman. Decatur achieved an instant popularity, so that the pranks -played on him were comparatively mild, and were taken with laughing good -nature. Somers was also amiable enough in regard to his “running.” In -fact he was too amiable, for his messmates rather resented his want of -spirit, as they mistakenly supposed. Therefore it was that, three times -in one day, Somers was told that he was “too fond of the lee of the -mizzenmast.” - -“That means,” said Somers quietly, and looking the youngster in the face -who last made the remark, “that you think I haven’t much spunk? Very -well. We shall both be off duty until to-night. Couldn’t we go to some -quiet place in the hold where we could have it out?” - -“Fighting is strictly prohibited on board ship,” sung out Bainbridge, -one of the older midshipmen, in a sarcastic voice. - -“Squabbling, you mean,” chimed in another one. “That, I grant you, is -unbecoming an officer and a gentleman; but when two fellows have a -falling out in the steerage, why, the regulation squints exactly the -other way; it means that the two fellows _must_ have it out, like -gentlemen, and no bad blood afterward.” - -“Just what I think,” said Somers; “and as I hate fighting, I want to get -through with all I shall have to do in that way in as short a time as -possible; so I will settle with two other young gentlemen to-day against -whom I have an account. Then, if I get my eye blacked, I will only have -one hauling over the coals for three scrimmages.” - -“You don’t mean to fight three fellows in one day?” asked Bainbridge in -surprise. - -“Yes,” answered Somers nonchalantly.—“Decatur, you settle the -particulars,” and he walked off, as composed as ever. - -“I told you fellows what a Trojan Somers was when he was started,” -remarked Decatur, “and now you’ll see for yourselves. He is wiry and as -strong as a buffalo, and he is first-class with his fists, and—— Well, -you’ll see!” - -As these little affairs were conducted strictly according to the code, -they were arranged in a very business like manner. Fair play was the -watchword, and all the midshipmen who were off duty assembled to see the -fun. When Somers had knocked the wind out of his first adversary and -brought him to apologize, it was proposed that the other affairs should -be postponed; but Somers, being in for it, and the exercise rather -warming his blood, invited his persecutor Number Two to “come on.” He -came on, with disastrous results in the way of a good, wholesome -pounding and a swelled nose. The third encounter following, Decatur -begged Somers to be allowed to take his place. - -“Why, I’m like Paul Jones!” cried Somers, laughing, as he sponged off -his neck and head. “I haven’t begun to fight yet.” - -True it was that Somers was then perfectly able to do up Number Three in -fine style. As he stood astride over his opponent, who frankly -acknowledged himself whipped, a mighty cheer went up from the -surrounding audience of midshipmen, and every one of them, including his -late opponents, came forward to shake Somers’s hand. The noise of the -cheer penetrated from the hold up to the wardroom, where some of the -lieutenants were sitting around. Stewart smiled significantly. - -“I think I know what that means,” he said. “The fellows have been -running a rig on Somers, and I predict he has come out ahead. That -fellow has an indomitable spirit under that quiet outside.” - -Some hours afterward, when Somers had to report on deck, he bore -unmistakable marks of his encounters. His nose was considerably larger -than usual, one eye had a black patch over it, and there was a bit of -skin missing from his chin. - -Stewart, looking at him attentively, could scarcely keep his face -straight as he remarked: - -“Falling down the ladder, I presume, Mr. Somers, from your appearance. -You should be careful, though, not to fall down too often.” - -“Yes, sir, I did fall down,” answered Somers, very diplomatically, -without mentioning that, when he fell, a messmate was on top of him. - -That day’s work established Somers’s popularity in the steerage, and the -three midshipmen whom he had pommeled became his staunch friends. “And -I’ll tell you what,” he announced, “this is the last fighting I’ll do -while I am in this mess. You fellows may walk over me if you like, -before I will take the trouble to lick any more of you.” - -But nobody walked over him after that. - -Decatur gave immediate promise of brilliancy as a seaman; but Somers was -not far behind, and his uncommon steadiness recommended him highly to -the lieutenants. Stewart, dining one night in the cabin with the -commodore, was giving his impressions of the junior officers to the -commander, who wished to appoint a master’s mate of the hold—a place -always given to the most reliable and best informed of the midshipmen. - -“They are all as fine a lot of youngsters, sir, as I ever saw. That -young Decatur is a remarkable fellow. He finds out more than any of the -rest, because he never has to ask the same thing twice. Before he had -been on board a week he knew every rope and where each is belayed; and -the clever youngster writes with a pencil, behind the rail, everything -he is told. There’s a very good manual of seamanship written under the -starboard rail, and Decatur and Somers may be seen every day, when they -are not on duty, putting their heads together and studying it out.” - -“And how about young Somers?” asked the commodore. - -“Somers is the only one who rivals Decatur, and I must say I consider -him the best-balanced young fellow of his age I ever knew. His messmates -have nicknamed him ‘Old Reliable.’ He is not so brilliant a boy as -Decatur, but he is steady to the utmost degree. Nothing flusters him. He -is never too early, and never too late; he goes on his way quietly, and -I do not think he has had a reproof since he has been on board. And he -evidently studied seamanship thoroughly before he was commissioned—just -what I should expect of such a long-headed fellow.” - -“Then Somers shall be master’s mate of the hold,” said the commodore, -decisively. - -Next day Somers was sent for to the cabin and informed of the -commodore’s choice. He merely said: “Thank you, sir; I shall do my -best.” But Commodore Barry felt well assured that Somers’s “best” was a -good “best.” - -Somers went down to the midshipmen’s dinner that day, and said nothing -of his appointment. Each of the reefers was eager to get the place of -trust, and they began talking of it. Somers wished to tell them of his -good fortune, but a kind of bashfulness restrained him. He turned red, -though, and became more silent than usual. Decatur, who sat next him, -looked keenly at him. - -“Somers, something is up, I see; and I believe—I believe you are going -to be master’s mate,” he said. - -Somers blushed more than ever as he answered: “I _am_ master’s mate. I -was appointed to-day.” - -Decatur, with one stretch of his powerful arm, raised his chum up -standing. - -“You good-for-nothing lubber, _you_ are made master’s mate, while -Bainbridge and Spence, and all the rest of us that are worth ten of you, -are passed over! I’m going to prefer charges against the commodore for -gross favoritism in giving you the appointment.” - -Somers always submitted to this sort of horse-play from Decatur without -the slightest resistance, and the effect was very comical. Decatur, -after shaking him vigorously, plumped him back in his chair, when Somers -calmly resumed his dinner as if nothing had occurred. - -“Mr. Somers,” said Bainbridge politely—who was the oldest midshipman on -board, and, as caterer of the mess, sat at the head of the table—“the -officers of this mess have very grave doubts of your fitness for the -place to which the unwarranted partiality of the commodore has elevated -you; and we desire to form some idea of how extensive are your -disqualifications. Suppose, sir, this ship were proceeding with a fair -wind, under all sail except one topmast studding sail, and you were -officer of the deck. Suppose again, sir, that the alarm were given, ‘Man -overboard!’ and you should perceive that _my_ dignified corporosity was -the man overboard. Now, please state to me, Mr. Somers, categorically, -what would be the first thing you would do in such an emergency?” - - [Illustration: _The new master’s mate._] - -Somers laid down his knife and fork, folded his arms and reflected for a -few moments, and finally answered: - -“This is what I should do, Mr. Bainbridge: I should immediately order -the other topmast studding sail to be set, if she’d draw, with a view to -increase the speed of the ship.” - -A roar of laughter succeeded this, which was repressed by Bainbridge -sternly rapping for order. - -“Gentlemen, this is not the undignified cabin or the disorderly -wardroom. This—please remember—is the model mess of the ship, the -steerage mess, and order must be preserved, if I have to lick every one -of you to get it.” - -“Spence,” said Decatur, holding out his plate and trembling violently, -“G-give me some of that salt horse. It may be the l-l-last time, dear -Spence, that we shall ever eat salt horse together. When the discipline -of this ship is so relaxed that Somers, who doesn’t know a marlin-spike -from the mainmast, is promoted, it’s time we were all making our wills. -Our time is short, Spence; so give me a good helping, old man.” - -“I know more seamanship than all of you lubbers put together,” quietly -remarked Somers, going on with his dinner. - -“Hear! hear!” cried Bainbridge. “Mr. Somers, you are facetious to-day.” - -Decatur, at this, got up and went to the nook that he and Somers -occupied together. He came back with a black bottle labeled “Cherry -bounce.” - -“Gentlemen,” said he, “Mr. Somers feels so acutely your kind expressions -of confidence in him, that he begs you will drink his health in this -bottle of cherry bounce which he has been saving up for this auspicious -occasion.” - -Somers said nothing as his cherry bounce was liberally distributed, -leaving only a very small glass of the dregs and heel-taps for himself; -and his good nature under so much chaff made the reefers more jolly than -ever. His health, with many pious wishes that he might learn to know a -handy-billy when he saw it, was drunk with all honors; and as a great -favor he was permitted to drink his one small glass in peace. In the -midst of the jollity a commotion was heard overhead, and the cry of -“Sail, ho!” In another moment every midshipman made a dash for the -gangway and ran on deck. - -Nearly every officer of the frigate was there too. Commodore Barry glass -in hand, watched from the flying bridge, a sail off the starboard -quarter. By the squareness of her yards and the symmetry of her sails -she was evidently a ship of war, and was coming down fast. The Delaware, -which sailed equally as well as “Old Wagoner,” was close by to -starboard. On sighting the strange and menacing ship, the Delaware was -seen to bear up and draw nearer her consort—for it was well known that a -contest with a French ship would by no means be declined by any American -ship. Commodore Barry, who was a veteran of the glorious days of Paul -Jones and the gallant though infant navy of the Revolution, was more -than willing to engage. Every moment showed more and more clearly the -character and force of the stranger. The day was bright and cloudless, -and, as they were in the sunny atmosphere of West India waters, objects -could be seen at a great distance. The frigate was remarkably handsome -and sailed well. The Americans counted more than twenty portholes, and -very accurately guessed her to be one of the great fifty-gun frigates of -which both the French and the English had many at that day. If she were -French, it meant a fight; and so nearly matched were the two frigates -that it would be the squarest sort of a fight. - -The excitement on the ships was intense. Several of the more active -officers clambered up the shrouds, while the rigging was full of men -eager to make out the advancing ship, which was coming along at a good -gait; and all were eager to know what colors the commodore would show. - -“Mr. Ross,” said Commodore Barry, turning to his first lieutenant, “we -will show French colors; if he is a ‘Mounseer,’ it will encourage him to -make our acquaintance.” - -The quartermaster, Danny Dixon, a handsome, fresh-faced sailor of middle -age, who had served under the immortal Paul Jones, quickly produced -French colors, and amid breathless silence he ran them up. - -The stranger was now not more than a mile distant. She had worn no -colors, but on seeing French colors run up at the American frigate’s -peak, in another moment she too displayed the tricolored flag of France. - -At that an involuntary cheer broke from the gallant fellows on “Old -Wagoner.” Decatur, behind the commodore’s back, deliberately turned a -double handspring, while even the dignified Somers executed a slight -pirouette. - -As for the men, they dropped down upon the deck like magic, and every -man ran to his station. Commodore Barry straightened himself up, and the -old fire of battle, that had slumbered since the glorious days of the -Revolution, shone in his eyes under his shaggy brows. - -“Mr. Ross,” said he, turning to his first lieutenant, “we are in good -luck—in excellent good luck, sir. Signal to the Delaware to keep off. I -think the officers and men of this ship would feel hurt if we should mar -the beauty of the game we are about to play by having odds in our favor; -and call the men to quarters without the tap of the drum. The first man -who cheers until we have hailed will be sent below, to remain until -after the engagement. I desire to come to close quarters, without -telling any more about ourselves than our friend the enemy can find -out.” - -In the midst of a dead silence the signal was made to the Delaware. Only -Decatur whispered to Somers, whose station was next his: - -“Poor old dad! He’d give all his old boots if he could have a share in -the scrimmage.” - -The Delaware then hauled off, making a short tack, and going no farther -away than she could help. The strange frigate, whose trim and ship-shape -appearance grew plainer at every moment, was now nearly within hail. The -American, preparing to bear up and run off as a preliminary to the -action, the first lieutenant, under the commander’s eye, stood near the -wheel, while Danny Dixon took the spokes. - -In the midst of the breathless silence, while the strange frigate -continued to advance, shortening sail meanwhile, and with her men at -quarters and her batteries lighted up, Mr. Ross, watching the trim of -“Old Wagoner’s” sails, sung out: - -“Give her a good full, quartermaster!” - -“A good full, sir,” answered old Danny steadily, and expecting the next -order to be “Hard aport!” - -But at that moment Commander Barry dashed his glass down with an -impatient exclamation. “We are truly unfortunate, gentlemen. She is -English. Look at her marines!” - -At the same instant the stranger, discovering the American’s character, -quickly hauled down her French colors and showed the union jack. A loud -groan burst from the American sailors, who saw all their hopes of glory -and prize money vanish; and it was answered by a corresponding groan -from the British tars, who felt a similar disappointment, having taken -the American to be a Frenchman. - -Commodore Barry then ordered her to be hailed, and the first lieutenant -called through the trumpet: “This is the American frigate United States, -forty guns, Commodore Barry. Who are you?” - -“This is His Britannic Majesty’s ship Thetis, fifty guns, Captain -Langley.” - -Both ships were on the same tack and going at about the same -speed, about half a mile apart. Commodore Barry then hailed again, -asking if the English captain had any news of two crack French -frigates—L’Insurgente and La Vengeance—that were supposed to be cruising -in that station. No answer was returned to this, although it was called -out twice. This vexed Commodore Barry, as it did every officer and man -aboard. - -“Wot a pity,” growled Danny Dixon, the quartermaster, to his mates, -“that somebody hadn’t ’a’ axerdentally—jist axerdentally, you -know—pulled a lockstring and fired one o’ them starboard guns! The -Britishers ain’t the sort to refuse a fight; they would ’a’ fired back -cocksure, and we could ’a’ had a friendly tussle and found out which -were the best ship, and then it could ’a’ been fixed up -arterwards—’cause ’twould ’a’ been all a axerdent, you know.” - -This was agreed with by all of Danny’s messmates, as they left their -stations and gathered forward. The two ships were now abreast of each -other, and the distance between them was being quickly decreased by -Commodore Barry’s orders, who himself took the deck. They were not more -than two cables’ lengths apart. The English frigate, which had taken in -considerable of her canvas, now took in her royals. The American ship -followed suit, so that in a little while both ships had come down to a -five-knot gait, although there was a good breeze blowing. They were near -enough to hear conversation and laughter on the English ship, and the -men gathered on the fok’sl of the Thetis called out loudly to each -other, as if to emphasize the rudeness of not returning the hails of the -American ship. In the midst of a perfect silence on the United States, -which was soon followed on the Thetis, Danny Dixon, who had a stentorian -voice, swung himself in the forechains and began to sing as loud as he -could bawl: - - “Boney is a great man, - A soldier brave and true, - But the British they can lick him, - On land and water, too!” - -This produced a roaring cheer from the British. The Americans, who knew -what was coming next, waited, grinning broadly until the laugh should be -on their side. The men gathered on the Thetis’s port side, and the -officers hung over the rail to catch the next verse. As soon as the -cheering was over, Danny fairly shouted, in a voice that could be heard -a mile: - - “But greater still, and braver far, - And tougher than shoe leather, - Was Washington, the man wot could - Have licked ’em both together!” - -At this “Old Wagoner’s” deck fairly shook with the thunders of cheers -from the Americans, the midshipmen joining in with leather lungs, the -grave Somers yelling like a wild Indian, while Decatur executed a -war-dance of triumph. - -The Thetis, as if disgusted with the turn of affairs, set her royals and -all her studding sails, and began to leg it at a lively pace. “Old -Wagoner” followed her example, and the men sprang into the rigging and -set exactly the same sails. But they found within five minutes that the -American could sail better, both on and off the wind, as she followed -the Thetis in her tacks. The Thetis then, keeping her luff, furled sail -on the mizzen and took in royals and studding sails. The American did -precisely the same thing, and, as she still sailed faster, an old sail -containing kentledge was ostentatiously hung astern and acted as a drag, -keeping the two ships together. - -This evidently infuriated the British, but they had found out that the -American could walk around the Thetis like a cooper around a cask. They -did not care to test it further, and the Thetis therefore sailed -sullenly along for half an hour more. The Americans were delighted, -especially Commodore Barry, who handled his trumpet as gayly as if he -were a midshipman on his first tour of duty as deck officer. He next -ordered the topsails lowered. This brought the American down very slow -indeed, and she rapidly fell astern of the Thetis. The English thought -that their tormentors were now gone. The Americans, suspecting some -_ruse_ of the commodore’s, were all on the alert. Presently the -commodore cried out jovially: - -“Now’s the time for carrying all hard sail!” and in five minutes “Old -Wagoner” seemed literally to burst into one great white cloud of canvas -from truck to rail. Everything that would draw was set; and the breeze, -which was every moment growing stronger, carried her along at a -perfectly terrific pace. She shot past the Thetis, her gigantic spread -of canvas eating the wind out of the Englishman’s sails and throwing -them aback, and as she flew by another roaring cheer went up from the -Americans. - -The fun, however, was not over yet. Having got well in advance of the -Thetis, “Old Wagoner” bore up, and, hauling her wind, dashed directly -across the forefoot of the English ship as the Englishman came slowly -on. - -All the cheering that had preceded was as nothing when this neat -manœuvre was accomplished. The old Commodore, giving the trumpet back to -the officer of the deck, was greeted with three cheers and a tiger, and -every officer and man on board gloried in the splendid qualities of the -ship and her gallant old commander. - -The brilliant visions of the midshipmen of yardarm-and-yardarm fights -with French frigates, with promotion, and prize money galore, failed to -materialize, although they had several sharp encounters with fleet -French privateers that infested the waters of the French West Indies. -With them it was a trial of seamanship, because, if ever a privateer got -under the guns of “Old Wagoner,” small was her chance of escape. But the -American proved to be a first-class sailer, and nothing that she chased -got away from her. Several privateers were captured, but the midshipmen -groaned in spirit over the absence of anything like a stand-up fight. - -It did not seem likely that they would make a port for some time to -come. Early in February, cruising to windward of Martinique, they ran -across the French privateer Tartuffe—and Tartuffe she proved. She was a -beautiful little brigantine, with six shining brass guns, and her -captain evidently thought she could take care of herself; for when the -United States gave chase and fired a gun from her bow-chasers, the saucy -little privateer fired a gun back and took to her heels. - - [Illustration: _The sinking of the French privateer._] - -It was on a bright February afternoon that the chase began. The -midshipmen, elated by their triumph in sailing with the great English -frigate, thought it would be but child’s play to overhaul the Frenchman. -But they had counted without their host, and they had no fool to play -with. In vain did “Old Wagoner” crowd on sail; the Tartuffe managed to -keep just out of gunshot. All the afternoon the exciting chase -continued, and when night fell a splendid moon rose which made the sea -almost as light as day. Both ships set every stitch of canvas that would -draw, and at daybreak it was found that the frigate had in all those -hours gained only a mile or two on the brigantine. However, that was -enough to bring her within range of “Old Wagoner’s” batteries. The -American then fired another gun as a signal for the Frenchman to haul -down his colors. But, to their surprise, the Tartuffe went directly -about, her yards flying round like a windmill, and her captain -endeavored to run directly under the broadside of the United States -before the heavier frigate could come about. One well-directed shot -between wind and water stopped the Frenchman’s bold manœuvre. She began -at once to fill and settle, and her ensign was hauled down. - -Commodore Barry, on seeing this, cried out: - -“Lower away the first cutter!” and Decatur, being the officer in charge -of that boat, dropped into her stern sheets and pulled for the -Frenchman. Commodore Barry, leaning over the side, called out, laughing, -to Decatur: - -“I wish you to treat the Frenchman as if he were the captain of a -forty-four-gun frigate coming aboard to surrender her. He has made a -gallant run.” - -Decatur, bearing this in mind, put off for the brigantine. The sun was -just rising in glory, and as he saw, in the clearness of the day, the -plight of the pretty brigantine, he felt an acute pity. Her company of -sixty men crowded to the rail, while her captain stood on the bridge, -giving his orders as coolly as if his ship were coming to anchor in a -friendly port. Decatur, seeing that his boat would be swamped if he came -near enough for the men to jump in, called out to the captain, saluting -him meanwhile, and asking if he would come off in one of the -brigantine’s boats, while the Tartuffe’s helm could be put up, as she -was still able to get alongside the United States, and her people could -be transferred. - -“Sairtainly, sir—sairtainly,” answered the French captain, politely, in -his queer English. - -In a few moments the boat containing the captain came alongside the -cutter, and the Frenchman stepped aboard. He took his seat very coolly -by Decatur in the stern-sheets, and then, putting a single eyeglass in -his eye, he cried out, with a well-affected start of surprise: “Is zat -ze American flag I see flying? And am I captured by ze Americans?” - -“Yes,” answered Decatur, trying not to smile. - -“But I did not know zat ze United States was at war wiz France.” - -“Perhaps not,” replied Decatur. “But you found out, probably, from the -American merchant vessels you captured, that France was at war with the -United States.” - -At that the Frenchman laughed in spite of his defeat. - -“I can stand a leetle thing like this,” he said. “I have had much good -luck, and when I tell my countrymen it took your cracque frigate -fourteen hours to catch me—parbleu, zey will not think I have done ill.” - -“You are quite right, sir,” answered Decatur. “You gave us more trouble -to overhaul than a ‘cracque’ English frigate.” - -The commodore and his officers all treated the brave French captain as -if he had been captain of a man-of-war; and as he proved to be a -pleasant, entertaining fellow, he enlivened the ship very much. - -But Commodore Barry was anxious to get rid of so many prisoners, which -encumbered the ship, and he determined to stand for Guadeloupe, in the -hope of effecting an exchange of prisoners. He therefore entered -Basseterre Roads, on a lovely morning a few days after capturing and -sinking the Tartuffe. A white flag flying at the gaff showed that he was -bent on a peaceful errand. Everything, however, was in readiness in case -the men should have to go to quarters. Although the ports were open the -guns were not run out, nor were their tompions withdrawn. The French -captain, standing on the quarter-deck in his uniform, was easily -recognizable. - -The beautiful harbor of Guadeloupe, with its circlet of warlike forts, -looked peculiarly attractive to the eyes of seamen who had been cruising -for many long months. “Old Wagoner” had been newly painted, and as she -stood in the Roads, under all her square canvas, she was a perfect -picture of a ship. Just as they came abreast of the first fort, however, -the land battery let fly, and a shower of cannon balls plowed up the -water about two hundred yards from the advancing ship. - -“Haul down that white flag!” thundered Commodore Barry, and Danny Dixon -rushed to the halyards and dragged it down in a jiffy, and in another -minute the roll of the drums, as the drummer boys marched up and down -beating “quarters,” resounded through the ship. The French captain, -mortified at the treacherous action of the forts, quickly drew his cap -over his eyes and went below. - -The United States then, with every gun manned and shotted, sailed within -gunshot of the first fort that had offered the insult, and, backing her -topsails, gave a broadside that sent the masonry tumbling about the ears -of the garrison and dismounting several guns. This was followed up by -another and another broadside, all accurately aimed, and knocking the -fort considerably to pieces. Then, still under short canvas, she slowly -sailed around the whole harbor, paying her compliments to every fort -within gunshot, but without firing a gun into the helpless town. And -when “Old Wagoner” drew off and made her way back to the open ocean, it -was conceded that she had served the Frenchmen right for their -unchivalrous proceeding. - -The whole spring was spent in cruising, and it was the first of June -when, on a Sunday morning, the ship being anchored, the boatswain and -his eight mates, standing in line on the port gangway, piped up that -sound so dear to every sailor’s heart, “All hands up anchor for home!” -At the same moment the long red pennant, that signifies the ship is -homeward bound, was joyfully hoisted at the main, and “Old Wagoner” -turned her nose toward home. Just one year from the time they had left -the Delaware, Decatur and Somers set foot again upon the green shore of -the beautiful bay—happier, wiser, and better fellows for their year in -the steerage of the fine old frigate. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - -The leave enjoyed by Decatur and Somers was brief, and before the summer -of 1801 was out they were forced to part. For the first time in their -young lives their paths were to diverge for a short while, and to be -reunited in the end. But their separation was for a reason honorable to -both. Decatur was appointed first lieutenant in the frigate Essex—like -most of those early ships of the American navy, destined to a splendid -career. She was commanded by Captain Bainbridge, whose fate was -afterward strangely linked with that of his young first lieutenant. The -Essex was one of a squadron of three noble frigates ordered to the -Mediterranean, under the command of Commodore Richard Dale; and this -Richard Dale had been the first lieutenant of Paul Jones, the glory of -the American navy, in the immortal fight between the Bon Homme Richard -and the Serapis. The association with such a man as Commodore Dale was -an inspiration to an enthusiast like Decatur; and as he found that Danny -Dixon was one of the quartermasters on the Essex, it was not likely that -there would be any lack of reminiscences of Paul Jones. - -Somers’s appointment was to the Boston, a fine sloop-of-war carrying -twenty-eight guns, commanded by Captain McNeill. He was destined to many -adventures before again meeting Decatur, for Captain McNeill was one of -the oddities of the American navy, who, although an able seaman and a -good commander, preferred to conduct his cruise according to his own -ideas and in defiance of instructions from home. This Somers found out -the instant he stepped upon the Boston’s deck at New York. The Essex was -at New York also, and the two friends had traveled from Philadelphia -together. Out in the stream lay the President, flying a commodore’s -broad pennant. - -“And although, ‘being grand first luffs,’ we can’t be shipmates, yet -we’ll both be in the same squadron, Dick!” cried Decatur. - -“True,” answered Somers, “and a Mediterranean cruise! Think of the -oldsters that would like to go to Europe, instead of us youngsters!” - -So their anticipations were cheerful enough, each thinking their -separation but temporary, and that for three years certainly they would -serve in the same squadron. - -The two friends reached New York late at night, and early next morning -each reported on board his ship. The Essex was a small but handsome -frigate, mounting thirty-two guns, and was lying close by the Boston at -the dock. As the two young lieutenants, neither of whom was more than -twenty-one, came in sight of their ships, each hugged himself at the -contemplation of his luck in getting so good a one. Decatur’s interview -with Captain Bainbridge was pleasant, although formal. Captain -Bainbridge knew Captain Decatur well, and made civil inquiries about -Decatur’s family and congratulations upon James Decatur—Stephen’s -younger brother—having lately received a midshipman’s appointment. -Captain Bainbridge introduced him to the wardroom, and Decatur realized -that at one bound he had cleared the gulf between the first place in the -steerage and the ranking officer in the wardroom. - -All this took but an hour or two of time, and presently Decatur found -himself standing on the dock and waiting for Somers, who had left the -Boston about the same time. As Somers approached, his usual somber face -was smiling. Something ludicrous had evidently occurred. - -“What is it?” hallooed Decatur. - -Somers took Decatur’s arm before answering, and as they strolled along -the busy streets near the harbor he told his story amid bursts of -laughter: - -“Well, I went on board, and was introduced into the captain’s cabin. -There sat Captain McNeill, a red-headed old fellow, with a squint; but -you can’t help knowing that he is a man of force. He talks through his -nose, and what he says is like himself—very peculiar. - -“‘Now, Mr. Somers,’ said he, drawling, ‘I daresay you look forward to a -devil of a gay time at the Mediterranean ports, with all that squadron -that Dale has got to show off with.’ I was a good deal taken aback, but -I said Yes, I did. ‘Very well, sir, make up your mind that you won’t -have a devil of a gay time with that squadron.’ I was still more taken -aback, and, being anxious to agree with the captain, I said it didn’t -make any difference; I looked for more work than play on a cruise. This -didn’t seem to please the captain either, so he banged his fist down on -the table, and roared: ‘No, you don’t, sir—no, you don’t! You are no -doubt longing this minute to be on that ship’—pointing out of the stern -port at the President—‘and to have that broad pennant waving over you. -But take a good look at it, Mr. Somers—take a good long look at it, Mr. -Somers, for you may not see it again!’ - -“You may fancy how astonished I was; but when I went down into the -wardroom and talked with the officers I began to understand the old -fellow. It seems he hates to be under orders. He has always managed to -have an independent command, but this time the navy officials were too -smart for him, and he was ordered to join Commodore Dale’s squadron. But -he managed to get orders so that he could join the squadron in the -Mediterranean, instead of at Hampton Roads, where the other ships are to -rendezvous; and the fellows in the wardroom say they wouldn’t be -surprised if they never saw the flagship from the time they leave home -until they get back.” - -“That will be bad for you and me, Dick,” said Decatur simply. - -“Very bad,” answered Somers. Their deep affection was sparingly soluble -in language, but those few words meant much. - -Within a week the Boston was to sail, and one night, about nine o’clock, -the wind and tide serving, she slipped down the harbor to the outer bay, -whence at daylight she was to set sail on her long cruise. Decatur bade -Somers good-by on the dock, just as the gang-plank was being drawn in. -They had but few parting words to say to each other; their lives had -been so intimate, they knew each other’s thoughts so completely, that at -the last there was nothing to tell. As they stood hand in hand in the -black shadow cast by the Boston’s dark hull, Decatur, whose feelings -were quick, felt the tears rising to his eyes; while Somers, the calm, -the self-contained, suddenly threw his arms about his friend and gave -Decatur a hug and a kiss, as if his whole heart were in it; then running -up the gang-plank, the next moment he was giving the orders of his -responsible position in a firm tone and with perfect alertness. Decatur -turned, and, going a little distance off, watched while the frigate -slowly swung round and headed for the open bay, stealing off like a -ghostly ship in the darkness. He felt the strongest and strangest sense -of loss he had ever known in his life. He had many friends. James, his -brother, who had entered the navy, was near his own age, but Somers was -his other self. Unlike as they were in temperament, no two souls ever -were more alike in the objects aimed at. Each had a passion for glory, -and each set before himself the hope of some great achievement, and -ordered his life accordingly. - -This strange loneliness hung upon Decatur, and although his new duties -and his new friends were many, there were certain chambers of his heart -that remained closed to the whole world except Somers. He found on the -Essex a modest young midshipman, Thomas Macdonough, who reminded him so -much of Somers that Decatur became much attached to him. Macdonough, -like Somers and Decatur, lived to make glorious history for his country. - -Within a few days the Essex sailed, in company with the President, -flagship, the Philadelphia, and the schooner Enterprise. This cruise was -the beginning of that warfare against the pirates of Tripoli that was to -win the commendation of the whole world. They made a quick passage, for -a squadron, to the Mediterranean, and on a lovely July night, with the -flagship leading, they passed Europa Point and stood toward the lionlike -form of the Rock of Gibraltar that rose in stupendous majesty before -them. A glorious moon bathed all the scene with light—the beautiful -harbor, with a great line-of-battle ship, the Thunderer, flying British -colors; while half a dozen fair frigates looked like sloops alongside of -this warlike monster, which carried a hundred and twenty guns and a crew -of nearly a thousand men. - -At the extremity of the harbor lay a handsome frigate and a brig, both -flying the crescent of Tripoli. The large ship also flew the pennant of -an admiral. There being good anchorage between the Tripolitan and the -British line-of-battle ship, Commodore Dale stood in, and the American -squadron anchored between the two. - -Early next morning Decatur went ashore in the first cutter, by Captain -Bainbridge’s orders, to find out the state of affairs with Tripoli. He -also hoped to hear something of Somers, who had sailed a week in -advance. He heard startling news enough about the Barbary pirates. The -flagstaff of the American legation at Tripoli had been cut down, and war -was practically declared. But as the information had not reached the -United States before the squadron left, the commodore was not justified -in beginning hostilities until he had received formal notice of the -declaration of war from the home Government. Nevertheless, the -Tripolitans and the Americans watched each other grimly in the harbor. -As for Somers, Decatur was bitterly disappointed not to see him. The -Boston had been quietly at anchor the day before, when a clipper ship -that outsailed the American squadron, which was in no particular hurry, -gave notice that the ships were coming. Instantly Captain McNeill gave -orders to get under way; officers were hurriedly sent ashore to collect -those of the ship’s company on leave or liberty, and before nightfall -the Boston was hull down going up the straits. When Decatur brought the -news on board, Captain Bainbridge frowned, and laughed too. - -“The commodore will have harder work to catch the Boston than anything -else he is likely to give chase to,” he said. - -Commodore Dale determined to await orders at Gibraltar before making a -regular attack on Tripoli, but he caused it to be boldly announced by -the American officers, meanwhile, that if the Tripolitans wanted to -fight, all they had to do was to lift their anchors, go outside and back -their topsails, and he would be ready for them. - -The British naval officers, at that time, treated the American officers -with studied ill-will, for they had not yet learned to look with pride -upon the United States as a country made by themselves, and which Great -Britain found unconquerable because its people were of the same sturdy -stock as her own. The cooler heads and better hearts among the English -officers at Gibraltar counseled courtesy, but among the younger men it -was sometimes difficult to avoid clashes. Especially was this the case -as regards Commodore Dale’s squadron, for he was connected with an -episode hateful to the British, but glorious to both themselves and the -Americans—the capture of the Serapis by Paul Jones. The squadron was -kept in the highest state of drill and efficiency, not only as a matter -of necessary precaution, but as one of professional pride and duty; and -the trim American officers and the clean and orderly American seamen -made a brave showing alongside of those belonging to England, the -Mistress of the Seas. - -One night, a week or two after their arrival, as Decatur was pacing the -deck of the Essex, he heard a splash at the bow, and going forward he -saw a man swimming rapidly away from the ship. Suspecting this to be a -deserter, he at once had a boat lowered; and as Macdonough, Decatur’s -favorite midshipman, was about swinging himself into it, Danny Dixon -came up. - -“Mr. Decatur,” said he, touching his cap, “that ’ere man is a deserter, -sir, and he’ll be making for the Thunderer, sure. His name is John -Hally, and he come from New York State, and he’s been a scamp ever since -I knowed him—and that’s ten year ago. He’s a thief, and he’s stole a -mort o’ things; but he ain’t been caught yet. I told him this arternoon -I was agoin’ to report him for gittin’ into the men’s ditty-bags; and -you see, sir, he’s showin’ us his heels.” - -“Jump in the boat, then,” said Decatur. “You may help to identify him.” - -The Thunderer lay about four hundred yards away, and the deserter’s -course in the water was perfectly visible every foot of the distance. He -evidently saw the boat following, and dived once or twice to throw his -pursuers off the track. The noise made by the boat aroused the attention -of the people on the Thunderer. They came to the rail peering through -the darkness of the night, and presently a lantern was waved over the -side. Decatur, who watched it all with interest, was convinced that this -was done by order of an officer, and the object was to help the deserter -from the American frigate. Sure enough, as soon as the swimmer reached -the great line-of-battle ship a line was thrown him, and he was dragged -bodily through an open port on the berth deck. Almost at the same moment -the Essex’s boat came alongside, and young Macdonough ran up the gangway -and stepped on the quarter-deck. - -Captain Lockyer, who commanded the Thunderer, happened to be on deck, -and to him Macdonough addressed himself. This young midshipman, like -most of the gallant band of officers in the infant navy, afterward -earned a name great in the history of his country. But he was always of -a peculiarly gentle and even diffident manner, and his mildness, like -that of Somers, was sometimes mistaken for want of spirit. It was in -this instance; for when he saluted Captain Lockyer, and modestly asked -that the deserter be delivered to him, he was only answered by a curt -order to have the man brought on deck, adding, “Your ships, sir, are -full of British subjects, and if this man is one I shall retain him.” - -Macdonough flushed redly, but feeling it to be more dignified to say -nothing, he held his tongue. The captain took a turn up and down the -deck, without deigning any further notice of him. Macdonough, not -thinking the rudeness of the captain would extend to the officers, -turned to a young lieutenant, who happened to be Captain Lockyer’s son, -lounging on the rail, and said: - -“I am very thirsty. Will you be good enough to order me a glass of -water?” - -“Yonder is the scuttle-butt,” coolly responded the officer, pointing to -the water-butt with its tin dipper. - -Macdonough, without a word, folded his arms, and made no move toward the -water-butt. The other British officers, standing about, looked rather -uncomfortable at the discourtesy shown the young midshipman, but none of -them attempted to repair it or to teach manners to the captain’s son. -Macdonough, who not many years after captured seventeen British ensigns -in one day, stood, insulted and indignant, in silence, upon the deck of -the British ship. - -In a few moments the deserter, who had been supplied with dry clothes, -appeared on deck. As he was an able-bodied fellow, he would be very -acceptable among the crew of the Thunderer, so the captain addressed him -in very mild terms: - -“Well, my man, are you a British or an American citizen?” - -“British, sir,” responded the deserter boldly. - -“This man,” said Macdonough to Captain Lockyer, “is an American citizen -from the State of New York. He enlisted as an American citizen, and I -can prove it by one of our quartermasters in the boat.—Here, Dixon!” - -Danny Dixon, hearing his name, now appeared over the side, touching his -cap politely. - -“Do you not know this man, John Hally, to be an American citizen?” asked -Macdonough. - -“Yes, sir,” replied the quartermaster. “I’ve knowed him for ten year, -and sailed two cruises with him. He’s got a family on Long Island. He -ain’t no more British nor I am.” - -“Perhaps you are, then,” said Captain Lockyer. “Your crews are full of -British subjects.” - -“No, sir,” answered Danny, very civilly. “I was born in Philadelphy, and -I’ve been in the ’Merican navy ever since I were eleven year old, when I -was a powder-monkey aboard o’ the Bunnum Richard, that ’ere old hulk -with forty-two guns, when she licked the bran-new S’rapis, fifty guns. -The Richard had Cap’n Paul Jones for a cap’n.” - -Angry as Macdonough was, he could scarcely keep from laughing at Danny’s -sly dig. But Captain Lockyer was furious. - -“Is this the state of discipline prevailing among your crew—allowing -them to harangue their superiors on the quarter-deck?” he asked -cuttingly, of Macdonough. - -“Captain Bainbridge, sir, of the Essex, is fully capable of maintaining -discipline without any suggestion from the officers of the Thunderer,” -answered Macdonough firmly, “and the question to be decided is, whether -the word of the officers and men of the Essex is to be taken, or this -man’s, regarding his citizenship.” - -“It is the practice in the British navy to take the word of the man -himself, as being most likely to know the facts in the case,” said -Captain Lockyer, “and I decline to give up this man.” - -True it was that such was the practice in the British navy, because it -had the power to make good its high-handed measure. - -“I do not feel myself qualified to deal with the question any further, -then,” said Macdonough, “and I shall return on board the Essex and -report to Captain Bainbridge,” and in another moment he had bowed -formally and entered his boat. - -When he reached the Essex, Captain Bainbridge was not on board, having -gone ashore early in the evening, so Decatur was in command. Decatur’s -anger knew no bounds. He stormed up and down the deck, sent a messenger -off to the captain, and altogether was in just the sort of rage that an -impetuous young officer would be in under like circumstances. But -retaliation was nearer at hand than he imagined. While he and the other -officers were collected in groups on deck, discussing the exasperating -event, Danny Dixon, his face wreathed in smiles, approached. - -“Mr. Decatur,” said he, unable to repress a grin of delight, “one o’ the -finest-lookin’ sailor men I ever see, hearin’ ’em say on the Thunderer -as how ’twas a rule to take a man’s word ’bout the country he belongs -to, jist sneaked into our boat, sir, and hid hisself under the gunwale; -and when we was h’istin’ the boat in, out he pops, sir, and swears he’s -a ’Merican that was pressed into the British sarvice.” - -Now, a man might very well have concealed himself in the boat, by the -connivance of the men, without Macdonough’s seeing him, but how Danny -Dixon could have avoided knowing it was a miracle. Nevertheless, he -remarked solemnly: - -“Didn’t a man in the boat see him, neither, sir—so they say; and, bein’ -sailor men, ’tain’t likely they’d lie about it, sir.” - -Decatur and Macdonough, charmed with this state of affairs, could hardly -refrain from winking at one another; but Decatur only said: “Very well, -Dixon; if he _says_ he’s an American, mind, we’ll keep him.” - -“He’ll say so, sir,” answered Danny, making no effort at all to suppress -his enjoyment. - -Good luck followed good luck. Within ten minutes the rattle of hoisting -out a boat from the Thunderer was heard, and in a little while it was -seen pulling across the dark water in which the stars were faintly -reflected. The man’s getting into the American boat had been suspected, -and his absence discovered. But no midshipman had been sent after him. -Lieutenant Lockyer, the officer who had been so rude to Macdonough, and -who, in spite of his bad manners, was a young officer of experience and -determination, was sent in the first cutter. As soon as he stepped on -deck Decatur greeted him politely, but all the other officers maintained -an unbroken silence. Lockyer began at once, in a dictatorial manner: - -“One of our men, sir, Moriarity by name, slipped into your boat a bit -ago, and is probably on board now, and I have come to request, in -Captain Lockyer’s name, that this man be delivered to me.” - -Lockyer’s “request” sounded very much like “demand.” - -“Certainly,” replied Decatur, with much suavity. “If the man -acknowledges himself a British subject, he shall be delivered to you at -once, to be punished as a deserter. But it is the rule in the American -navy to take the word of the man in question respecting his citizenship, -upon which he is likely to be the person best informed.” - -This rule was improvised for the occasion, but Decatur was not the man -to be taken at a disadvantage, and he quoted Captain Lockyer’s words to -Macdonough with a sarcastic emphasis that was infuriating to the young -lieutenant. - -Decatur then turned to Danny Dixon and said, “Bring the man Moriarity on -deck, if he is on the ship.” - -Danny touched his hat, and in a few moments appeared with a young -sailor, of splendid physique, but with a bright red head, and the first -word he uttered was in a brogue that could be cut with a knife. - -“Are you a British or an American citizen?” asked Decatur. - -“Amurican, sorr,” almost shouted Moriarity. “I and all me posterity was -born in Ameriky, begorra, and I niver was in ould Oireland, God bless -her!” - -Decatur could scarcely keep his countenance, and the other officers were -all seized at the same time with coughing spells. - -“Who said anything about Ireland?” asked Lieutenant Lockyer sharply. -“You are as Irish as potatoes, and you were never out of Ireland in your -life until you enlisted on the Thunderer.” - -“Bedad, sorr, I’d be proud to be an Oirishman,” responded Moriarity with -a grin. “It’s not denyin’ of it I’d be, but me mother was of a noble -Italian family, in rejuced circumstances, be the name of Murphy, and me -father was a Spanish gintleman be the name of Moriarirty, and I was born -in Ameriky, sorr, and pressed into the Thunderer”; and, turning to -Decatur, he added, “And I claims the protection of the Amurican flag.” - -Lockyer was silent with rage and chagrin, but Decatur spoke up with -undisturbed blandness: - -“You see, sir, how this matter stands. I must take this man’s word, and -you are at liberty to keep the fellow that deserted from us. Your boat -waits, and I have the honor to bid you good-evening.” - -Lockyer, thus practically ordered off the ship, bowed slightly and -walked rapidly down the ladder and got into his boat. - -Scarcely had he pushed off when Captain Bainbridge’s boat appeared, and -in a few minutes he stepped on deck. - -“Anything happened, Mr. Decatur?” he asked, as soon as he caught sight -of his young first lieutenant. - -Decatur told him briefly what had occurred. When he finished, Captain -Bainbridge, who was a tall, powerful man, gave him a thwack upon the -shoulder that nearly knocked him down. - -“Good for you!” he cried. “You boy officers have as much sense as we -oldsters. I would not take a year’s pay for what has happened this -night!” - -Captain Bainbridge, though, had reason to be still more proud of his boy -officers in what followed concerning Moriarity. The Thunderer’s people -were determined to get Moriarity back, and watched their chance for -days. They knew it was impossible to get him off the Essex, and their -opportunity was when the man went ashore on liberty. About two weeks -after this, one bright August day, Captain Bainbridge having gone ashore -on official business and Decatur being again in command, he noticed a -great commotion in a British boat that was pulling off toward the -Thunderer. A man was struggling in the bottom of the boat, and his loud -cries and fierce efforts to free himself and jump overboard were clearly -heard on the Essex. Decatur, whose eyesight was wonderfully keen, called -to Macdonough, who was near him: - -“Is not that voice Moriarity’s?” - -“Yes,” cried Macdonough, “and he was given liberty this morning, I -happen to know.” - -It took Decatur but a moment to act. “Lower the second cutter!” he -cried—the fastest of all the boats; “and you, Macdonough, if -possible—_if possible_, do you hear?—reach that boat before it touches -the ship, and bring me that man!” - -Scarcely were the words out of Decatur’s mouth before the boat began to -descend from the davits, and the boat’s crew, with Danny Dixon as -coxswain, dropped in her as she touched the water. Macdonough, his dark -eyes blazing, and almost wild with excitement under his calm exterior, -was the first man in the boat. - -“Give way, men!” he said, in a voice of suppressed agitation. “We must -get that man, or never hold up our heads as long as we are at -Gibraltar.” - -The men gave way with a will and a cheer, and Macdonough, in the stern -sheets, steered straight for the Thunderer’s boat. The British tars, -realizing what was up, bent to their oars and dashed the diamond spray -in showers around them. Both were about evenly matched, and the question -was whether the Americans could reach the British boat before she got -under the lee of the ship—and then, whether Moriarity could be -recaptured. The American sailors, their oars flashing with the -steadiness and precision of a machine, were gaining a little on the -British boat; but it was plain, if they could intercept it at all, it -would be directly under the quarter of the great line-of-battle ship. -Several officers were in the Thunderer’s boat, and Macdonough recognized -among them Lockyer, the insolent lieutenant. Moriarity, completely -overpowered, lay handcuffed in the bows of the boat. - -Decatur, on the deck of the Essex, watched the two cutters speeding -across the dazzling blue of the harbor with an intensity as if his life -depended on it. He had instantly chosen Macdonough to represent the -Essex, and said to himself, involuntarily: “If any one can do it, it is -Macdonough. He is like Somers, quiet and determined. He _can’t_—he -_sha’n’t_ fail!” - -His excitement was shared by every officer and man on the Essex, and -also on the Thunderer. Cries and cheers were heard from each ship. At -last, as the two boats neared each other, Macdonough, motioning to Danny -Dixon, gave him the tiller and took a place in the bow of the cutter. He -spoke a word to the men, and they, as if they had reserved the strength -in their brawny arms for a final effort, laid to their oars so that the -boat fairly flew across the water, and in two minutes she had closed up -on the bow of the British boat. As quick as a flash, Macdonough, who was -a tall fellow, leaned forward, and, catching Moriarity by the waistband -of his trousers, lifted him bodily into the American boat. In the -suddenness of the movement not one of the dozen oars raised to strike -Macdonough touched, and in another moment the Americans had sheered off, -and the men were cheering wildly, while they still worked their oars -sturdily. Lockyer, standing up in the British boat, shouted: - -“The Thunderer will blow you out of the water for that!” - -“No doubt she is fully able to do it,” cried Macdonough in reply; “but -we will never give up this man as long as our ship will float!” - -Decatur, on the deck of the Essex, fairly jumped with delight. - -“Somers—Somers,” he cried to himself, without knowing what he was -saying, “I knew that brave young Macdonough was like you!” - -Cheers resounded. The American tars, gathered on the fok’sl, danced with -delight. The Thunderer’s boat had made some effort to follow the -American, but the latter had come about so quickly that she gained too -long a lead to be overtaken, and after a few minutes her adversary -sullenly put about and returned to the Thunderer. The Americans did not -relax their efforts, though, and in a little while were landed on the -Essex’s deck. Decatur embraced Macdonough and fairly kissed him, much to -Macdonough’s embarrassment. - -“You remind me of the most gallant fellow that lives—Dick Somers!” cried -Decatur, “and that’s praise enough for any man. Send the armorer here to -take Moriarity’s handcuffs off.” - -“Av ye plaze, sorr,” said Moriarity, “maybe it ’ud be safer to keep the -bracelets on, and to give me a pair o’ leg irons to decorate me legs -wid; for I shall be axin’ for liberty, sure, if I’m ’lowed around, and -then I’ll be captured by thim Johnny Bulls. So, av ye plaze, sorr, put -me in double irons while we’re in port, and that’s the only way to kape -me from gittin’ into a peck o’ trouble agin, sorr.” - -“You’ll not be put in irons, but you’ll get no more liberty while you’re -at Gibraltar,” answered Decatur, laughing. - -“Thanky, sorr,” responded Moriarity. “If ye’ll kape to that, maybe I can -do widout the double irons.” - -When Captain Bainbridge came on board, Decatur eagerly told him of -Macdonough’s gallant exploit, and the captain’s delight was unbounded. - -“By heavens!” he chuckled, “these boy officers of mine manage to do -something handsome every time I leave them to themselves. If I stayed on -shore altogether, I believe they’d lick everything in sight, in one way -or another!” - -Several weeks had now passed, and, owing to the slowness of -communication from home, no official declaration of war had reached -them. The squadron cruised about the Mediterranean, giving convoy, and -ready to begin active hostilities as soon as called upon. The Tripolitan -pirates were still at work, whenever they dared, but the watchful energy -of the American squadron kept them from doing much harm. Meanwhile the -Boston was cruising over the same ground; but whenever the squadron put -into port, either the Boston had just left, or she arrived just as the -squadron disappeared. This was very exasperating to Commodore Dale; but -as Captain NcNeill was ostensibly in hot pursuit of the squadron, and -always had some plausible excuse for not falling in with it, the -commodore could do nothing but leave peremptory orders behind him and in -advance of him, which invariably reached Captain McNeill just a little -too late or too early. - -It was a cruel disappointment to both Decatur and Somers, who had -expected to be almost as much together as if on the same ship. When they -had been thus dodging each other for months, Decatur found at Messina, -where the Essex touched, the following letter from Somers: - - “My dear Decatur: Here we are, going aloft, with a fair wind, while I - am perfectly sure that the sail reported off the starboard quarter is - one of the squadron—perhaps the Essex! As you know, Captain McNeill is - apparently the most anxious man imaginable to report to his commanding - officer; but if Commodore Dale wins in this chase, he will be a seaman - equal to Paul Jones himself. For Captain McNeill is one of the very - ablest seamen in the world, and, much as his eccentricities annoy us, - his management of the ship is so superb that we can’t but admire the - old fellow. But I tell you privately that he has no notion of taking - orders from anybody, and the commodore will never lay eyes on him - during the whole cruise. Nevertheless, he is doing good service, - giving convoy, and patrolling the African coast so that the Barbary - corsairs are beginning to be afraid to show their noses when the - Boston is about.” - -Here a break occurred, and the letter was continued on the next page: - - “Just as I had written the last word, another sail was reported off - the starboard quarter, and all of us are convinced that it is your - squadron. I even think I recognize the rig of the Essex, among the - four ships now visible. But old McNeill, sending his favorite - lookout—an old sailor, Jack Bell, the captain of the maintop—aloft, we - know very well that you will soon be hull down, and we ripping it as - fast as we can leg it, on the opposite tack. Jack Bell, you must know, - understands the captain’s peculiarity, and never sees anything the - captain doesn’t wish to see. So he has just come down with the report - that, of the four ships, not one is square enough in her rig to be a - war ship, and that he thinks they are French transports! You can’t - imagine with what a straight face he says this, and how infuriated we - are. The captain then turns and says to us: ‘Gentlemen, this is most - unfortunate. I was in hopes this was Commodore Dale’s squadron, but it - is evidently not.’ And now we are bearing away due north, with every - stitch of canvas set that will draw! I said that all of us are - infuriated. That is not quite correct, for two or three odd fish among - us have become infected with the captain’s mania, and declare that, - for the credit of the thing, they don’t wish to be caught, for it is - really a chase and a pursuit. - - “In regard to my shipmates, I find them pleasant fellows, but still I - feel, as I always shall, the loss of your companionship, my dear - Decatur. Perhaps, had I a father or a mother, I should feel - differently, but your parents are the persons who have treated me with - the most paternal and maternal affection. As for you, we have lived so - long in intimacy, that I can scarcely expect to form another such - friendship, and, indeed, it would be impossible. I am glad that you - are becoming fond of young Macdonough. Several of the midshipmen on - this ship know him, and speak of him as a young officer of wonderful - nerve and coolness. Well did you come off in your dispute with the - Thunderer! I only hope that Macdonough, as young as he is, may - exercise some of that restraint over you which you have always charged - me with, Decatur. You are much too rash, and I wish I could convince - you that there are occasions in every officer’s life when prudence is - the very first and greatest virtue. Of course, you will laugh at this, - and remind me of many similar warnings I have given you, but I can not - help advising you; you know I have been doing that ever since we were - lads together at Dame Gordon’s school. I heard a story of the great - Nelson, the other day, that reminded me of you. When he was a very - young child he went one day to his mother and said to her: ‘I hear - people speak of “fear,” of “being afraid.” What is it? What is fear?’ - The child was, indeed, father of the man in that case.” - - [Illustration: _The Enterprise capturing the Tripolitan pirate._] - -Here came another break, and a new date. - - “I was about to close my letter, when one of our officers got a letter - from a friend on the Enterprise; and as it shows how the Barbary - corsairs fight, I will tell you a part of it. While running for Malta, - on the 1st of August, the Enterprise came across a polacca-rigged - ship, such as the Barbary corsairs usually have, with an American brig - in tow. It had evidently been captured and her people sent adrift. - Sterrett, who commands the Enterprise, as soon as he found the - position of affairs, cleared for action, ran out his guns, and opened - a brisk fire on the Tripolitan. He got into a raking position, and his - broadside had a terrific effect upon the pirate. But—mark the - next—three times were the Tripolitan colors hauled down, and then - hoisted again as soon as the fire of the Enterprise ceased. After the - third time, Sterrett played his broadside on the pirate with the - determination to sink him for such treachery; but the Tripolitan rais, - or captain, appeared in the waist of his ship, bending his body in - token of submission, and actually threw his ensign overboard. Sterrett - could not take the ship as prize, because no formal declaration of war - had reached him from the United States; but he sent Midshipman - Porter—you remember David Porter, who, with Rodgers, carried the - French frigate L’Insurgente into port after Commodore Truxtun had - captured her—aboard of the pirate, to dismantle her. He had all her - guns thrown overboard, stripped her of everything except one old sail - and a single spar, and let her go, with a message to the Bashaw of - Tripoli that such was the way the Americans treated pirates. I - understand that when the _rais_ got to Tripoli with his one old sail, - he was ridden through the town on a jackass, by order of the Bashaw, - and received the bastinado; and that since then the Tripolitans are - having great trouble in finding crews to man their corsair ships - because of the dread of the ‘Americanos.’ One more thing—I must tell - you about our red-headed captain. There was a great dinner given at - Messina to the officers of a Swedish frigate and ourselves. You know - how the Swedes drink! Well, Captain McNeill, in addition to his other - virtues, is very abstemious. So, the night of the dinner, when the - Swedish officers began to pass the decanters, Captain McNeill lay back - in his chair scowling, and the next thing he was sound asleep. After - he had snored about two hours, he suddenly waked up and bawled out, - ‘Have those d——d Swedes got through with their guzzling and tippling - yet?’ Imagine our feelings! - - “Now I must tell you a piece of news almost too good to be true. I - hear the Government is building four beautiful small schooners, to - carry sixteen guns, for use in the Tripolitan war, which is to be - pushed very actively; and that you, my dear Decatur, will command one - of these vessels, and I another! I can write nothing more exhilarating - after this; so, I am, as always, - - “Your faithful friend, - “Richard Somers.” - -Many letters passed between the two friends, but they did not once meet -during the whole cruise. Captain McNeill, true to his intention, never -allowed himself to be overhauled by his superior officer, and at the end -of two years returned to the United States without ever having seen the -flagship of the squadron to which he was attached. He had done good -work, though, and so the authorities winked at his odd cruise, and the -brave old captain enjoyed his triumph. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - -Never had the blue Mediterranean and the quaint old town of Syracuse and -its fair harbor looked more beautiful than on a certain sunny September -afternoon in 1803. The green shores of Sicily stretched as far as the -eye could reach; the white-walled town, with its picturesque and -half-ruined castle, lay in the foreground; while looming up on the -farthest horizon was the shadowy cone of Etna with its crown of fire and -smoke. The harbor contained a few fishing vessels, most of them with -their white lateen sails furled, and motionless upon the water. A large -pleasure boat, with a gay red awning, moved lazily across the “lesser -harbor,” while two or three fruit-laden vessels were beating in or out -of the offing under a “soldier’s wind”—that is, a wind which enables a -ship to go in any direction she wishes. - -But in the midst of all this placid beauty lay a war ship—the majestic -Constitution—the darling frigate of her country, looking as if she -commanded everything in sight. Never was there a more warlike-looking -ship than Old Ironsides. Her towering hull, which was higher than the -masts of most of the vessels in the sunlit harbor, was, like all -American ships, painted black. In contrast to this were her polished -decks, her shining masts and spars, and her snowy canvas, whose -whiteness was visible although tightly clewed up. Her ports were open to -admit the air, and through them could be seen a double row of -wicked-looking muzzles, like the grin of a mastiff. The other vessels -rocked with the tide and wind, but the great frigate seemed to lie -perfectly still, as if defying both wind and tide. Her colors, too, -caught some wandering puff of air, and “Old Glory” fluttered out -proudly, while the other flags in sight drooped languidly. At anchor -near her were two small but beautiful schooner-rigged vessels, which -also flew American colors. They were precisely alike in their lines, -their rig, and the small but serviceable batteries they carried. On the -stern of one was gilded “Nautilus,” while on the other was “Siren.” -These were indeed the gallant little vessels that Somers had written to -Decatur about, and his dream was realized. He commanded the Nautilus, -while Decatur commanded the Argus, a sister vessel, which was hourly -expected. - -The perfect quiet of the golden afternoon was broken when around the -headland came sailing another small but beautiful cruiser, -schooner-rigged, and wearing American colors. As soon as she had -weathered the point of land, and had got fully abreast of the -Constitution, her guns barked out a salute to the commodore’s pennant -flying on the Constitution, which the frigate acknowledged. The schooner -had a handsome figurehead, and on her stern was painted, in gold -letters, “Argus.” She came to anchor in first-class man-of-war style, -close under the Constitution’s quarter, and in a wonderfully short time -her sails were furled, and her anchor had kissed the ground, the cable -emitting sparks of fire as it rushed out of the hawse-hole. In a quarter -of an hour her gig was lowered, and her young commander, Stephen -Decatur, stepped into the boat and was pulled toward the Constitution. -At that time neither he nor Somers was turned of twenty-four, although -both were commanding officers. - -As the boat shot past the Nautilus, Decatur stood up and waved his cap -at the officers, but he observed that Somers was not among them. A -captain’s gig, though, looking like a mere speck under the great quarter -of the Constitution, made Decatur surmise that Somers was at that moment -on board the flagship. The two had parted only six weeks before, when, -Somers’s vessel being ready in advance of Decatur’s, he had sailed to -join Commodore Preble’s squadron in the Mediterranean. The prospect of -seeing Somers again raised Decatur’s naturally gay and jovial spirits to -the highest pitch, and he tried to distinguish among the officers -scattered about the Constitution’s decks the handsome, lithe figure of -his friend. While watching the frigate as he advanced toward it, he saw -another boat come alongside; an officer stepped out and ran lightly up -the ladder, while the boat pulled back to the shore. Decatur was struck -by the fact that this officer, who was obviously a young man, wore two -epaulets. In those days only flag officers were allowed to wear two—all -others wearing but one. Commodore Preble was, in fact, the only man in -the whole American fleet then in European waters who was entitled to -wear two epaulets. Decatur was much puzzled by the officer’s uniform, -and the only explanation that occurred to him was that the gallant -Preble had been superseded—an event which would have filled him with -regret. Although the commodore was a stranger to him, Decatur had -conceived the highest respect for his abilities, and had heard much of -his vigor and enterprise, to say nothing of his untamable temper, which -at first the officers chafed under, but had soon come to regard as “Old -Pepper’s way,” for so the midshipmen had dubbed Commodore Preble. - -The deck was full of officers, standing about enjoying the lovely -afternoon, and they all watched with interest the Argus’s boat, knowing -it contained Decatur. While it was still a hundred yards off Decatur -recognized the figure of Somers running down the ladder, and in a few -minutes Decatur literally jumped into Somers’s arms. Their affectionate -way of meeting amused their shipmates very much, and even Danny Dixon, -who was Decatur’s coxswain, grinned slyly at the men in the boat, and -whispered, as the two young captains went up the ladder together, their -arms entwined like schoolboys: - -“They’re lovyers, them two be. They keeps locks o’ each other’s hair, -and picters in their bosoms!” - -The officers greeted Decatur warmly, among them Macdonough, now a tall -young fellow of eighteen; but Decatur noticed that all of them seemed -convulsed with laughter. Lieutenant Trippe, who was officer of the deck, -laughed to himself as he walked up and down. A little way off, -Moriarity, who was quartermaster, was standing just as near the dividing -line between the quarter-deck and the forecastle as the regulations -allowed, his mouth stretched from ear to ear, and even the stolid marine -who stood guard at the hatchway wore a broad smile. Two or three -midshipmen loitering about grinned appreciatively at each other. - -“Why, what’s the meaning of this hilarity, Somers?” cried Decatur, -observing a smile even on his friend’s usually grave countenance. - -“Matter enough,” responded Somers, bursting out into a shout of -laughter. “The commodore needed a surgeon’s mate for this ship, so he -succeeded in getting a little Sicilian doctor for the place. He was -entered on the ship’s books regularly under an acting appointment and -ordered to prepare his uniforms and outfit and report on board this -afternoon. Well, just now he came aboard, in full regalia, with cocked -hat and side arms, but instead of having one epaulet, he has two; and -the commodore isn’t the man to permit any equality between himself and a -surgeon’s mate. The little fellow has gone below, and—ha! ha!—we are -waiting for the explosion.” - -There was one of the midshipmen, though, the youngest and smallest of -them all, a bright-faced lad of fourteen, who laughed as much as the -rest, but who looked undoubtedly a little frightened. - -“Mr. Israel, there,” continued Somers, still laughing, “was the officer -to whom the doctor applied for instructions about his uniforms, and we -are apprehensive that the commodore may call upon Mr. Israel for an -explanation.” - -“I—I don’t know what I shall do,” faltered the little midshipman, “if -old Pep—I mean the commodore—should ask me. I’m sure I’d never have the -nerve to own up, and I certainly can’t deny that I _did_ tell the doctor -he’d look well in a cocked hat and two epaulets.” - -“Never mind, Pickle,” said Macdonough, clapping the boy on the shoulder, -“you’re always in mischief anyhow, so a little more or less makes no -difference.—Captain Decatur, we in the steerage do our best to reform -Mr. Israel, but he has a positive genius for getting into scrapes.” - -“Queer thing, that, for a midshipman,” answered Decatur, with a wink. -“That was the way with Captain Somers when we were midshipmen together -on ‘Old Wagoner.’ If it had not been for my watchful eye and discreet -judgment, he would have been in trouble all the time.” - -This was so conspicuously to the contrary of the truth, that Somers did -not condescend to deny it, merely remarking: - -“A likely yarn, that.” - -Scarcely were the words out of Somers’s mouth before a wild yell was -heard from below. The next moment the unlucky Sicilian dashed out of the -cabin, hotly pursued by Commodore Preble himself. The commodore was six -feet high, and usually of a grave and saturnine countenance. But there -was nothing grave or saturnine about him then. He had been in the act of -shaving when the surgeon’s mate with the two epaulets appeared, and he -had not taken time to wipe the lather off his face or to take off his -dressing-gown, nor was he conscious that he was flourishing a razor in -his hand. The Sicilian, seeing the razor, and appalled by the reception -he had met with, had taken to his heels; and the commodore, determined -to have an explanation, had followed him, bawling: - -“What the devil do you mean, you lubberly apothecary, by appearing -before me in that rig? Two epaulets and a cocked hat for a surgeon’s -mate! I got you, sir, to pound drugs in a mortar—not to insult your -superiors by getting yourself up like a commodore. I’ll have you -court-martialed, sir!—no, sir; I’ll withdraw your appointment, and take -the responsibility of giving you the cat for your insolence!” - -The poor Sicilian darted across the deck, and, still finding the enraged -commodore at his heels, suddenly sprang over the rail and struck out, -swimming for the shore. - -Commodore Preble walked back to where the officers stood, who had -watched the scene ready to die with laughter, and shouted: - -“Mr. Israel, I believe you were the midshipman, sir, that I directed -that miserable little pill-maker to go to for information respecting his -uniforms?” - -“Yes, sir,” answered Pickle in a weak voice, the smile leaving his -countenance. The others had assumed as serious an expression as they -were able, but kept it with difficulty. Not so poor Pickle, who knew -what it was to fall into the commodore’s hands for punishment. - -“And did you, sir, have the amazing effrontery, the brazen assurance, to -recommend that little popinjay to have two epaulets and a cocked hat?” -roared the commodore. - -“I—I didn’t recommend him, sir,” replied Pickle, looking around -despairingly, and seeing Decatur, Somers, Macdonough, and all the others -with their handkerchiefs to their mouths, “but he asked me if I thought -two epaulets would look well on him, and I said ‘Y-yes’—and—” - -“Go on, sir!” thundered the commodore. - -“And then I—I told him if he had two epaulets he ought to have a cocked -hat.” - -“Mr. Israel,” said the commodore in a deep voice, after an awful pause, -“you will go below, and remain there until I send for you!” - -Poor Pickle, with a rueful countenance, turned and went below, while -Decatur, advancing with Somers, managed to recover his composure enough -to say: - -“Commodore Preble, I have the honor of presenting myself before you; and -yonder is my ship, the Argus.” - -It was now the commodore’s turn to be confused. With his strict notions -of naval etiquette, the idea that he should appear on the quarter-deck -half shaved and in his dressing-gown was thoroughly upsetting. He -mumbled some apology for his appearance, in which “that rascally -apothecary” and “that little pickle of a midshipman” figured, and, -asking Captain Decatur’s presence in the cabin in a few moments, -disappeared. As soon as the commodore was out of hearing the officers -roared with merriment. - -“That’s the same old Preble,” said Decatur, laughing, “that I have heard -of ever since I entered the navy.” - -“Yes,” answered Somers. “At first we hated him. Now, there is not an -officer in the squadron who does not like and respect him. He is a stern -disciplinarian, and he has a temper like fire and tow. But he is every -inch a sailor and a gentleman, and all of us will one day be proud to -say, ‘I served under Preble at Tripoli!’” - -“Yes,” broke in Trippe. “On the outward voyage, one very dark night, we -found ourselves suddenly about half a cable’s length off from a large -ship of war. We hailed her, but got no answer. After a very little of -this, the commodore sent the men to quarters, had the guns run out, and -took the trumpet himself. Then he shouted: - -“‘This is the United States frigate Constitution, forty-four guns. This -is the last time I shall hail, and if you do not answer I will give you -a shot. What ship is that?—Blow your matches, boys!’ - -“This brought an answer, you may be sure, and a voice out of the -darkness replied: - -“‘If you give us a shot, we will give you a broadside! But since you are -so anxious to know, this is His Britannic Majesty’s ship Donegal, razee, -eighty guns!’ - -“‘I don’t believe you!’ bawled back old Preble; ‘and I shall stick by -you until daylight to find out what you are!’ - -“The men gave a great cheer then, and the officers joined in—for we -couldn’t help cheering a man who with a forty-four gives the lie to -another man with an eighty-gun ship. In a little while, though, a boat -came alongside with a very polite explanation. The ship really was the -Maidstone frigate, thirty-eight guns, and the delay in answering our -hails came from suspecting that we might be French, and therefore they -wanted to get their people at quarters. After that we all felt -differently toward ‘Old Pepper,’ as the steerage fellows call him, and -we know his heart is all right if his temper is all wrong.” - -The conversation then turned upon the distressing news of the loss of -the frigate Philadelphia, the handsomest in the world, and the capture -of all her company by the Tripolitans. While commanded by Bainbridge, -Decatur’s old captain in the Essex, the Philadelphia had run upon a rock -at the entrance to the harbor of Tripoli, and, literally mobbed by a -Tripolitan flotilla, she was compelled to surrender. All her guns had -been thrown overboard, and every effort made to scuttle her, when the -Americans saw that capture was inevitable, but it was with grief and -shame that the officers of the Constitution told Decatur that the ship -had been raised, her guns fished up, her masts and spars refitted, and -she lay under the guns of the Bashaw’s castle in the harbor, flying the -piratical colors of Tripoli at her peak. If anything could add to the -misery of the four hundred officers and men belonging to her, it was the -sight of her, so degraded, which they could not but witness from the -windows of their dungeons in the Bashaw’s castle. Her recapture had been -eagerly talked over and thought over, ever since her loss; and it was a -necessary step in the conquest of the piratical power of the Barbary -States, for she would be a formidable enemy to any ship, even the mighty -Constitution herself. - -When Decatur entered the cabin, nothing could have been a greater -contrast to the scene he had lately witnessed. Commodore Preble was -handsomely shaved and dressed, and was a model of dignity and courtesy. -He made no allusion to what had just happened, but at once began -questioning Decatur as to their present and future plans. - -“_I_ have a plan, sir,” said Decatur, after a while, with a slight -smile—“just formed since I have been on this ship, but nevertheless -enough developed for me to ask your permission. It is, to cut out the -Philadelphia as she now lies in the harbor at Tripoli. I hear that when -Captain Bainbridge was compelled to haul down his flag he ordered the -ship scuttled. Instead of that, though, only a few holes were bored in -her bottom, and there was no difficulty in patching them and raising -her.” - -As Decatur spoke, some inward voice seemed to cry out to him, “Hold on -to this plan, for that way lies immortality!” His dark eyes gleamed with -a strange light, and he seemed to hear such words as “Glory! -immortality!” thundering in his ears. - -As soon as he spoke, Commodore Preble answered him quickly and firmly: - -“Certainly, the ship must be destroyed, for the honor of the flag, and -it will also be a measure of prudence in the coming campaign against the -fleet and town of Tripoli. But as to cutting her out, _that_ is an -impossible thing.” - -“I think not, sir,” answered Decatur, with equal firmness. - -“You think not, Captain Decatur, because you are not yet twenty-five -years old. _I_ think to the contrary, because I am more than forty. The -flag will be vindicated if the Philadelphia is destroyed, and never -permitted to sail under Tripolitan colors. Anything else would be -quixotic to attempt.” - -“At all events,” said Decatur, “I may ask the honor of being the one to -make the attempt. My father was the Philadelphia’s first commander, and -if I can rescue her it will be glory enough for a lifetime.” - -“No doubt all my beardless captains will ask the same thing,” answered -the commodore with a grim smile; “but as you have spoken first, I shall -consider you have the first claim.” - -“Thank you, sir,” answered Decatur, rising. “Whenever you are ready to -discuss a plan I shall be gratified.” He then went on deck again. - -As Decatur felt obliged to return to his ship, Somers went with him, and -saying good-by to the officers on the Constitution, with the hope that -the little midshipman would get off from the commodore’s wrath, the two -friends were soon pulling across the placid harbor. The last rays of the -sun were reflected on the water, turning it all red and gold, while in -the sky a pale opaline glow still lingered. - -The two friends had only been separated a few weeks, but they had much -to talk about. At dinner, as they sat opposite each other in the cabin, -with a hanging lamp between, Decatur, who was overflowing with spirits, -noticed that Somers was more than usually grave. - -“What ails you, man?” cried Decatur. “Those lantern jaws of yours have -not opened with a smile since we left the flagship. Are you disappointed -about anything?” - -“Yes,” answered Somers, continuing his dinner with a very rueful -countenance. “_You_ will be the one to go upon the Philadelphia -expedition. The rest of us will have to hang on to our anchors, while -you are doing the thing we all want to do.” - -“How do you know about that?” asked Decatur, with sparkling eyes and a -brilliant smile. - -“Oh,” answered Somers, resignedly, pushing his plate away, “I had a -presentiment as soon as you went down in the commodore’s cabin. Here are -the rest of us, who have been wanting to speak of this thing for weeks, -and watching each other like hawks, but all afraid to beard the lion in -his den; when you, with your cool impudence, just arrived, never saw the -commodore in your life before, _you_ go and plump out what you want at -your first interview, and get it too. Oh, I guessed the whole business -as soon as I saw you come out of the cabin!” - -“You are too prudent by half, Dick,” cried Decatur, laughing at Somers’s -long face. “Now, if I had taken your advice about prudence I never would -have got the better of you. The commodore, too, has enough and to spare -of prudence—that beggarly virtue. When I offered to go into the harbor -of Tripoli with the Argus and bring the Philadelphia out, he said No, -she must be destroyed, as it would be too risky to attempt to cut her -out. Think of the misery of old Bainbridge and his men when they look -out and see this beauty of a ship lying at the mole, with a gang of -Tripolitan pirates at work on her!” - -“I’ll never say a word in favor of prudence again,” groaned Somers, -still thinking of his disappointment. Then began questions about their -shipmates. Decatur was lucky enough to have as his first lieutenant -James Lawrence, who was afterward to give the watchword to the American -navy, “Don’t give up the ship!” James Decatur was also in the squadron, -although not on the Argus; Decatur also had Danny Dixon as his first -quartermaster; while Somers had as his quartermaster, Moriarity, who -“never was in ould Ireland, God bless her!” The two young officers went -on deck, where they found Danny, whom Somers went forward to greet. -Danny was delighted to see him, and could not touch his cap often enough -to express his respect for Somers’s new rank. - -“Lord, Cap’n Somers, when I remember you and Cap’n Decatur as reefers -aboard o’ ‘Old Wagoner,’ and now I sees you both commandin’ smart -vessels, like the Airgus and the Nartilus, I says to myself, I must be -a-gittin’ old. I ain’t very old, sir; you know I warn’t but a little -shaver when I was on the Bunnum Richard with Cap’n Paul Jones——” - -“Yes, yes,” interrupted Somers hastily, remembering that once, started -on Cap’n Paul Jones and the Bunnum Richard, Danny was difficult to stop. -“We have a fine lot of young reefers here now.” - -“Yes, sir; Mr. Macdonough, he’s a fine young gentleman, and there’s a -little ’un, they calls Mr. Pickle Israel, ’cause he’s allus in a scrape -o’ some sort. But he ain’t got no flunk at all in him, and the men says -as how, when it’s work or fightin’ to be done, that this little -midship-mite is right on top. ’Course, there ain’t no Paul Joneses among -’em, axin’ your pardon, sir—there never was but one Cap’n Paul Jones—but -we’ve got as fine a lot o’ young officers as ever I see, and no -ladybirds among ’em—all stormy petrels, sir.” - -Somers presented Danny with a pound of tobacco, which was shown in the -fok’sl with great pride, accompanied with more reminiscences of “Cap’n -Paul Jones.” Some days passed in giving the men on the Argus liberty and -in making ready for a cruise to Tripoli, which was to precede the great -attack. The bomb-vessels, shells, and many of the preparations necessary -for the gigantic struggle with the pirates were not completed, and would -not be for some time; but Commodore Preble wisely concluded to give the -Tripolitans a sight of his force, and also to encourage Captain -Bainbridge and his companions in captivity by the knowledge that their -country had not forgotten them. The commodore had determined to wait for -the return of the Siren, under Lieutenant-Commandant Stewart, which had -been sent to Gibraltar for some stores and to have some slight repairs -made. The Siren, however, did not return as promptly as was expected, -which annoyed Commodore Preble excessively. The officers, all of whom -were Stewart’s friends, were fearful that it might hurt him very much in -the commodore’s opinion. His arrival, therefore, was looked for -anxiously, and every hour of the day the question was asked, “Has -anything been heard of Stewart?” and every day Commodore Preble’s -vexation became more evident. At last, one morning, seeing a very fine -merchant ship that was bound for Gibraltar making her way out of the -harbor, the commodore signaled to her and sent a boat with a letter to -Captain Stewart. The letter was written in the commodore’s most fiery -vein and with his curtest decision. It simply directed Stewart to sail -at once, without waiting for further repairs. - -A day or two afterward, when the usual inquiries were made about -Stewart, Trippe answered dolefully: - -“The commodore has just had a letter from him saying his mainmast is so -badly sprung that it is unserviceable, and he is having a new one made. -Was there ever anything so unlucky? Of course, he can’t get here for a -considerable time, and all that time ‘Old Pepper’ will be lashing -himself into a rage; and on top of this Stewart gets the commodore’s -orders to sail at once.” - -Things seemed black enough for Stewart, and as they were all looking -forward to the chance of distinction in the approaching attack on -Tripoli, it seemed more unfortunate than ever. However, one morning, -only a day or two after this, a vessel which looked very like the Argus, -a sister ship to the Siren, was discerned, and a few minutes revealed -her to be the Siren. But she had no mainmast, and her appearance with -only one mast was grotesque in the extreme. - -“What can it be that Captain Stewart is towing?” asked Pickle Israel of -Lieutenant Trippe, as the two watched the Siren’s approach from the deck -of the flagship. - -Trippe examined it carefully, but before he could make out what the -object was, the commodore walked up, and, handing Trippe his glass, -asked him: - -“Will you be kind enough, Mr. Trippe, to examine the Siren and see what -sort of a spar she is towing?” - -Trippe took the glass, and, after a minute’s survey, he could not -refrain from smiling as he answered the commodore: - -“It is undoubtedly the Siren’s mainmast, sir. As you see, she has only -her foremast standing, and the spar is much too big and too long for -anything but the mainmast.” - -Commodore Preble’s mouth twitched; he had never seen a ship of war in -such a plight before. He remembered his peremptory orders to Stewart to -sail at once. Stewart had evidently taken him at his word, and had -sailed with one mast and was towing the other. - -The good news that Old Pepper had smiled instead of scowling at -Stewart’s device quickly communicated itself to the officers and gave -them great satisfaction. The reception of the Siren’s captain, when he -came aboard the Constitution soon after, was comparatively mild, and his -explanation so satisfactory, that he was invited to prolong his visit -and have luncheon with the commodore. - -Decatur and Somers, standing together on the deck of the Nautilus, and -seeing that Stewart did not return from the frigate, concluded that he -would either be sent home or given a chance for promotion; and much -relieved they were at the news brought them that “Old Pepper grinned -when Stewart told him about the mainmast, and said that was the way he -liked to have his orders obeyed.” - -The fleet was now assembled for the first demonstration against Tripoli; -and not until Commodore Preble had himself seen the Philadelphia and her -position in the Tripolitan harbor would he finally fix upon any plan, -although Decatur had a promise that he should have the honor of -commanding the expedition. - -One morning, in response to a signal from the Constitution, all the -captains—Decatur, Somers, Hull, and Stewart—assembled on the flagship to -hold their first council of war with the commodore. As the four young -captains met on the quarter-deck, the extreme youth of every one of them -seemed to strike them simultaneously. After a moment’s pause Somers -remarked: - -“Decatur will be the only one of us with assurance enough to parley with -the commodore.” - -“Somers,” said Decatur with unwonted gravity, “I do not feel as if I -could make a suggestion, or argue with Commodore Preble, if my life -depended upon it.” - -“Heaven help the rest of us, then!” said Stewart dismally. - -As the four young captains entered the cabin they passed a gentleman of -middle age, who was a guest of the commodore’s on board of the flagship. -Captain Hull saluted him as Colonel Lear, the American consul at -Tangiers, and with a bow to the assembled officers the consul retired. - -After the usual formalities, which Old Pepper was careful to observe, -unless he happened to be in a choleric humor, the captains seated -themselves around the table, the commodore at the head. Commodore Preble -then opened his plan of campaign, which was listened to with the most -respectful attention. He next asked each of the youthful commanders for -an individual opinion. Each hastened to agree with that of the -commodore. - -The commodore then asked if any one of them had a suggestion to offer. -Somers looked at Decatur, and Decatur looked gravely at Somers. Hull and -Stewart looked straight before them. After hemming a little, each one in -turn protested that he had no suggestion to make. “Old Pepper,” with a -glance around the table, rose suddenly. - -“Gentlemen,” said he, “this council is over. I regret to say that I have -not had, in any way, the slightest assistance from you. Good-morning!” - -The four young captains filed out in the same order in which they had -entered, but very much quicker, and looking like whipped schoolboys. - -Some hours after, Colonel Lear, entering the cabin, found Commodore -Preble sitting at the table, leaning his head on his hands in an -attitude of the deepest dejection. - -“Lear,” said he, raising himself up, “I have been indiscreet in -accepting the command of this squadron, with the duty of punishing -Tripoli. Had I known how I was to be supported, I certainly should have -declined it. The Government has sent me here a lot of schoolboys as -commanders of all my vessels, and not one of them but is afraid to open -his mouth before me!” - -Nevertheless, the commodore went on with his preparations, and about the -middle of December he set sail. - -The squadron kept fairly well together for some days. Then a heavy gale -arose, and for several days more they did not see each other. Toward -night, on the afternoon that the gale abated, Decatur, while off the -Tripolitan coast, caught sight of a low vessel with lateen sails and -flying Tripolitan colors. He at once gave orders for the pursuit; but -the ketch—for such it was—showed herself a fairly good sailer, and it -took several hours to overhaul her. She was skillfully navigated and ran -very close in shore, hoping to induce the Argus to follow her. But -Decatur was wary, and, keeping well off the shore, declined to trust his -ship upon the treacherous rocks and shoals toward which the Tripolitans -would have led him. At last, just as a faint moon rose in a murky sky, -the Argus got to windward of the ketch, and, bearing down on her, opened -fire with deadly precision. The Tripolitans at once hauled down their -colors; but Decatur, remembering their treachery as told him by Somers, -and knowing that the pirates preferred hand-to-hand fighting, did not -slacken his fire, but, standing on, ranged up alongside. The call for -boarders had been sounded, and, of the Argus’s small company of eighty -men, two thirds were ready to spring aboard the Tripolitan at the word. -In another minute the two vessels were broadside to broadside. Decatur -himself gave the order to board, and as the Americans sprang over the -side they were met by every available man in a crew as numerous as their -own, and armed with the terrible curved sword of the Barbary pirates. - -The fight on the deck of the ketch was furious but short. The -Tripolitans fought desperately, but in disorder, and within fifteen -minutes they were beaten. Decatur, in examining his prize, found that -she had sustained but little injury; and bearing in mind, as he had done -ever since the first day he had heard of the Philadelphia’s loss, the -destruction of the frigate, he determined that the ketch would be of -great use on the expedition, and he would therefore take her back to the -rendezvous at Syracuse with him. - -“She is of a build and rig common in the Mediterranean,” he said to his -first lieutenant, James Lawrence, who had lately joined, “and in -arranging a surprise it would be best to have a Mediterranean vessel, -which would not be readily suspected.” - -Lawrence agreed with his young captain. Leaving the prisoners on board, -a midshipman was put in command of the ketch, with a prize crew, and -sent back to Syracuse. Decatur then joined the rest of the squadron, and -they proceeded to Tripoli, where, lying off the town, they gave it a -bombardment by way of a promise of what was to come. The lack of small -vessels to enter the tortuous and rocky harbor prevented much damage -being done; but the Bashaw saw the fine fleet the Americans could -muster, and it was conveyed to him that it would return in a few months -with guns, vessels, and bombards to sail in and attack the town in -earnest. - -To Captain Bainbridge and the poor prisoners with him in the dungeons of -the castle the sight of “Old Glory” fluttering from the gallant little -fleet in the far distance was an assurance of hope, and the cannonade, -which was merely a defiance, was sweet music to the captives. The sight -of the great Philadelphia riding at anchor under the guns of the castle -and the fort, and degraded by wearing the Tripolitan colors, was a sore -one for the American officers and sailors. But Decatur, during all the -days of the cannonade, kept his eyes fixed on the frigate whenever he -could, studying her position, examining charts, and thinking out his -scheme for destroying the ship to save her honor. Every time he saw her -his heart beat with a strange premonition, and he felt with rapture the -presentiment that he was destined to glory in that undertaking. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - -Upon the return of the squadron to Syracuse, preparations went on -vigorously for the attempt upon the Philadelphia. Decatur’s first plan, -which he held to eagerly, of going in boldly and cutting out the -frigate, was flatly forbidden by Commodore Preble as being too rash. -Decatur’s second plan—going in with the ketch, disguised, and destroying -the frigate—was approved of by Commodore Preble, who had, in fact, first -suggested the idea to Decatur. He and “Old Pepper” spent many long hours -in the cabin of the Constitution perfecting the details of this glorious -but hazardous expedition, and the commodore’s respect for his “schoolboy -captains” increased every day that they served under him. Particularly -was he gratified at the spirit of instant acquiescence they showed when, -after the keenest rivalry among them all for the honor of supporting -Decatur, the privilege was accorded Captain Stewart, in the Siren, which -was the fastest and most weatherly of the brigs and schooners. Somers -felt the deepest disappointment, but, with his usual calm good sense, he -allowed no impatient word to escape him. On the day that the use of the -ketch was determined upon, Commodore Preble said to Decatur: - -“And now, Captain Decatur, what shall be the name of this craft?” - -“The Intrepid, sir,” answered Decatur promptly. - -“Good!” was the commodore’s instant reply. - -When Decatur and Somers were together that night—for no day passed -without their seeing each other—Decatur spoke of the name of the ketch. - -“Do you know,” said Somers, thoughtfully, “that was the very name that -occurred to me?—and as I, too, long for a chance for glory, when you -have returned in her I shall ask for her to carry out a plan of mine. I -will not tell you of it until you come back—and you _will_ come back, -that I feel; but then you must give me all your time and abilities to -help me with _my_ scheme.” - -“I will,” answered Decatur, “and I warrant it is something ten times -more difficult, more desperate, than what I shall attempt; for, when it -comes to taking chances, I know of no man who takes such odds as you, -Dick Somers, for all your long face and continual preaching to me.” - -The ships were to remain at Syracuse all winter. Meanwhile every effort -was made to communicate with Captain Bainbridge and his officers -imprisoned at Tripoli. A large reward was offered for the conveyance of -letters to and from the prisoners, and two letters were thus conveyed to -Captain Bainbridge, and answers received. - -One afternoon, as Decatur and Somers were strolling along a mountain -path that led to the famed fountain of Cyane, above the city, a man -wearing the costume of a Sicilian peasant came up to them, and, touching -his cap, said, in the _lingua franca_ which both Somers and Decatur -understood: - -“Signors, are you not American naval officers?” - -“Yes,” answered Decatur, while Somers eyed the man closely. - -“Then I have a communication for you from the American captain now held -at Tripoli.” - -“Give it to us, then,” said Decatur. - -“It is not here,” answered the man, with a sly look. “But if you will -come to-night, at nine o’clock, to the tavern of the Three Doves, up a -little higher beyond the fountain of Cyane, I will introduce you to a -pilot, brother of Salvatore Catalano, who is employed by the American -squadron. This other Catalano is a pilot too, and, wishing to oblige the -Americans, as you have taken his brother into your service, he managed -to communicate with the American captain. He has a letter for you, from -him, and he will bring it to the Three Doves to-night, at eight. Shall I -tell him you will be there?” - -“Certainly, without fail!” replied Decatur. - -The Sicilian then touched his cap again, and disappeared in a path by -the side of the mountain road. - -“Do you know,” said Somers, who had taken no part in the colloquy, “that -I have much doubt whether such a person as Catalano’s brother exists? -and I am perfectly certain that our peasant friend is really a sailor.” - -“Why?” asked Decatur, surprised. - -“First—well, I can only say, as the sailors do, ‘by the cut of his jib.’ -Besides, he did not bow, as these peasants do here; and the way he -touched his cap was very like a salute. And you perceive he made no -demand for money. Now, that is the only thing that would induce these -people to take the risk of communicating with Captain Bainbridge.” - -Decatur stopped in his walk, much struck by what Somers said. - -“And did you notice,” continued Somers, “that although he was dark and -had black eyes, like the Sicilians, he was of altogether different -build? He was larger and stouter, and his features were aquiline. His -eyes were of a sleepy black, like a Turk’s—not soft and bright, like -these handsome peasants about here.” - -“At all events,” said Decatur, “we can not refuse to keep our -appointment, for it is possible that these suspicions may be only -suspicions after all, and we could not lose the chance of hearing from -Captain Bainbridge.” - -They determined, however, to seek out the pilot, Catalano, and ask if he -had a brother such as the Sicilian described. But on inquiry they found -that the pilot had got a few days’ leave, and had gone into the country -to visit his family. - -Somers and Decatur, however, concluded that it would be only prudent to -go armed upon such an expedition, as Sicily was then much infested with -brigands. About seven o’clock they started. The evening was warm and -murky, and a fine mist shrouded the town and the water. They could only -see the Constitution looming up like a great black shadow in the harbor, -while the smaller vessels were mere patches of darkness. - -As they were making their way, in the gloomy half-light, up the rocky -path that led through a straggling wood of ilex trees, they suddenly -came upon Macdonough and Pickle Israel, coming down the mountain from -the little tavern for which Decatur and Somers were bound. It was a -resort of the better kind, and not much frequented by seafaring men of -the Salvatore Catalano class. - -Somers stopped the two young midshipmen and made some inquiries, -mentioning at the same time that they were in hopes of getting news of -Captain Bainbridge. After parting with them, Decatur looked back and saw -the midshipmen following them at a respectful distance. - -“Look at those two fellows!” said Decatur to Somers, laughing. “They are -afraid we will get into mischief, and they are following us—to protect -us, I suppose!” - -Somers, too, could not help laughing at the idea of little Pickle, who -was not much more than four feet high, imagining he could protect -anything. Macdonough was, indeed, a stalwart fellow, and might be of -service. Somers called out, half joking: - -“So you young gentlemen are dogging our footsteps, so as to take care of -us.” - -Macdonough did not know what to say, but Pickle, coming up the path at a -run, answered in his shrill boyish treble: - -“Yes, sir. We thought something might happen——” - -“And you’d be there with that brawny arm of yours to help us out, eh?” -asked Decatur. “Very kind of you, I’m sure; so come along. After we get -the letters at the tavern we will have some supper, and will get on -board ship before ‘lights out.’” - -As they were toiling up the slippery path Decatur remarked to Somers: - -“This seems like a safe enough sort of business, but yet I wish I had -brought my dirk with me instead of my sword.” - -Somers said nothing, but in his heart he echoed the wish. He, too, was -only armed with his sword. - -“I’m a prudent fellow, I am,” cried little Pickle, wagging his head -triumphantly. “I brought _my_ dirk; I always wear it, Captain Somers, -and here it is.” - -Pickle took out his midshipman’s dirk and flourished it around. - -“Hide that thing,” said Somers. “I hope we sha’n’t have to murder -anybody on this expedition.” - -They were still some distance away from the tavern, from whose low -windows, half a mile higher up, they could see a faint gleam, and the -two young midshipmen who had fallen behind were concealed by a turn of -the path, when some one stepped out of the bushes, and said quietly: - -“You are the _Americanos_, are you not?” - -Both Somers and Decatur recognized their acquaintance of that afternoon. - -“Yes,” answered Somers, “and we have come to receive the letter from the -American officers at Tripoli that Catalano, the pilot, has brought.” - -In the meantime four men had approached silently and surrounded the two -American officers. Somers, coolly putting his back to a stone wall that -ran along the path, said: - -“Where is Catalano?” - -“One moment,” said the supposed Sicilian with a wolfish smile. “Have you -ever heard of Mahomet Rous?” - -“Yes,” answered Decatur—“the Tripolitan captain who hauled his colors -down three times and then threw them overboard.” - -“And when he got back to Tripoli the Bashaw rode him through the town on -a jackass and gave him the bastinado,” added Somers. - -Scarcely were the words out of the young captain’s mouth before the -supposed Sicilian made a dash at him, and, as in a flash, both Somers -and Decatur realized that they were caught in a trap. Decatur, whose -powerful frame made him a match for two ordinary men, turned and -grappled with Mahomet Rous, and the two men rolled over, fighting -together on the ground. Somers, with his back to the wall, was set upon -by the three; but at that moment the two young midshipmen, hearing the -clash of swords in the darkness, rushed forward. Macdonough went to -Somers’s assistance, while Pickle Israel, seeing Decatur struggling -desperately with the Tripolitan pirate, drew his dirk, and with one -well-directed blow pinned the arm of Mahomet Rous to the earth. Decatur, -thus freed, rose. The other brigands were being well taken care of by -Somers and Macdonough, and seeing Decatur on his feet, concluded they -had had enough of it, and took to their heels, disappearing quickly -among the shadows of the stunted ilex trees. Mahomet Rous, half killed -by Decatur’s powerful arm, lay on the ground swearing frightfully at all -“_Americanos_.” The people from the tavern, hearing the noise of the -brawl, came out with lanterns and torches; but the four young officers, -glad to escape from such an adventure, ran down the mountain path as -fast as their legs would carry them. As soon as they reached the -outskirts of the town they stopped for breath, and to repair damages as -far as they could. While Pickle Israel was industriously rubbing the mud -off Decatur’s back he could not forbear saying, with a mischievous grin: - -“Well, Captain Decatur, I—I—believe we did manage to look out for you -and Captain Somers.” - -“You did, indeed,” answered Decatur, laughing. “That dirk of yours did -good service. You left it sticking in the pirate’s arm, but I’ll give -you another one that will always be a reminder of this night.—Somers, we -shall have to learn from these cautious reefers how to take care of -ourselves.” - -“We will indeed,” answered Somers gravely. - -Macdonough was old enough not to take this chaff seriously, but Pickle -fairly swelled with pride as he marched along through the town at the -heels of the two young captains. - -The general plans of Decatur’s expedition were now known among the -American officers and privately discussed. “Old Pepper” gave Decatur one -last warning. - -“You may dream, Captain Decatur, that you could bring out a frigate of -the Philadelphia’s draft through that tortuous harbor at night, under -the fire of every battery in the town, of the castle, and the whole -fleet in the harbor. Very well, sir; if you attempt it and get out -alive, you shall be sent home at once under charges; for, look you, -Captain Decatur, it is as dangerous to do too much when you are under my -orders as it is to do too little.” - -Decatur very wisely held his tongue, and realized that the destruction -of the ship was all he could aim at. - -It was known that a draft of officers was to be made from the -Constitution, and the wildest excitement prevailed in the steerage, -where every midshipman thought himself cocksure of being one of the -lucky ones to go. Pickle Israel, in his anxiety to curry favor with -Decatur, who had the selection of the officers, stopped at nothing. At -the same time he felt convinced—from his prowess on the night of the -adventure with the brigands, and from Decatur’s present to him of a -beautiful dirk to replace the lost one—that he would undoubtedly be -permitted to go. Whenever Decatur came on board the Constitution, the -first object he would see would be Pickle, who would bow to the deck and -make the most insinuating inquiries about his health. Decatur was sure -to find Pickle, cap in hand, at every turn. The other midshipmen saw -through it, and determined to get a “rig” on Pickle. One day, at dinner, -therefore, Laws, one of the older midshipmen, casually remarked that he -had seen Captain Decatur on shore that day with a box of frogs and -lizards. “And you know,” said he, turning half round so that Pickle -might not see him winking at the rest, “Captain Decatur has a craze for -frogs and lizards. He’s making a collection to take home with him. I -gave him a tree-toad to-day, and you’d have thought from the way he -thanked me that I had given him a forty-four-gun frigate. The fellows -that want to go on the Intrepid can take the hint.” - -That was enough for Pickle. The next day he got shore leave, and in the -afternoon, as the result of his day on shore, he returned with a box -about a foot square full of frogs and snails and lizards. This, he -himself took on board the Enterprise, and, asking to see Captain -Decatur, was very much disappointed to find that the captain was not on -the ship. He left his box, though, and returned to the Constitution. - -Again, at dinner, more tales were told respecting Decatur’s extravagant -fondness for frogs, and Pickle chuckled to himself on his astuteness in -sending the captain a whole boxful. At last he burst out with— - -“I tell you what it is, fellows, I’ve got ahead of all of you! I went -ashore to-day, and I got a dozen of the biggest bull-toads you ever -clapped your eyes on, and I sent ’em to Captain Decatur with my -compliments!” - -“Pickle,” remarked Laws solemnly, “something ails you that doesn’t often -afflict a midshipman: you’re too long-headed by half.” - -“Yes,” said Morris, another of the midshipmen, “and soon we’ll see the -effect of Pickle’s sharpness. Captain Decatur will say to himself: ‘Now, -there’s that little Pickle Israel, he’s a very sharp fellow—knows a -lizard when he sees one, and isn’t afraid of a jumping frog. Likely as -not he isn’t afraid of a jumping pirate either. He’ll be a good fellow -to have on the Intrepid, so here goes!’ Then the captain will take out -his list and put your name down, and you’ll go and cover yourself with -glory as with a mantle, and get promoted to be lieutenant, and be at the -top of the list, ahead of all us poor devils, and all on account of -sending Captain Decatur a box of frogs.” - -Pickle could not forbear grinning with delight at this pleasing -prospect, but thought it proper to disclaim his future distinction by -cocking his head knowingly, and saying: - -“Oh, well, you fellows stand just as good a chance as I do, but it _was_ -pretty clever of me to do that frog business so neatly!” - -Pickle waited in vain for a note of enthusiastic thanks from Decatur, -including an invitation to dinner, but none came. At last, about a week -afterward, Decatur being on the Constitution’s deck one day, and Pickle, -as usual, hanging around, he turned to the little midshipman with a very -quizzical smile, and said: - -“I think, Mr. Israel, that some one has been playing a joke at your -expense. I received, the other day, a box of frogs and lizards and what -not, with your compliments. Of course I had them dumped overboard, and -determined to ask you about them.” - -Pickle’s black eyes grew wide with amazed disappointment. - -“I heard, sir—I heard you liked frogs,” he managed to stammer, and then -stopped short, appalled by the reflection that perhaps, after all, he -had injured his chances of going in the Intrepid. - -“And suppose I do like frogs,” said Decatur, laughing; and then, eyeing -the boy closely, he continued: “I know now, Mr. Israel, that some one -has been playing on you. I understand you are very anxious to go upon -the expedition to Tripoli.” - -“Yes, sir,” cried Pickle, eagerly, “I want to go more than I can say, -though all the other fellows want to go too; but, Captain Decatur, if -you’ll take me——” - -Decatur put his hand kindly upon the boy’s shoulder. - -“Now, my young friend, dismiss the idea from your mind. You are entirely -too young——” - -“I’m fourteen, sir,” cut in Pickle, straightening himself up, “and I -look as old as some fellows at sixteen.” - -“Nevertheless it is not my intention to take any of the very young -midshipmen. If I did, I should certainly take you, for I have perfect -confidence in your determination and coolness. But remember, we expect -to have a hand-to-hand fight with the Tripolitans; and although they are -neither good seamen nor even tolerable gunners, they are superb as -hand-to-hand fighters, and for that reason I shall choose the strongest -and oldest of the midshipmen. I feel sorry for you”—for Pickle’s eyes -had begun to fill with tears—“but your turn will come some day, and then -I have not the slightest doubt you will give a good account of -yourself.” - -The expedition was to start about the 1st of February, and during the -last days of January the excitement among the junior officers was -intense as to which would have the honor of being selected. Decatur -consulted with Somers, and with his help, after much deliberation, made -out a list of the officers he desired, which he submitted to the -commodore. The men of the Argus were to compose the crew, and they were -to be asked to volunteer. Decatur found himself unable to make a choice -among his three lieutenants—Lawrence, Thorn, and Bainbridge, the nephew -of Captain Bainbridge—and felt obliged to take them all. - -Somers and Decatur were constantly together during these last days, and -Decatur was ably assisted by Somers’s extraordinarily good judgment in -matters of detail, especially regarding the disguising of the ketch and -her company. Every officer and man was to be provided with a jacket and -trousers such as the Maltese sailors wear—for the Intrepid was to steal -in as a fruit-laden vessel from Malta. At last, every preparation being -well forward, on the afternoon of the 3d of February, Decatur, with -Somers, was pulled to the Constitution, where they found Stewart. Every -officer and man in the ship, by some strange mental process, knew that -the choice of officers was to be made that day, and all were on hand, so -as not to miss the chance of going upon an expedition of so much glory. - -Decatur went immediately to the commodore’s cabin, when he submitted his -list, and every name was approved. As he appeared upon the quarter-deck -with the commodore, he could not but smile at the ill-concealed -eagerness of the officers, who could scarcely restrain their -impetuosity. - -The commodore looked around and smiled. Not an officer was missing. He -took his station near the gangway, and an instant hush fell upon them. -The boatswain’s call to “Attention!” was a mere form. - -“Gentlemen,” said he, “you perhaps know that it is in contemplation to -send an expedition, under the command of Captain Decatur, to Tripoli, -for the purpose of destroying the Philadelphia, which has been raised, -refitted, and now flies the Tripolitan colors. Captain Stewart, of the -Siren, is to support Captain Decatur with his whole force. The ketch so -gallantly captured by Captain Decatur is to be used, as being of a build -and rig often seen in Mediterranean ports, and therefore not likely to -excite suspicion. She has been fitly named the Intrepid. Her ammunition -is now aboard of her, and she sails at daylight. Captain Decatur has the -selection of his brave assistants. I can only say that his choice, like -mine, of the ships and the captains to do the work, will be made solely -upon the ground of availability. If willingness to go were the only -test, there could be no choice; but in other respects there is a choice, -which Captain Decatur has made with my approval.” - -The commodore then read off the first name, “Midshipman Izard.” - -An electric thrill seemed to run through the group of midshipmen as the -names followed in quick succession: “Midshipmen Morris, Laws, Davis, and -Rowe.” - -The older officers looked acutely disappointed; many of them had hoped -to go, but they gave the lucky five a rousing cheer, while the -“stay-at-homes” among the midshipmen joined in, and all shook hands -cordially with their more fortunate messmates. Decatur could not but -notice little Israel, the boy’s face was so doleful. He turned to the -lad and said kindly: - -“Mr. Israel forgets that his stature is not as great as his spirit; but -some day he will have a chance, and no doubt he will make glorious use -of it.” - -These kind words consoled Pickle a little, but except the lucky five, it -was a disappointed lot of reefers who stood on the Constitution’s -quarter-deck and magnanimously cheered the more fortunate of their -number. - -The ketch was anchored close in shore, with the red flag flying at her -fore, showing that she was taking on powder. Decatur then ordered his -boat, and said farewell to the commodore and the assembled officers. He -directed the midshipmen to report on board the Intrepid at daylight, and -then, inviting Somers and Stewart to go to his ship with him, all three -were pulled to the Argus. It was about four o’clock on a lovely -afternoon in February, which is a springlike month in Sicily. On the -Argus, too, there was the tension of expectation, as they knew from the -state of forwardness in the preparations of the ketch that the time of -adventure was at hand. - -The three young captains came over the side together, and immediately -Decatur ordered the boatswain and his mates to pipe “All hands to -muster!” Almost before the sound had died away the men crowded up the -hatchways, and the officers quickly ranged themselves on the -quarterdeck. “All up and aft!” was reported, and Decatur advanced with -the list in his hand. - -“Gentlemen,” said he to his officers, in his usual impetuous way, “you -know, perhaps, that an expedition leaves at daylight to-morrow morning, -in the ketch Intrepid, to destroy the Philadelphia in the harbor of -Tripoli. I have the honor of commanding the ketch, while Captain -Stewart, in the Siren, commands the supporting force. I have selected -the officers to accompany me from the Constitution and the Argus. My -selection was governed by expediency only. All will wish to go”—a murmur -of assent was here heard—“but all can not go. Hence I select those who -seem to me best adapted to bear the hardships and to withstand the -peculiar fighting methods of the Tripolitans. I have concluded to make -no choice among my lieutenants, but to take them all, and Midshipman -Macdonough and Dr. Heerman, surgeon.” - -A rousing cheer, as on the Constitution, greeted this announcement, and -the five officers were warmly congratulated. Decatur then turned to the -men: - -“Of you, my men,” he said, “I will name one who may go—the pilot, -Salvatore Catalano. I wish sixty-one men out of the ship’s company, and -I shall take the first sixty-one that volunteer. Let each man who wishes -to go advance two steps.” - -As if moved by a common impulse, every man and boy on the ship, -including two or three just out of the sick-bay, who had not yet -reported for duty, advanced two steps. - -Decatur stood looking at them, his fine face lighted up with pleasure. - -“My men,” he said, “it is impossible that all should go. Let those who -are not physically strong, and those under twenty and over forty, step -back.” - -Not a man moved. In the midst of the dead pause Danny Dixon spoke up, -touching his hat: - -“Please, sir,” he said, “ain’t none of us more’n forty or less’n twenty. -And ain’t a one of us that ain’t jist as healthy and strong as a bull -whale.” - -Decatur managed to take this without smiling, but replied: “Very well; -pipe down, boatswain! Within an hour I shall have a list made out of -sixty-one men that I wish to accompany me.” - -Summoning Lawrence, his first lieutenant, Decatur, with Stewart and -Somers, disappeared in the cabin, and the men were dismissed. - -Next morning, at daylight, the five officers from the Argus, the five -midshipmen from the Constitution, the sixty-one petty officers and -seamen, and the pilot Catalano, were assembled on the deck of the ketch. -The accommodations were bad, and not more than one half the officers -could sling their hammocks at one time; but not a word of complaint was -heard. Early as it was, Somers was on hand to bid his friend good-by. -Just as the pale pink flush of dawn lightened the dark water, the -Intrepid, hoisting one lateen sail, got under way, and Somers, wringing -Decatur’s hand, dropped into his boat alongside. As the ketch caught the -morning breeze and began to glide rapidly out toward the offing, Decatur -ran aft and waved his cap at Somers, standing up in the boat, who -returned it, and then pulled away to his own vessel. The Siren, being a -fast sailer, did not leave until the sun was well up, when she, too, -spread her white wings and flew. - -Several days of delightful weather followed. The officers amused -themselves with rehearsing the proposed strategy by which they were to -make the Tripolitans believe them to be Maltese sailors and the ketch a -Maltese trading vessel. Catalano was to do the hailing, prompted by -Decatur, when they had got, as they hoped, to the Philadelphia’s side. -Except a few men, the vessel’s company was to remain below, but ready at -a signal to leap on deck. The Intrepid proved to be a better sailer than -was thought at first, and on a lovely afternoon, four days after leaving -Syracuse, anchor was cast about a mile to windward of Tripoli. The Siren -followed some distance behind. She, too, was disguised, her ports being -closed, her guns covered with tarpaulins, and her sails daubed with -lampblack, and patches painted on them to represent old and worn canvas. -Nothing could disguise the beauty of her lines; but for want of paint on -her hull, and by devices of various sorts, she looked like a staunch -American or English merchantman after a long voyage. Having got the -Intrepid in a good position without being discovered, Decatur was eager -for night to fall, that the desperate adventure might be made. Right out -before them lay the large though dangerous harbor of Tripoli, the -frowning castle, and the numerous forts that protected the town. Among -all the shipping collected at the mole, the dark and towering hull of -the Philadelphia was most conspicuous, and from her peak flew the -crescent of Tripoli. - -“There she is, my men!” cried Decatur, as he pointed her out. “All her -guns are kept double shotted, and when we make a bonfire of her she will -give the rascals a broadside that will make them squeal.” - -While waiting for the brief twilight of Africa, Decatur noticed a boy -about twelve years old standing by the mast. Two or three of the boys on -the Argus had been brought along to act as helpers, and who could be -left in the ketch while the rest of the crew made the proposed dash for -the Philadelphia. Decatur, passing by at the time, was struck by the -little fellow’s bright face, and stopped to ask him what he wished to -say. - -“Please, sir,” said the boy, in a piping treble, “I belongs to the -Argus, but because I was so little they never put my name on the ship’s -books. I hear ’em say, sir, for’ard, as how there’ll be a big lot o’ -prize money to divide arter we has blowed the Philadelphy up; and Mr. -Dixon, the quartermaster, sir, says as I won’t get no prize money unless -my name is entered reg’lar; and so I axes you to enter me.” - -“Certainly I will,” replied Decatur, laughing at the boy, who was -evidently a victim of fok’sl wit, but who had the spirit to ask for what -he thought his due. “What is your name?” - -“Jack Creamer, sir, apprentice boy.” - -“Very well, Jack Creamer, apprentice boy, you shall be regularly entered -in the ship’s books, and you’ll get your share of whatever goes round.” - -The wind had been rising for some little time, and just then it blew -violently from the southwest. The sky became overcast, and suddenly -darkness seemed to envelop them. This Decatur thought rather favorable -to his scheme; but Catalano, the pilot, who knew every foot of the -harbor, came up at that moment. - -“Sir,” he said in fluent English, but with a strong Italian accent, “it -will be impossible to take the ketch in to-night. The water is no doubt -now breaking clear across the reef of the western passage, and even if I -could get in, there would be no chance of getting out. I know this -harbor well, sir, and the water must be moderately smooth before it is -safe to go near the reefs.” - -Decatur was of too impetuous a nature to accept all at once this -decision. - -“I will have the cutter lowered, and I desire you, with Mr. Morris, to -go and examine the entrance, and, if possible, the ketch shall go in -to-night,” he said. - -The cutter was lowered and manned, and pulled away in the fast gathering -darkness. They could see at a little distance that the Siren’s boats -were hoisted out and manned and only awaited the signal to advance. But -every moment the wind increased, and at last Decatur began to feel -seriously uneasy regarding the absent cutter. It was obviously -impossible to attempt the attack that night, and the Intrepid -accordingly so signaled the Siren. After a while the cutter was seen -approaching, tossed about on the great waves, and every man in her -drenched to the skin. The storm was now on them, and the cutter was -brought up with difficulty, and her company clambered into the ketch; -but in hoisting the boat in she was dashed violently against the ship, -and her side completely stove in. This was a trifle; but when the anchor -was weighed it was found to be broken in three pieces. The wind had now -become a roaring gale, and soon the Intrepid was stretching out to sea. -It was observed, though, that the Siren was having trouble with her -anchor, too. She was rolling her gunwales under water, and the anchor -held firmly on the bottom. - -“Stewart is well able to look out for himself, while it is as much as we -can do to take care of ourselves,” said Decatur, as he gave orders to -claw off the land. - -For six days the storm raged. The brig, which had finally been obliged -to leave her anchor and cable, managed to keep in company with the -ketch, which threatened to founder at every moment. Their provisions -were soaked, and in cold and wet and hunger these brave men weathered -the gale. But at last, on the morning of the 15th of February, the -weather moderated, the wind fell, and a bright sun shone. The ketch and -brig found themselves in the Gulf of Sydra. Good weather promising for -some days, Decatur signaled the Siren to bear away for Tripoli, and -began to make his preparations for the attack. - -Toward evening they found themselves in sight of the town, with its -circle of forts crowned by the frowning castle. The great hull of the -Philadelphia, larger than any in the harbor, stood out in bold relief, -her masts and spars clearly defined against the dazzling blue of the -African sky. Two frigates, anchored about two cables’ lengths apart, lay -between her and the castle, while nineteen gunboats and a few galleys -lay near her. From the castle and the batteries one hundred and fifteen -guns could be trained upon an attacking force; but the bold tars on the -Intrepid took all chances cheerfully, and even gayly. Every man had been -instructed in his duty, and the crew was not mustered, for fear of -awaking distrust. The watchword “Philadelphia” was passed around. The -men quietly took their places below the hatches, while half a dozen -officers sat or lay about on deck. Catalano took the wheel, while -Decatur, in a common sailor’s jacket and fez, stood by him. - -The breeze had become light and baffling in the offing and the Siren, -which kept well away from the Intrepid in order to avoid suspicion, was -evidently unable to get any nearer until the wind should change; but at -the entrance to the harbor it was very fresh, and carried the ketch -forward at a lively rate. Decatur saw that his best hope was to make a -bold dash then, without waiting for the gallant little brig, which was -almost becalmed. At the moment when the steersman made straight for the -western entrance of the harbor, Decatur addressed a few last words to -his officers and men. - -“You see,” he said in a firm, clear voice, perfectly audible to all, -although not loud, “that Stewart and his gallant crew can not assist us. -Very well; the fewer the number, the greater the honor. Our brave -shipmates now in prison have been forced for many months to see the -shameful spectacle of an American frigate wearing the colors of her -pirate captors. Please God, it shall be so no longer after this night. -Let every man think of this—let him think of his country; and though we -can not hoist ‘Old Glory’ at the Philadelphia’s peak, we can at least -send her to the bottom, rather than let her float disgraced by a pirate -flag!” - -A half-suppressed cheer greeted Decatur’s brave words, and every officer -and man felt himself possessed by that noble enthusiasm which works -miracles of courage. Jack Creamer allowed his voice to get so far the -better of the instructions given him to keep quiet, that he screeched -out a boyish cheer, for which Danny Dixon came near chucking him -overboard. - -It was not desired to get in before ten o’clock, but at the rate they -were going, under a good breeze, would have got them in before sunset. -Afraid of attracting attention by shortening sail, Decatur had all the -vessel’s buckets, spare sails, etc., towed behind, so that she moved -very slowly through the water. About nine o’clock, when they were a mile -off the town, a brilliant moon rose trembling in the heavens. Decatur -noticed it. - -“Just the light for us,” he said. - -The scene was one of perfect peace and beauty. All the shipping in the -harbor lay quietly at anchor, and the water was so smooth that their -lights were as stationary as those that twinkled in the town and the -Bashaw’s castle. - -The Intrepid stole quietly in, leaving the Siren farther and farther -astern. The moon was now high, flooding the sea with glory, and making -the harbor lights mere twinkling points of flame. The Intrepid steered -directly for the Philadelphia’s bows, and this caused her to be hailed -while still a considerable distance off. A number of Tripolitans were -seen lounging about the Philadelphia’s decks, and an officer smoking a -long pipe leaned over the rail and called out: - -“What vessel is that?” - -“The ketch Stella, from Malta,” responded Catalano in Italian, which is -the _lingua franca_ of the East. “We were caught in the gale and nearly -wrecked. We lost our anchors, and our commander would like the favor of -riding by you during the night.” Decatur, in his round jacket and fez, -lounged near Catalano, and whispered to him what to say. - -“Your request is rather unusual,” replied the officer. - -“Bananas and oranges, with a few bales of raw silk,” answered Catalano, -pretending that he had understood the Tripolitan to ask what the -Stella’s cargo was. The ketch continued to draw rapidly near, and from -the Philadelphia could be seen the supposed Italian mariners moving -lazily about and gesticulating to one another. - -“Mule-head and son of a jackass,” cried the Tripolitan, “it is nothing -to me what you are laden with! I say it is dangerous to have you dogs of -Christians made fast to us. If you get on board, you will steal anything -you lay your hands on.” - -“That’s not a very pleasant way to meet men who have been in a whole -gale for six days, with all our provisions spoiled, and on short -allowance of water, and expecting every moment to go to the bottom. On -the voyage we met with a xebec of your country with her captain ill and -half the crew down with scurvy. We broke our cargo to give them fresh -fruit, and took the captain on board and landed him at Tunis.” So -answered Catalano, in an injured voice, the ketch still advancing -steadily. - -“Then you may lie by us until daylight,” answered the officer. At the -same time he ordered a boat with a fast to be lowered. Then he called -out again, his voice resounding over the smooth water, now lighted by -the moon, that had climbed high in the deep blue of the night sky: - -“What vessel is that in the offing?” - -“The Transfer,” answered Catalano, prompted by Decatur. - -This was a small frigate lately purchased of the British at Malta, and -which the Tripolitans were anxiously looking for. - -“Good!” said the officer. - -“The wind died out before she could get in,” continued Catalano, “and -she asked us to report her.” - -Not the slightest suspicion had yet entered the minds of the Tripolitans -that the Intrepid was anything but a trading vessel, and luckily enough -for Decatur and his dauntless company; for at that moment a puff of wind -came, the Intrepid’s head fell off, and she drifted directly under the -Philadelphia’s broadside. - -At this appalling moment the least hint of the Intrepid’s real character -would have meant death to every man on board. Decatur, with his -unshakable coolness, ordered a boat out, with Lawrence and three seamen, -carrying a hawser, which they quietly fastened to the forechains of the -Philadelphia. The ketch meanwhile was drifting under the port batteries -of the frigate, toward the stern, where, if she had escaped the guns on -broadside, the stern chasers could have annihilated her. But every man -on board shared Decatur’s calm self-possession at this critical moment. - -The frigate’s boat containing the fast had now put out. Lawrence, rowing -back to the ketch, met the Tripolitan boat. - -“Give us your fast,” he said, “so we can let go another hawser. We lost -our best cables with the anchors, and our hawsers are so small that it -will take two to hold us in case the wind should rise during the night.” - -The Tripolitans handed out the fasts, which Lawrence coolly carried on -board the Intrepid. The men on deck, catching hold of the fast, then -drew the ketch close to the frigate’s huge black hull, and were soon -breasting along under her port side. - -The shadow cast by the Philadelphia’s hull was of immense help to the -Intrepid’s men, but near her stern was a great patch of white moonlight, -and any object passing through this glittering and shimmering belt could -be seen as plainly as in daytime. As the ketch glided steadily along and -into this brilliant light, her anchors, with their cables coiled up, -were seen on her decks. - -“Keep off!” shouted the Tripolitan officer, suddenly taking the alarm; -“you have deceived us—you have not lost your anchors, and we do not know -your character,” and at the same moment he ordered men with the axes to -cut the fasts. But, as if by enchantment, the deck of the Intrepid was -alive with men, whose strong arms brought her grinding up against the -frigate’s side in a moment’s time. Then a great yell went up from the -frigate: - -“_Americanos! Americanos!_” cried the Tripolitans. - -The next instant Decatur, who was standing ready, made a powerful -spring, and jumped at the Philadelphia’s chain-plates, shouting at the -same moment: - -“Board!” - -Morris and Laws, two of the midshipmen of the Constitution, were at -Decatur’s side clinging to the frigate’s plates. Morris and Decatur both -sprang at the rail, and Morris, being little more than a boy, and very -lithe and agile, his foot touched the quarter-deck first. But Decatur -was second. Laws had dashed at an open porthole, and would have been the -first on the frigate, but his boarding belt, with his pistols in it, -caught between the gun and the port, so that he was third. - -Instantly, in the dazzling moonlight, turbaned heads appeared over the -rail and at every port. The Americans came pouring over the side, and as -the Tripolitans rushed above they found the quarter-deck already in -possession of the “Americanos.” The Tripolitans ran forward and to -starboard. The Americans, quickly forming a line across the deck, and -headed by Decatur, dashed at them, and, caught between an advancing body -of resolute seamen and the ship’s rail, those who were not cut down, -after a short but desperate resistance, leaped overboard. The Americans -were more than a match for them in hand-to-hand fighting, at which they -excelled, and they fought in disorder. In five minutes the spar deck was -cleared and in possession of the Americans. - -Below there was a more prolonged struggle. The Tripolitans, with their -backs to the ship’s side, made a fierce resistance, but were clearly -overmatched from the beginning; and as it is their practice never to -fall alive into the hands of an enemy, those who were not cut down on -the spot ran to the ports and jumped overboard, and within five minutes -more there was not a Tripolitan on the frigate except the dead and -wounded. Not until then did the batteries, the castle, the two frigates -moored near the Philadelphia, and the gunboats, take the alarm. - -The ketch, however, fastened close under the overhanging quarter-gallery -of the frigate, and completely in the shadow, still escaped detection. -Lights began to flash about from the ships and the batteries, but not -enough could be discerned to justify the Tripolitans in firing upon -their own ship. Warning had been given, though, and it was now only a -question of a few moments how long the Americans could work undisturbed. - -Decatur now appeared upon the quarter-deck to have the powder on the -ketch rapidly transferred to the frigate. Lawrence was with him. When -the moment came that Decatur must give the order for the destruction of -the frigate, his resolution to obey orders almost failed him. - -He turned to his lieutenant, and, grasping him by the shoulders, cried -out in an agonized voice: - -“Ah, Lawrence, why can not this gallant ship be cut out and carried off, -a glorious trophy of this night?” - -“She has not a sail bent nor a yard crossed,” answered Lawrence firmly. -“The tide will not serve to take so large a ship out now; and remember, -it is as dangerous to do too much under Commodore Preble’s orders as to -do too little.” - -“I care nothing for that——” - -“Then, if you value your reputation, give the order at once to hand up -the powder!” exclaimed Lawrence. “See! the frigate off the port quarter -is lighting up her batteries.” - -For a moment or two, as Lawrence watched Decatur’s agitated face, he -almost feared that his young captain literally could not give the order -to destroy the ship, so intense was his desire to bring her out. But -after a moment or two Decatur recovered himself; the opposition of so -fearless a man as Lawrence convinced him, against his will, that it was -impossible; and by a powerful effort he gave the order, and the men -began rapidly hoisting the kegs of gunpowder over the side and carrying -them along the decks. In a few moments the gun-room, the magazine -scuttle, the cockpit, and the forward storerooms were filled with -combustibles, and smoke was already pouring from the ports on the gun -deck before those in the lower parts of the ship had time to get up. -They ran to the forward ladders, and when the last firing party reached -the spar deck the men were jumping into the ketch—all except Decatur and -a small party of his own. Two eighteen-pounders, double shotted, had -been dragged amidships and pointed down the main hatch, in order to blow -the ship’s bottom out; and a port fire, with a train of powder, had been -started so as to fire these two guns with certain effect. The sailors -then, seeing their glorious work well done, dropped quickly over the -side into the ketch, the officers followed, and Decatur, taking one last -look at the doomed frigate, now enveloped in curling smoke, was about to -leave her deck—his the last foot ever to tread it—when he saw little -Jack Creamer trying to drag a wounded Tripolitan across the deck. But -the boy was scarcely able to do it, and the man, who was large and -heavy, was too badly wounded to help himself, and Decatur stepped -forward to assist. - -“I found him under the hammock netting,” Jack gasped, “and I took him, -sir—I captured him.” - -“Bear a hand here!” shouted Decatur, cutting Jack’s magnificent claim -short; and the next moment Danny Dixon’s brawny arms were around the -wounded man, while Jack Creamer hopped lightly into the ketch. And -then—the frigate being quickly enveloped in fire and smoke, with little -tongues of flame beginning to touch the rigging—Decatur leaped from the -Philadelphia’s deck into the ketch’s rigging, and, the sixteen sweeps -being already manned, the order was given to cast off. At that very -moment the guns from the Bashaw’s castle, half gunshot off, boomed over -the heads of the Americans. - -In this instant of triumph, though, they incurred their greatest danger -of that perilous night. The headfast having been cast off, the ketch -fell astern of the frigate, out of whose ports the flames were now -blazing. The Intrepid’s jigger flapped against the blazing quarter -gallery, while on her deck, just under it, lay all her ammunition, only -covered by a tarpaulin. To increase their danger, the sternfast became -jammed, and they were fixed firmly to the blazing frigate, while the -ships as well as the shore batteries now opened a tremendous fire upon -them. - -There was no axe at hand; but Decatur, Lawrence, and the other officers -managed, by the most tremendous efforts with their swords, to cut the -hawser; and just as they swung clear, the flames rushed up the -tar-soaked rigging of the Philadelphia, and the two eighteen-pounders -roared out their charges into the bottom of the burning ship. - -The Intrepid was now plainly visible, in the light of the blazing -Philadelphia to every man on board the aroused fleet and batteries, and -of the crowds collected on the shore. Then the thunder of a furious -cannonade began. And now, after this unparalleled achievement, the -Americans gave one last proof of their contempt of danger. As the -Intrepid worked out in the red blaze that illuminated the whole harbor, -a target for every gun in the Tripolitan batteries, the men at her -sweeps stopped rowing, every officer and man rose to his feet, and with -one impulse they gave three thundering American cheers. - -When this was done they settled down to getting out of the way. - - [Illustration: _The expedition to destroy the Philadelphia._] - -As they drew farther from the shore they were in more and more danger -from the batteries; but although every shot threw showers of spray over -them, the Americans only gave back derisive cries and cheers. A rapid -count showed that not a man was missing. Jack Creamer, however, shouted -proudly: - -“Cap’n Decatur, please, sir, besides capturin’ that there man, one o’ -them wuthless Turks throwed his pistil at me and knocked me down, and I -expects some smart money for this ’ere cut.” - -Here Jack displayed with great satisfaction a small cut, that would not -have hurt a baby, behind his left ear. A roar of laughter from the men -followed, while Decatur smiled, and said: - -“You shall have your smart money, sure.” - -As they pulled with powerful strokes toward the offing, where they could -see the vague outline of the Siren and her boats, fully manned, lying -like black shadows on the water, the harbor and town were as light as -day with the reflection from the blazing frigate and the silvery -radiance of the moon. The Philadelphia seemed to be burning in every -spot at the same moment. Flames poured from her ports, and her fifty -guns, all double shotted, began to go off in every direction as her -blazing hull drifted helplessly with wind and tide. Many of the shot -from her guns crashed into the fleet around her, while at almost every -turn she poured a furious cannonade into the castle. As her decks fell -in, the guns were lowered at the breech, and their hot shot went farther -and farther, even into the town itself. One shot from the castle passed -through the to’gallant sail of the ketch; but the men only laughed, -while Catalano, the pilot, sang out in his Italian-English: - -“Eet ees a peety we can not get a piece of Meester Bashaw’s trousers for -to mend our sail! Next time we come to Tripoli, Meester Bashaw, we will -get you, and your trousers too, sair.” - -They were now well out of the range of firing, and close to the launch -and cutter of the Siren. Decatur hailed the cutter, which was very fast. - -“Bring up alongside,” he cried, “and take me aboard!” - -The cutter quickly drew alongside. Decatur jumped on board, and the boat -shot ahead of the slower ketch. As they neared the Siren, Decatur by the -light of the moon perceived Stewart at the gangway anxiously peering -into the darkness. Stewart could only see the officer in command of the -boat in uniform, and he did not recognize Decatur disguised in the -jacket of an Italian sailor. When the boat got near enough, Decatur made -a spring at the hawser that hung astern, and in another moment he had -sped along the deck and clapped Stewart on the shoulder. - -“Didn’t she make a glorious bonfire?” he cried, “and we came off without -losing a man!” - -Stewart, astonished, turned round, and recognizing Decatur, could only -wring his hand, while the other officers crowded around and overwhelmed -Decatur with congratulations. In a little while the Intrepid neared them -and hailed, asking that the wounded Tripolitan be taken aboard the -Siren, as there was no place on the ketch in which he could be made -decently comfortable. - -The man was hoisted on board, and as Jack Creamer claimed the honor of -capturing him, the boy was allowed to be one of the helpers. The -Tripolitan had kept so quiet that Dr. Heerman, who had come with him, -flashed a lantern into his face to see if he were alive or dead, and -Decatur, who was looking on, to his surprise recognized Mahomet Rous. -Mahomet opened his eyes and shut them again quickly, but there was no -doubt that he was very much alive. - -“He’s a-playin’ possum, sir,” said Jack Creamer, who was holding up the -Tripolitan’s head. “When he s’rendered to me——” - -An involuntary shout of laughter followed this, as Jack’s little figure -was contrasted with Mahomet Rous’s brawny form. - -“When he s’rendered, sir,” kept on Jack stoutly, “he was bleedin’ from a -wound in the leg, and one arm was hangin’ down like ’twas broke, and if -I hadn’t captured him when I did he’d ’a’ jumped overboard, as sure’s my -name’s Jack Creamer. He give me his sword and pistil, leastways,” Jack -added, blushing. “I took ’em from him, ’cause he couldn’t hold on to ’em -no longer, and I’ve got ’em hid in a pork-barrel on the ketch, and I -axes, sir—” turning to Decatur and Stewart, who could not help laughing -at him—“if I can’t be allowed to keep ’em, and I’ll take ’em instid o’ -smart money for my wound, if I can’t have both.” - -Jack here gravely displayed his scratched ear, which Dr. Heerman -examined with equal gravity. - -“I’ll tell you what you ought to do for this ear: go and wash it,” said -the surgeon; at which Jack, unable to stand the laughter of the officers -and the grins of the men, dropped Mahomet’s head and disappeared -forward. But Decatur called after him: - -“You shall have the sword and pistol, and the smart money too.” - -The wind still held, and, the Siren getting up her anchor, Decatur took -Jack Creamer with him and returned on board the ketch, and all sail was -made for Syracuse. - -On the morning of the 19th of February, just fifteen days after they had -left Syracuse, the Intrepid and the Siren stood into the harbor. -Stewart, from motives of delicacy, kept his fast-sailing brig astern of -the ketch. The Nautilus lay farther out than the Constitution, and -Somers, taking his morning walk on the quarter-deck, saw the ketch and -the brig approaching, and the next moment the lookout sang out, “Sail, -ho!” - -Instinctively Somers knew that it was Decatur and Stewart. The morning -was one of those clear, brilliant days when the earth and sea seem like -paradise. In the bright blue air he could see the white canvas of the -brig, now cleaned and fresh, and the low hull of the ketch with her -lateen sails. Soon they were near enough to be hailed, and, with a joy -and thankfulness not to be described, Somers saw Decatur standing on the -bow of the ketch, waving his cap—a signal meaning success, that had been -agreed on between them. - -The next instant they were seen from the Constitution, and as soon as it -was certain that they were observed an ensign was run up to every -masthead on the Intrepid. This was enough—it meant complete success. At -once the commodore gave orders for a salute to be fired, and the guns of -the Constitution roared out their welcome. This was taken up by the -Nautilus, and by the Sicilian forts on shore—for Sicily, too, had her -grudge against Tripoli. In the midst of the thundering salutes, and in a -cloud of blue smoke, the brig and the ketch came to anchor. Somers had -ordered his boat lowered, and had made for the Constitution, in order to -be the first to meet Decatur. His boat and the Intrepid’s, which carried -Decatur and Lawrence, came to the ladder at the same moment. Decatur -sprang out and caught Somers in his arms, and they hugged each other -very much as they had done in their midshipman days, when both were -larking together in “Old Wagoner’s” steerage. Somers then went over the -side, in order that he might witness Decatur’s triumphal entry. The -commodore and all the Constitution’s officers were waiting at the -gangway to salute Decatur. Somers greeted the commodore and the other -officers hurriedly and walked aside, as Decatur stepped upon the -quarter-deck, followed by his first lieutenant. Decatur wore a perfectly -new naval uniform, with a handsome sword. His fine black eyes were -sparkling, and he had a happy air of success. He bowed low to the -commodore. “Old Pepper” grasped Decatur’s hand warmly, and, taking off -his cap, cried: - -“If every plank in the Philadelphia is destroyed, you shall have my best -efforts to make you a post-captain for it!” - -“Every plank is destroyed, sir; every gun is burst and at the bottom of -the harbor; and the ship, after burning to the water’s edge, exploded, -and you could not have told the place where she lay,” answered Decatur, -in a quiet voice. - -At this a mighty hurrah went up from the officers and men on the -Constitution. - -“Not a man was lost——” continued Decatur, but at that another storm of -cheering cut him short. Somers, the quietest and most self-contained man -on the squadron, was cheering wildly, and literally dancing in his -excitement. The commodore hurried Decatur into the cabin to get the -particulars. Lawrence told the glorious story on the quarter-deck; while -Danny Dixon, who was coxswain, got permission to leave the Intrepid’s -boat, and to a listening crowd of blue-jackets on the fok’sl he narrated -the noble adventures of the Intrepid. - -When Decatur returned to the deck to get into his boat he found the -rigging full of men, and as he left the ship, taking Somers with him, -that they might have their usual long and intimate talk, the yards were -manned, and three rousing American cheers shook the Constitution’s deck -in honor of the Intrepid’s young commander. - -Amid all the felicitations on the outcome of the expedition, the modesty -and calmness of Decatur under his weight of splendid achievement were -remarked upon—especially as he was so young and so impetuous. But when -he and Somers were alone in the cabin of the Argus, they suddenly threw -aside their dignity and acted like a couple of crazy schoolboys. They -hugged and pounded each other, they laughed, they cried, they joked, -they sang, and at last the only thing that quieted them was the usually -grave Somers shoving Decatur into a chair and shouting: - -“Now, you lucky rascal, don’t dare to move from that chair until you -have told me all about the fight!” - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - -On the morning of the 3d of August, 1804, began that immortal series of -five assaults on the town, the fortresses, and the fleets of Tripoli -that were destined to forever destroy this piratical and barbarous -power. The force of the Americans was but little. With one heavy -frigate—the glorious old Constitution—three brigs, three schooners, two -bomb vessels, and three gunboats, manned by one thousand and sixty -officers and men, Commodore Preble stood boldly in to attack the town -defended by the Bashaw’s castle, not less than a dozen powerful forts, a -fleet of three cruising vessels, two galleys, and nineteen gunboats, -manned by twenty-five thousand Turks and Arabs. The harbor was, -moreover, protected by a line of shoals and reefs perfectly well known -to the Tripolitans, but very imperfectly known to the Americans, and -which the Constitution could not approach very closely without incurring -the fate of the unfortunate Philadelphia. But whatever “Old Pepper” -lacked in ships and guns he made up in men; for every soul in the -American fleet was worthy to serve under the flag that flew from the -mastheads. - -In considering the claims of his different officers in leading the -attack, Commodore Preble had at last determined upon Decatur and Somers. -The larger vessels were to cover the advance of the gunboats, which were -to do the real fighting, and these gunboats were divided into two -divisions—the first under Decatur, the second under Somers. Besides the -natural fitness of these two young captains for this dangerous honor, -the commodore knew their perfect understanding of each other and the -entire absence of jealousy between them; and with two officers acting in -concert this harmony of ideas and feelings was of great value. But few -officers were to be taken in the gunboats, and none of the midshipmen -from the Constitution were permitted to leave her. The frigate’s -situation would not be nearly so exposed as the boat divisions, yet she -was the force to support them all, and would require much and skillful -manœuvring. Commodore Preble, therefore, had use for all his officers. -These brave young men accepted the inevitable, and only little Pickle -Israel begged and pleaded unavailingly with both Somers and Decatur to -take him. - -“Now, Captain Decatur,” said Pickle, in a wheedling voice, finding -himself in the cabin of the Nautilus with both Somers and Decatur the -morning of the attack, “I’m nearly fifteen years old, sir.” - -“And a great help you’d be,” cried Decatur, laughing, and much amused by -Pickle’s persistence. “If a strapping great big Turk were to board us, I -should at once sing out: ‘Where is Mr. Israel? Let him tackle this -fellow; he’s too much for me!’” - -Pickle looked very solemnly into the laughing faces of the two young -captains, and then gloomily remarked: - -“I’m afraid you’re joking, Captain Decatur.” - -“Not at all,” answered Decatur, winking at Somers. “Didn’t that little -apprentice boy, Jack Creamer, capture a whole live Tripolitan by himself -the night of the destruction of the Philadelphia?” - -As Jack Creamer’s claim of having captured Mahomet Rous was a joke in -the whole squadron, Pickle did not feel Decatur’s remark as any -encouragement. So he turned to Somers, and said earnestly: - -“Well, Captain Somers, if Captain Decatur won’t let me go with him——” - -“That’s very ungrateful of Decatur, too,” interrupted Somers, quite -seriously, “considering the way you and Macdonough came to our -assistance the night of our adventure with the brigands at Syracuse. And -Macdonough is going in the boats.” - -Here Decatur, seeing that the little midshipman was really in earnest, -thought they had amused themselves at his expense quite enough; so he -said kindly: - -“Now, Mr. Israel, let us talk common sense. You are as brave a little -fellow as ever stepped—both Captain Somers and I know that—but you could -be picked up and thrown overboard like a handspike by any full-grown -man. Macdonough is several years older than you, and as strong and able -to take care of himself as any lieutenant in the squadron. Never you -mind, though. Just as soon as your body grows up to your spirit, you -will have your chance at distinction.” - -“And then,” added Somers, looking at the boy with a strange interest, -“every officer who has a desperate enterprise on hand will want you.” - -Poor Pickle had to go back on the Constitution fortified only by this -promise. - -James Decatur, Stephen’s younger brother, was put in Somers’s division, -which consisted of three gunboats, while Decatur’s consisted also of -three boats, and each was armed with a single long twenty-four-pounder. -The two friends had spent many days and weeks in perfecting their plans, -and when, at noon on the 3d of August, the Constitution flung out the -signal of battle, each knew exactly what was to be done. - -It was a beautiful August day, and the white-walled city, with its -circle of grim forts, its three smart cruisers lying under the guns of -the castle, crowned with heavy mortars, and its fleet of gunboats, -manned by sailors in quaint costumes, made a beautiful and imposing -picture. The American fleet looked small to grapple with such a force, -but, although it was estimated as about one to five of the Tripolitans’ -force, every man went into action with a coolness and determination not -to be excelled. - -At half past twelve o’clock the Constitution ran in, with a good breeze, -about three miles from the town. She wore ship, with her head off the -land, and signaled to the brigs, schooners, gunboats, and bomb vessels -to prepare for the attack, and at the same moment the frigate herself -was cleared for action. - -It was seen that the Tripolitan batteries were manned, and the cruising -vessels had lifted their anchors, so that the Americans knew that they -would have a warm reception. At the moment that the Constitution wore -with her head pointing out of the harbor, the Bashaw of Tripoli was -watching the fleet with a glass from one of the windows of the castle, -and haughtily remarked: - -“They will mark their distance for tacking. These Americanos are a sort -of Jews, who have no notion of fighting!” But Captain Bainbridge and his -officers and men, who watched the scene with the eager eyes of prisoners -hoping for release, knew perfectly well that every manœuvre made by the -Americans that day would be only to get closer to the enemy. - -By half past one o’clock the gunboats were manned, and separated into -two divisions. Somers led the first, with young James Decatur commanding -the boat next him, while Stephen Decatur led the second division. Danny -Dixon was, as usual, acting as coxswain, and with him was a brawny young -sailor, Reuben James, who had captivated Danny by his admiration for -Captain Paul Jones. Danny had, in consequence, recommended him highly to -Decatur. “For, cap’n,” he said, “a man as thinks as highly o’ Cap’n Paul -Jones as Reuben James does, and kin listen oncet in a while to my yarns -’bout the fight between the Bunnum Richard and the S’rapis, is apt to be -a mighty good sailor. And if one o’ them murderin’ pirates was to do for -me, sir, I’d like to think there’d be a good man to take my place. I’m -a-thinkin’, Cap’n Decatur, this ain’t goin’ to be no picnic, but good -hard fightin’. ’Course ’twon’t be like fightin’ the Britishers on the -S’rapis——” - -“I’d rather fight the Britishers ten to one,” answered Decatur, cutting -short Danny’s reminiscences, which otherwise would have been -interminable. “The British are seamen and gentlemen, while these -wretches are corsairs and pirates. But Reuben James may be with you, if -you want him.” - -“Thanky, sir,” responded Danny; and Reuben was the first man Decatur saw -when he stepped aboard the gunboat. - -Somers had for his coxswain Moriarity, who, while waiting for his young -commander, remarked, with a wink to his messmates who were resting on -their oars: - -“Begorra, although ould Oireland is a good counthry, Oi’m roight glad, -Oi am, that I was born and bred in Ameriky. There’s goin’ to be great -doin’s this day, and Misther Somers—or Cap’n, as I should say—is one o’ -them young gintlemen as has a grip like a bulldog on a enemy. And Oi -promise ivery wan of yez that if yez follows Misther Somers—or Cap’n, I -should say—ye’ll git into a warm place, shure; and ye won’t come out of -it, nayther, as soon as ye’d like; for Misther Somers—or Cap’n, I should -say—for all he be as soft as a May mornin’, is got more fight in him nor -any murtherin’ Turk as iver smoked a poipe or tould a lie.” - -Which was perfectly true. - -As the two divisions of three boats each formed and pulled away, they -saw two divisions of Tripolitan gunboats, much larger, stronger, and -more fully manned, pull slowly out from behind the line of reefs. The -windward division consisted of nine gunboats, and the leeward of five, -while a reserve of five others lay just inside her harbor, protected by -the reefs. - -As Somers took his place in the gunboat he said to the man at the -tiller: - -“Do you see that division of five boats to leeward? Steer straight for -it and within pistol shot of it, when I will give you further orders.” - -The breeze was easterly, and the one lateen sail drawing well, the boat -was soon covering the distance between her and her enemies across the -blue water. The firing had begun, and a terrific roar, as the -Constitution barked out all her great guns in broadside, showed that the -ball was opened. Somers watched until his boat was abreast of the -Tripolitan’s, when, himself sighting the long gun amidships, he fired, -and saw the shot had instant and terrible effect. Just then Moriarity -leaned over and whispered in his ear: - -“Sorr, the flagship is showin’ a signal of recall.” - -“Moriarity,” answered Somers quietly, and without turning his head, “I -thought you had too much sense to see a signal of recall in action!” - -“Thrue for you, sorr,” said Moriarity, with a grin, “but I jist -mintioned it to you, sorr, so you wouldn’t turn your head that way. Why, -it’s a mishtake, be the powers! but Cap’n Blake, in the next boat, seen -it—bad luck to it!—and he’s gone and obeyed it.” - -Somers turned around, and, carefully avoiding looking toward the -flagship, saw the next boat to his, under Lieutenant Blake, a brave -young officer, drawing off, obeying the signal of recall; and the very -next moment the third boat, commanded by James Decatur, caught a puff of -wind that brought her head round and carried her directly into the other -division of boats, which was dashing forward to attack the nine -Tripolitan gunboats. - -“Very well,” said Somers, with his usual calm smile, “as Decatur says, -‘The fewer the number the greater the honor!’ So we’ll go ahead, boys.” - -The sailors gave a cheer, and in another moment they were under the fire -of the five gunboats. The situation of Somers was now critical in the -extreme, but he gave no sign of it in his manner, which was as cool as -if he were exercising at boat drill. He opened a steady and -well-directed fire, that soon began to weaken the attack of the -Tripolitan boats, and not one of them dared to come near enough to -attempt boarding him. Still, he was drawing nearer and nearer the -batteries. Commodore Preble, who was watching him from the -Constitution’s quarter-deck, exclaimed: - -“Look at that gallant fellow Somers! I would recall him, but he will -never see the signal.” - -At that the commodore heard a boyish voice at his elbow, and there stood -little Pickle Israel. - -“If you please, sir,” said he, with the air of one making a great -discovery, “I don’t believe Captain Somers _wants_ to see any signal.” - -“You are right, my boy!” cried “Old Pepper,” who was in high good humor -over the gallant behavior of his “schoolboy captains;” “but, at least, -he shall be supported.” - -With that he gave orders, and the ship, advancing slowly but as steadily -as if working into the roadstead of a friendly port, delivered a -tremendous fire upon the batteries that were now trying to get the range -of the daring little boat. - -In spite of Somers’s efforts to keep from drifting too far toward the -reefs and the reserve squadron by backing his sweeps astern, he soon -found himself directly under the guns of one of the larger forts. The -Constitution was thundering at the forts, but this one was a little too -near, and her shot fell over it. The situation of Somers was now -desperate, but his indomitable coolness stood him in good stead. - -“If we can knock down the platform that holds those guns, my men, we -shall be all right,” he cried, “and see, it is very rickety!” - -Then, ordering a double charge put in the long gun, he sighted it -himself. A shot went screaming over the water, and immediately a cloud -of dust, bricks, and mortar showed that it had struck the right spot. -The platform was destroyed, and the battery tumbled down among the -ruins. - -Somers then turned his attention to the five gunboats, that he could now -drive still closer to the reef, and on which every shot was telling. At -this moment Moriarity whispered anxiously in Somers’s ear: - -“For the love of Heaven, sorr, don’t look toward the flagship! They’re -flyin’ a signal as you’d be mighty onwillin’ to see, sorr.” - -“Thank you, Moriarity,” answered Somers, smiling, who knew that the -coxswain meant that the signal of recall had been sent up—this time in -earnest. But, feared as Commodore Preble was by his young captains, he -could not make them retire under the fire of an enemy. - -“Look at Decatur over there!” cried Somers, pointing to the southern -entrance to the reef, where there was heavy firing and a terrible -struggle going on. “If we leave these gunboats, they will at once -re-enforce their windward division; and Decatur already has as much on -his hands as he can manage.” - -And so, for an hour longer, did the little American boat, with her one -gun, her resolute young captain, and her brave crew, hold in check a -force of five times her own; and not until a general recall was ordered -did she leave her perilous position, and retire under the guns of the -frigate. - -As Somers was unexpectedly weakened, so Decatur was unexpectedly -strengthened by James Decatur’s boat. Decatur, under sails and sweeps, -and making for the nine gunboats advancing to meet him, saw Somers’s -desperately gallant attempt, and, turning impetuously to his men, -shouted: - -“Do you see, men, how Somers has turned like a lion on a whole division -of gunboats? We must do our best this day, or else Somers and his boat -will reap all the glory!” - -The Tripolitans advanced boldly, keeping up a hot fire of grape and -musketry, which Decatur returned with interest. In the midst of the -smoke from the vessels and the batteries the Tripolitans could not quite -make out where the _Americanos_ were; but suddenly a boat was laid -alongside of the first Tripolitan gunboat, and Decatur’s voice was heard -ringing out, “Board!” and then they knew indeed where the _Americanos_ -were. - -The Turkish gunboat was divided into two parts by a long, open hatchway -extending from her port to her starboard side. The Tripolitans, taken by -surprise, rushed to the farther end of the hatchway, while Decatur, -joined by his lieutenant, Thorn, and his favorite midshipman, -Macdonough, made a dash for them. Now, these pirates were celebrated for -their hand-to-hand fighting, at which they were considered almost -invincible; but they could not withstand the steady charge of the -Americans, and the boat was carried with the first rush. Scarcely were -the Tripolitan colors hauled down and the captured boat taken in tow, -when in the midst of the drifting smoke an American gunboat was found to -have ranged up directly under the stern of Decatur’s boat. - -“What is the matter?” shouted Decatur. - -“Lieutenant Decatur is wounded!” answered Midshipman Morris, the one -whose foot had first touched the Philadelphia’s deck. He was standing on -the gunwale of the boat, and the instant Decatur saw his agitated face -he knew that his brother was desperately injured. - -“Severely wounded?” asked Decatur, turning pale. - -“Yes, sir,” answered Morris in a low voice. - -“Mortally?” asked Decatur. - -To this Morris made no answer for a moment; then he said huskily: - -“He had boarded a Turkish boat yonder, and the flag had been hauled -down, when, as he advanced across the deck, the Tripolitan captain drew -a pistol and shot him. We carried him to our own boat. The Turk escaped, -and there is his boat now within the enemy’s line.” - -Decatur knew his duty to his country and to the brave men under -him—whose lives and reputations depended upon his judgment and -coolness—too well to spend a moment indulging his private grief. - -“I can not go to him yet,” he cried in an agonized voice; “but I can -punish the treachery of the wretch who shot him!” - -The Tripolitan boat was now well in the line of the rest, a few hundred -yards away; but the Americans, bending to their sweeps and unshipping -their bowsprit, in a little while had reached the boat and had run -aboard of it. They could see that it was strongly manned, and its decks -were crowded with turbaned heads. Decatur had put his pistol in his -pocket, and had taken a boarding pike in his hand to parry the Turkish -scimitars. As the two boats neared each other, Decatur—whose heart was -torn with grief for his brother, and filled with the determination to -punish the enemies of his country—recognized the treacherous Tripolitan -captain, a man of gigantic frame and ferocious countenance, standing -near the bow. The next moment he noticed the young sailor, Reuben James, -at his side, who threw with unerring skill a grappling iron aboard of -the Tripolitan boat, and the Americans, dragging on the chain, drew the -boat toward them. There was no need to call away the boarders. Every man -that could be spared from the sweeps was up and ready to spring. Next -Decatur stood Macdonough, and immediately behind him were Danny Dixon -and Reuben James. Before the boats had touched, the Americans leaped -over the side and found themselves on the Tripolitans’ deck, surrounded -by twice their number of enemies. - -Then began a hand-to-hand fight to which all that had gone before was as -child’s play. The Americans, keeping together as much as possible, -fought from one end of the deck to the other, while Decatur made a dash -for the Turkish captain. Decatur was a tall and athletic fellow, but the -Turk was a giant. As the young American captain charged with his pike, -the Turk caught it and wrested it out of his hands. The Turk then -standing up on tiptoe to bring the pike down with terrific force, -Decatur had time to draw his sword. The blade flashed over his head for -a moment, and then the heavy iron pike, descending, broke it short off -at the hilt. Decatur felt the sharp point of the pike enter his breast, -but tearing it out in a moment, covered with blood, he suddenly clinched -with the Turk, who, although a much larger and stronger man than -Decatur, was taken by surprise, and went down on the deck, locked with -Decatur in a mortal embrace. - -Seeing the desperate plight of their young captain, the Americans -rallied around him, but they were followed by the Tripolitans, and were -forced to defend themselves at every step. Fifty scimitars were leveled -against them, and the noise and clash of arms were deafening. In the -midst of it, Reuben James, who was almost surrounded, saw a Tripolitan -raise his curved blade above Decatur, lying prostrate on the deck and -struggling with the pirate captain. There was no time for the young -sailor to use his cutlass, but dashing forward he threw up his left arm -and caught the descending blow. It nearly cut the arm in two, but it -saved Decatur’s life. - -Meanwhile Decatur, almost overmastered by the brawny Tripolitan, managed -to put his hand in his trousers pocket, and, drawing his pistol cocked -it and fired into the captain’s shoulder. With a scream the Tripolitan -relaxed his hold, rolled over, and Decatur sprang to his feet. That was -the turning point. The Americans, seeing their captain on his feet, and -having been kept together by the coolness of Macdonough and the -steadiness of Danny Dixon, now charged the Tripolitans. This last -onslaught was too much for them. They retreated, fighting to the last, -and when driven into the after part of the boat, were disarmed. The -reserve of the Tripolitan gunboats, inside the reefs, then tried to come -out, but the Constitution, hauling her wind, poured a heavy fire into -the opening in the rocks through which they attempted to make their way, -and they were driven back. The brigs and schooners also kept up the -cannonade, and at half past four o’clock, the Tripolitans having drawn -off, the American gunboats and their captured prizes were towed out into -the offing. - -Somers’s boat was the first to reach the frigate’s side when he heard of -James Decatur’s mortal wound. Somers loved James Decatur like a younger -brother, and was deeply distressed at the news. Commodore Preble had his -own barge manned, and as soon as Decatur reached the Constitution and -reported on deck the commodore said: - -“Captain Decatur, there is my barge. Take any officer you wish, and -bring your brother on the Constitution.” - -Decatur, too overcome to reply, bowed silently, and motioned to Somers. -The two friends, without speaking a word, got into the barge together. -Decatur unconsciously gripped Somers’s hand hard, as he had often done -in the old days when they had been schoolmates together, and in this -hour of grief Somers seemed closer to him than ever before. - -They soon reached the gunboat, and found James Decatur lying on the -deck, where he had gallantly fallen, still alive but unconscious. His -handsome boyish head was supported by Midshipman Morris, of whom he had -been very fond, and around him the sailors gathered in sympathetic -silence, and showing in their humble way the grief they felt at the -death of their brave young commander. - -The sailors then, lifting James Decatur tenderly, placed him in the -Constitution’s barge. Morris followed and still supported him, helped by -Somers, while Decatur for the first time gave way to his grief, and, -holding his brother’s fast-chilling hand, sobbed aloud. James Decatur -did not seem to be in pain as his breath grew fainter and fainter. -Somers looked apprehensively at Morris, who shook his head sadly in -response to Somers’s glances of anxious inquiry. The men, although worn -with the labors of that glorious day, pulled with a will. They were -about fifty yards away from the frigate, when James Decatur opened his -eyes, and they rested on his brother for a moment. A faint smile passed -over his face, and he said in a pleasant voice, “Good-night,” and with -one gasp all was over. - -Decatur was the first to realize it. Neither Somers nor Morris could -restrain his tears; but Decatur, regaining his composure, said, “I loved -him so much that I would rather see him as he is than living with any -cloud upon him.” - -In a few moments James Decatur’s body was carried on board the frigate -by the sailors, and followed by Decatur, Somers, and Morris. The bodies -of thirteen other brave men who had died gloriously for their country -that day, were also taken on board; and the Constitution, after having -inflicted terrible damage on her enemies, hauled off, and in company -with the rest of the squadron ran out of gun-shot. - -The frigate was much cut up aloft, and had lost her main royal yard, but -otherwise the tremendous onslaught of her guns upon the enemy had -brought no corresponding injury to herself. The brigs, schooners, -gun-vessels, and bombards had also escaped comparatively unharmed; while -the Tripolitans had had three gunboats sunk, three captured, one of -their strongest batteries destroyed, and all the defenses much battered. - -At sunset the whole squadron came to anchor three leagues from the town. -The bodies of the thirteen seamen, and James Decatur, the only officer, -were decently dressed in uniform, covered with ensigns, and laid upon -shot-boxes arranged on the quarter-deck. All during the short August -night Decatur watched by the body of his brother, and Somers kept that -solemn vigil with him. As the hours passed on, with the silence of the -star-lit August night, broken only by the regular step of the deck -officer and the occasional striking of the ship’s bells, Somers began to -say some things that had long dwelt in his heart. - -“Why should we pity him, Decatur?” he asked, pointing to the body of -James Decatur, wrapped in the flag, “Can you imagine a better death than -to die for one’s country and for the good of humanity?—for the conquest -of these pirates will save many innocent lives, and release many -thousands of prisoners who are suffering like our own countrymen. The -feeling has been on me for a long time that there is but one thing worth -living for or fighting for, and that is our duty. You love pleasure -better than I; and, so many things that you value seem worthless to me. -I acknowledge an ambition to leave an honorable name behind me, and to -do something for my country that will be remembered; and if, in trying -to do this, I should lose my life in this far-off land, recollect I lose -it willingly.” - -Somers spoke in a prophetic voice; and as Decatur, in the shadowy -half-light, looked into his friend’s eyes, he saw an expression there as -if Somers were already gazing into another world. - -Just as the radiant sunrise turned the blue Mediterranean into a sea of -gold, the solemn call resounded through the Constitution, “All hands to -bury the dead!” The ensign flew at half-mast, the yards were set -cock-a-bill, the sails half furled, the ropes hung in bights; everything -was arranged to express mourning and distress. Commodore Preble himself -read the service at the open gangway; and as the awful words were -uttered, “We therefore commit their bodies to the deep, looking for -their resurrection when the sea shall give up its dead,” the bodies of -James Decatur and the thirteen gallant seamen who were his companions in -death as in glory slid over the rail and sank swiftly into the sapphire -sea. In another moment the drums beat a double roll, the bugler sounded -a cheerful call; as if by magic the yards were squared, the sails were -clewed up, the ropes hauled taut, the flag hoisted; for among men who -put their lives daily and hourly in peril at the service of their -country it is considered that those who die gloriously are not to be -mourned, but envied. So felt Somers, as, taking Decatur’s arm, he said -to him with strange prescience: - -“Let no one mourn for me if it should be my fate to die bravely, like -your brother. Rather let those who love me rejoice that so noble an exit -was permitted me.” - -Only a breathing-spell of a few days was allowed the squadron, but in -that time the tone of the Bashaw changed wonderfully. He wanted the -Americans to send in a flag of truce; but this Commodore Preble refused, -with the menace that, if a hair of the heads of the imprisoned Americans -should be injured, the Bashaw should be made to pay such a price for it -as he would remember the longest day of his life. - -On the 7th of August, repairs having been completed and the captured -Tripolitan boats refitted, another attack was made, about two o’clock in -the afternoon. The gunboats, of which there were now nine, were again in -two divisions, commanded by Somers and Decatur. Covered by the guns of -the brigs and schooners, they dashed boldly in. Immediately a terrific -cannonade was opened on them from the forts, the castle, and the -Tripolitan fleet of gun-vessels that were ranged directly across the -harbor. The Americans, however, returned it warmly, and over five -hundred solid shot and fifty shells were fired at the forts. The -batteries were very nearly silenced, the gunners driven away from their -guns, and the masonry almost demolished. - -The Tripolitan gunboats no longer gave the Americans a chance to board -them, but remained at a prudent distance within the reefs, preferring to -fight at long range. While the divisions were advancing, Somers, who was -leaning against the flagstaff of his boat, turned around as Moriarity, -the coxswain, uttered an exclamation. The second boat in Decatur’s -division had been struck by a Tripolitan shell. It exploded, and for a -moment or two the unfortunate vessel and her brave crew were lost in a -cloud of smoke and the water thrown up around it. When the boat became -again visible the after part was already shattered and under water. Upon -the forward part, which still floated, were a young midshipman and -eleven men. They had been engaged in reloading the long -twenty-four-pounder she carried, and at this terrible moment the gun -captain, under the midshipman’s orders, was coolly applying the match. - -“That’s Mr. Spence, sorr,” said Moriarity, pointing to the little -midshipman. - -The gun roared out, and the shot struck the muzzle of a gun in the -battery of Fort English, breaking it into a hundred pieces. The bow of -the boat was beginning to sink, but, before thinking of saving -themselves, the men, led by the midshipman, gave three hearty American -cheers. Then Decatur’s boat approaching, they leaped into the water, and -were hauled on board. - -“Hurrah!” shouted Somers, standing up and waving his cap at Decatur, who -was doing the same thing at him. - -Hardly were the words out of his mouth, when he suddenly felt himself -seized around the waist by Moriarity’s strong arms and thrown down on -the deck. The next moment a shot struck the flagstaff against which -Somers had been leaning and cut it off short at the very spot where but -a moment before his head had been. - -“Beg your parding, sorr,” said Moriarity, as the two scrambled to their -feet, “but I seen her comin’, and ’twarn’t no time for to be axin’ what -the regulations is ’bout gittin’ a orficer’s head out o’ the way when a -shot is a-comin’ straight for it, sorr.” - -“No apologies are necessary,” cried Somers, shaking Moriarity’s hand, -“for saving a man’s life as you did mine.” - -The attack was so spirited, and so much damage was done, that on the -next day came an offer from the Bashaw to surrender the officers and -crew of the Philadelphia for five hundred dollars each. - -“Tell your master,” said Commodore Preble to the envoy, “that I will yet -have every officer and man belonging to the Philadelphia, but without -paying one dollar of ransom for them.” - -This was supplemented by a night attack on the 18th of August, which -Somers and Decatur both urged upon the commodore. But finding that it -was more risky and not so effective as the day attacks, Commodore Preble -told his two young captains that thereafter the attacks would be by -daylight. - -The Tripolitans now began to be very much alarmed, and made several -offers to treat; but Commodore Preble would listen to nothing but the -unconditional surrender of the officers and crew of the Philadelphia. - -On the 24th and 28th of August two more attacks were made, which as -usual were led by Somers and Decatur. After every attack came renewed -offers from the Bashaw; but Commodore Preble meant to destroy, at once -and forever, the power of this barbarous nation of pirates and corsairs. - -In the first days of September another attack in force was determined -upon. It was the third in which the Constitution had taken an active -part, and the magnificent way that the stout and beautiful frigate -withstood the bombardment of all the guns of the forts and vessels, -gained for her the name of “Old Ironsides”—a name she has now borne -gloriously for nearly a hundred years. At daylight on the 4th of -September the Tripolitans were awakened by the roar of a cannonade, and -the eyes of the captive officers and men of the Philadelphia were -gladdened by seeing the gunboats advancing boldly in the first flush of -dawn, supported by the brigs and schooners, while Old Ironsides was -standing in, her men on the yards shortening sail as deliberately as if -she were working into a friendly port. Arrived at a point opposite the -mole, she backed her topsails and then let fly her thirty great guns in -broadside. In vain the forts pounded her. Moving slowly, and -occasionally throwing her topsail aback, she skillfully avoided being -raked, and, except for some slight damage aloft, she came out of the -action without injury and without losing a man. - -Meanwhile the Tripolitan gunboats had advanced to the reefs, and just as -the sun rose the divisions under Somers and Decatur went at them -fiercely. The brigs and schooners also directing their fire toward the -Tripolitan flotilla, Commodore Preble was sanguine that it would be -utterly destroyed. The Tripolitans, though, whose vessels drew less -water than the Americans’, and who knew the intricate maze of reefs and -shoals perfectly well, ran into shoal water, where they could not be -followed. Somers sank two boats, while Decatur managed to bring off -three. As soon as the frigate hauled off and made for the offing, the -gun-vessels were towed off, and when they were well out of gunshot the -whole squadron came to anchor, about three o’clock in the day. - -Somers was the first captain to report on board the flagship. As soon as -he caught sight of “Old Pepper” on the Constitution’s quarter-deck he -knew that something had gone wrong. The commodore, while fighting his -own ship, could give but little attention to the boat divisions, but -seeing the Tripolitans almost surrounded by the American boats, with the -brigs and schooners closing up, he had expected the whole flotilla to be -captured. When, therefore, he saw it making back into the harbor with -the loss of only five boats, and not knowing the shoalness of the water -at that point, he could not understand the conduct of the American -boats, and was deeply disappointed for the first time in his “boy -captains.” As Somers approached and made his report in a few words, he -was received in angry silence, and the only words the commodore said -were, “I shall have something to say on this matter when Captain Decatur -reports.” - -Somers, although annoyed, yet knew that, when the circumstances were -explained, the commodore would do both Decatur and himself justice—for -Commodore Preble’s heart was as just as his temper was fiery. But -knowing Decatur’s high spirit, he could not but be fearful of a meeting -between the two in “Old Pepper’s” state of mind. He had but little time -to think, though, for at that instant Decatur stepped over the side. He -had on a short jacket, in which he had been through the fight, and he -was grimed with powder, besides being stained with blood from a slight -wound he had received. Advancing with his usual alert step to the -commodore, he raised his cap and said quietly, “Well, commodore, I have -brought you out three of the gunboats.” - -At that, “Old Pepper” suddenly seized him with both hands by the collar, -and, shaking him violently as if he were a refractory boy, cried out: - -“Ay, sir, and why did you not bring me more?” - -The officers stared, paralyzed with astonishment. Decatur involuntarily -put his hand on his sword; and the next moment the commodore turned on -his heel and went into the cabin. - -Decatur, pale with anger, walked to the gangway. Somers caught him by -the arm and cried earnestly: - -“Decatur, where are you going?” - -“Away from this ship,” answered Decatur in a voice of suppressed rage. - -“No,” said Somers, holding him, “you must not—you shall not go! The -commodore has misunderstood what you have done to-day. He met me with -almost equal anger; but you know how excitable he is—but how just, -brave, and magnanimous. Do nothing that is insubordinate, and I’ll -warrant the commodore will make you every amend.” - -Somers could always exercise a powerful influence over Decatur, whom he -actually held to prevent from leaving the ship. The other officers -gathered around, trying to reason with Decatur, who, although a captain, -was still only a boy in Commodore Preble’s eyes. Just then the -commodore’s orderly appeared with a message. - -“Commodore Preble desires Captain Decatur’s presence in the cabin.” - -“I will not go!” was Decatur’s determined answer. - -Somers gave the man a significant look, which meant that he was not to -repeat the message, and then began pleading with Decatur. He led his -friend to one side, and said to him solemnly: - -“You know what is planned for four nights from this? Remembering that -this may be my last request of you, I ask you, therefore, to go to -Commodore Preble, and not to sully by one single act of disobedience the -glorious record you have made.” - -The appeal touched Decatur deeply, and he could not say No. Somers went -with him to the cabin door, saw him enter, and the door close after him. - -Fifteen minutes passed, and Decatur did not return. Somers, whose -anxiety was by no means over when he had brought these two impetuous -spirits together, began to be very unhappy. He walked back and forth, -uncertain what to do; but at last, remembering that his rank gave him -the right to seek the commodore even when not sent for, and taking his -courage in both hands, he knocked gently at the cabin door. No reply was -made, but he ventured to open the door slightly. - -Seated near each other were the gray-haired commodore and his young -captain, both in tears. Somers, softly closing the door, moved off -without being noticed. Half an hour later, when the commodore appeared, -he was leaning affectionately upon Decatur’s arm. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - -And now, after a series of heroic ventures which had raised the American -name to the highest point of honor, was to come another—the last, the -most glorious, and the most melancholy of them all. Three officers and -ten men enlisted in this enterprise, and offered the choice between life -and honor, each one of them chose the better part. - -It had been known for some time that, as the season would soon compel -the American squadron to leave Tripoli for the winter, Commodore Preble -was anxious that one great and decisive blow might be struck before he -left. True, the Bashaw was anxious to negotiate, but Commodore Preble -was not the man to treat with pirates and brigands as long as four -hundred American captives were imprisoned in Tripolitan dungeons. He was -the more anxious to strike this great blow because he had discovered -that the Tripolitans were almost out of gunpowder—a commodity which, at -that time of general European warfare, was of much value and not always -easy to get. The Americans, though, were well supplied, and this put the -thought into Somers’s mind of attempting a desperate assault upon the -shipping and forts by means of a fire-ship, or “infernal.” - -He first broached the plan to Decatur, the night after the last attack -on Tripoli. The two young captains were sitting in the cabin of the -Nautilus, Decatur having come in answer to a few significant words from -Somers. When the two were seated at the table, Somers unfolded his plan. - -It was a desperate one, and as Somers lucidly explained it, Decatur felt -a strange sinking of the heart. Somers, on the contrary, seemed to feel -a restrained enthusiasm, as if he had just attained a great opportunity, -for which he had long hoped and wished. - -“You see,” said Somers, leaning over the table and fixing a pair of -smiling dark eyes upon Decatur, “it is an enterprise that means liberty -to four hundred of our countrymen and messmates. Who could hesitate a -moment?” - -“Not you, Somers.” - -“I hope not. The beauty of my plan is, that it requires but the risking -of a few lives—two boats to tow the fire-ship in, four men in my boat -and six in another boat, and one officer besides myself—in all, twelve -men. Did ever so small a number have so great a chance for serving their -country?” - -Decatur made no reply to this, and Somers went on to explain the details -of his scheme. Decatur aided him at every turn, advising and discussing -with a freedom that their devoted intimacy permitted. But, instead of -the gay impetuosity that generally characterized Decatur, Somers was -surprised to find him grave, and almost sad; while the sober Somers was -for once as full of enthusiasm as Decatur usually was. - -After two hours’ conversation, and it being not yet nine o’clock, Somers -asked Decatur to go with him to the flagship, where the plan might be -laid before the commodore. - -As soon as Commodore Preble heard that two of his young captains wished -to see him, he at once desired that they be shown into the cabin. When -Somers and Decatur entered, they both noticed the somber and careworn -look on the commodore’s face. He had done much, and the force under him -had performed prodigies of valor; but he had not succeeded in liberating -his old friend and shipmate Bainbridge and his gallant company. - -When they were seated around the cabin table, Somers produced some -charts and memoranda and began to unfold his idea. It was, on the first -dark night to take the ketch Intrepid—the same which Decatur had -immortalized—put on her a hundred barrels of gunpowder and a hundred -shells, tow her into the harbor through the western passage as near as -she could be carried to the shipping, hoping that she would drift into -the midst of the Tripolitan fleet, and then, setting her afire, Somers -and his men would take their slender chances for escape. - -Commodore Preble heard it all through with strict attention. When Somers -had finished, the commodore looked him fixedly in the eye, and said: - -“But suppose for one moment the explosion should fail, the ketch should -be captured, and a hundred barrels of gunpowder should fall into the -hands of the Bashaw? That would prolong the war a year.” - -“Have no fear, sir,” answered Somers calmly. “I promise you that, rather -than permit such a thing, I myself will fire the ‘infernal,’ if there is -no alternative but capture. And I will take no man with me who is not -willing to die before suffering so much powder to be captured and used -against our own squadron.” - -“Are you willing, Captain Somers, to take that responsibility?” - -“Perfectly willing, sir. It is no greater responsibility than my friend -Captain Decatur assumed when in that very ketch he risked the lives of -himself and sixty-two companions in the destruction of the -Philadelphia.” - -“Old Pepper,” leaning across the table, suddenly grasped a hand each of -his two young captains. - -“My boys,” he said with shining eyes, “the first day you sat with me at -this table the sight of your youth, and the knowledge of the duties you -had to perform, gave me one of the most terrible fits of depression I -ever suffered. I deeply regretted that I had assumed charge of such an -expedition with what I bitterly called then a parcel of schoolboy -captains. Now I can only say that you have all turned out the best boys -I ever saw—for I can not yet call you men.” - -This outburst, so unlike Commodore Preble’s usual stern and somewhat -morose manner, touched both Decatur and Somers; and Decatur said, -laughing, but with moisture in his eyes: - -“You see, commodore, it is because we have had such a good schoolmaster -in the art of war.” - -The conversation that followed was long and animated, and when Decatur -and Somers left the ship and were rowed across the dark water the -commodore’s permission had been given. On the Enterprise, the very next -morning, the squadron being well out of sight of the town and at anchor, -the preparation of the ketch began. - -The day was a bright and beautiful one, although in September, which is -a stormy month in the Mediterranean. The ketch was laid alongside of -“Old Ironsides,” and the transfer of the powder and shells was begun at -sunrise; for it was characteristic of Somers to do quickly whatever he -had to do, and time was of great consequence to him then. The men worked -with a will, knowing well enough that some daring expedition was on -hand. Wadsworth, Somers’s first lieutenant, with the assistance of -Decatur, directed the preparation of the fire-ship; while Somers, in the -cabin of the Nautilus, arranged his private affairs and wrote his will, -remembering well that he might never return from that night’s awful -adventure. He wrote several letters and sealed them, and then the last -one, inclosing his will, was to Decatur. The other letters were long, -but that to Decatur was brief. It only said: - - “Herein is my will, which I charge you to see executed if I should - never come back. For yourself, dear Decatur, I have no words that I - can say. To other men I may express my affection, and ask their - forgiveness for any injury I may have done them; but between you and - me there is nothing to forgive—only the remembrance of our - brotherhood, ever since we were young and innocent boys. If I were to - think long on this it would make me too tender-hearted, and when this - thought comes to me, I can only say, Good-by and God bless you! - - “Richard Somers.” - -The golden noon had come, and as Somers glanced through the cabin -windows of the smart little Nautilus he could see the preparations going -on aboard the ketch. Anchored directly under the quarter of the splendid -frigate, men were busy passing the powder and arranging the shells, -doing it all with the cool caution of those accustomed to desperate -risks. Decatur’s tall figure was seen on the Constitution’s deck. He -paced up and down with the commodore, and was really unable to tear -himself away from the ship. Tears came into Somers’s eyes as he watched -Decatur. Somers had no brother, no father, and no mother, and Decatur -had been more to him all his life than he could express. - -Meanwhile it was well understood on the other ships that, except the -first lieutenant of the Nautilus, Mr. Wadsworth, who was to command the -second boat, no other officer would be permitted to go. Although any and -all of them would have been rejoiced to share in the dangers of this -expedition, they knew it would be useless to ask—that is, all except -Pickle Israel, who marched boldly up to the commodore, as he was pacing -the deck, and, touching his cap, suddenly plumped out with— - -“Commodore Preble, may I go with Captain Somers on the Intrepid -to-night?” - -“Old Pepper,” coolly surveying Pickle, who was rather small for his -fourteen years, and reprobating the little midshipman’s assurance, -sternly inquired: - -“What did I understand you to say, sir?” - -The Commodore’s tone and countenance were altogether too much for -Pickle’s self-possession. He stammered and blushed, and finally, in a -quavering voice, managed to get out— - -“If—if—you please, sir—m-may I go——” and then came to a dead halt, while -Decatur could not help smiling at him slyly behind the commodore’s back. - -“May you go aloft and stay there for a watch?” snapped “Old Pepper,” who -suspected very shrewdly what Pickle was trying to ask. “Am I to -understand that is what you are after?” - -“No, sir,” answered Pickle, plucking up his courage and putting on a -defiant air as he caught sight of Decatur’s smile; while Danny Dixon, -who had been sent on a message and had come back to report, stood -grinning broadly at the little midshipman—“No, sir,” repeated Pickle, -with still more boldness. “I came to ask if I might go on the Intrepid, -with Captain Somers, to-night.” - -“Has Captain Somers asked for your services, Mr. Israel?” inquired the -commodore blandly. - -“N—no, sir,” faltered Pickle, turning very red, and unconsciously -beginning to practice the goose step in his embarrassment. - -“Very well, sir,” replied the commodore, still excessively polite, -“until Captain Somers asks for an officer of your age and experience, I -shall not request him to take you or any other midshipman in the -squadron.” - -“The truth is, commodore,” said Decatur, who could not but respect the -boy’s indomitable pluck, “Mr. Israel has the courage and spirit of a -man, and he forgets that he is, after all, a very young gentleman.” A -very young gentleman meant really a boy. - -The commodore smiled at this, and looking into Pickle’s disappointed -face he said: - -“Never mind, Mr. Israel. Although I can not let you go on this -expedition, your gallant desire to go has not hurt you in my esteem; and -the day will come when your country will be proud of you—of that I feel -a presentiment at this moment.” - -True it was, and sooner, far sooner than any of them dreamed at that -moment. - -Pickle turned away, his eyes filled with tears of disappointment. As he -was going sadly below, he heard a step following him, and there was -Danny Dixon’s hale and handsome face close behind him. - -“Mr. Israel, sir,” said Danny, touching his hat, “I wants to say as how -I likes your spirit; and when you’re a cap’n you’ll find the men mighty -willin’ to sarve under you, sir, for they likes a orficer with a spirit. -You oughter been in the fight with Cap’n Paul Jones, on the Bunnum -Richard.” - -“I wish I had been, Dixon,” answered Pickle, almost crying with -vexation. - -“Never you mind, Mr. Israel,” said Danny, with an encouraging wink, “all -the orficers and men knows you ain’t got no flunk in you; and if you -hadn’t been such a little ’un—beg your parding, sir—you’d ’a’ had a -chance at somethin’, sure.” - -Pickle, not exactly pleased with being called “a little ’un,” marched -off in high dudgeon, angry with Danny, with the commodore, with -Decatur—with the whole world, in fact, which seemed bent on balking his -dreams of glory. However, after an hour or two of bitter reflection, it -suddenly occurred to him as a forlorn hope that he might yet ask Somers. -As if in answer to his wish, at that very moment he was ordered to take -a boat with a message to Somers, saying that at four o’clock—eight -bells—a call would be made for volunteers to man the boats. - -Pickle swung himself into the boat with the agility of a monkey, and in -a few moments the stout arms of the sailors had pulled across the blue -water to where the lovely Nautilus lay, rocking gently on the long, -summer swells of the sea. Pickle skipped over the side and up to Somers -on the deck, like a flash of blue light, in his trim midshipman’s -uniform. His message was delivered in a few words, and then Pickle -artfully continued: - -“And as there’s to be a call for volunteers, Captain Somers, I wish, -sir”—here Pickle drew himself up as tall as he could—“to offer my -services.” - -“I am very much obliged, Mr. Israel,” answered Somers courteously, and -refraining from smiling. “Your courage now, as always, does you infinite -credit. But as only one officer besides myself is needed, I have -promised my first lieutenant, Mr. Wadsworth, that honor.” - -Poor Pickle’s face grew three quarters of a yard long. He suddenly -dropped his lofty tone and manner, and burst out, half crying: - -“That’s what all of the officers say, Captain Somers; and the next -thing, maybe, the war will be over, and I sha’n’t have had a single -chance of distinguishing myself—or—or—anything; and it’s a hardship, I -say—it’s a hardship!” - -Somers put his hand kindly on the boy’s shoulder. - -“But you have already distinguished yourself as one of the smartest and -brightest midshipmen in the squadron; and this gallant spirit of yours -will yet make you famous.” - -Pickle turned away, and was about to go over the side, when Somers said: - -“Wait a few moments, and see that there are others as brave and as -disappointed as you.—Boatswain, pipe all hands on deck, aft!” - -The boatswain, who was ready, piped up, and in a few minutes every man -of the eighty that formed the company of the handsome brig was reported -“up and aft.” - -Somers then, with a glow upon his fine face, addressed the men, the -officers standing near him. - -“My men,” he said, “you see that ketch yonder—rightly named the -Intrepid, after the glorious use to which our brave Decatur put her. She -has on board one hundred barrels of gunpowder, one hundred shells, and -all the apparatus for lighting these combustibles; and to-night, if wind -and tide serve, she is to be taken into the harbor of Tripoli and -exploded among the shipping. I have obtained the honor of taking charge -of this expedition, and I wish my boat manned by four men who would -rather die than be captured; for the pirates are short of gunpowder, and -they can get no more from Europe, so that unless they capture this, it -will be easy work to reduce them next spring, when we shall take another -and a last whack at them. But—the Intrepid _must not be captured_! The -commodore, on this condition only, gave it me. I do not disguise from -you that the enterprise is one full of danger, but fuller of glory. No -man shall be ordered to go; but I want four men to volunteer who are -ready, if necessary, to die for their country this very night; and let -them hold up their right hands and say ‘Ay!’” - -Every man in the brig’s company held up his hand, and their deep voices, -like the roar of the sea, shouted out, “Ay, sir!” - -Somers shook his head and smiled but his eyes shone with pleasure at the -readiness of his brave crew. - -“Ah,” he cried, “I might have known! My men, I can only take four of -you. I shall take the four that are most able-bodied, and who have no -wife or family.—You, Moriarity,” he said to the quartermaster, “I know, -are alone in the world. I want you.” - -“Thankee, sorr,” answered Moriarity, stepping out of the line with a -grin. - -“And you—and you—and you,” said Somers, walking along the line, as he -picked out three more men; and every man smiled, and said, “Thankee, -sir.” - -“You understand perfectly well, then,” said Somers, addressing the four, -“that this is an undertaking of the utmost hazard. We may, in the -performance of our solemn duty, have to light the fire that will blow us -all into eternity. There will be twelve of us, and it is better that our -lives should be sacrificed than that hundreds, perhaps, of valuable and -gallant lives be required to subdue the pirates in a longer and severer -struggle. So, think well over your engagement; and if you are of the -same determined mind, follow my example, and leave all your worldly -affairs in order. And then, make your peace with Almighty God, for we -may all meet Him face to face before the sun rises on another day.” - -Somers’s solemn words had a great effect on the men. While not in the -least dampening their enthusiasm, their tone and manner changed from the -jaunty gayety with which sailors meet danger to a serious and grave -consideration of their situation. Moriarity acted as spokesman: - -“We thankee, sorr, for remindin’ us o’ what we has got to face. We’ve -done a heap o’ wrong, but maybe the Cap’n up above, if we has to report -to him to-night, ’ll say: ‘Them chaps died a-doin’ o’ their duty to -their country; mark their shortcoming off the list, master-at-arms!’ And -he’ll let us in, bekase we means to do our duty—don’t we, men?” - -“We does!” answered the three sailors all together. - -A hearty American cheer rang out at this, and Somers shook hands with -the four men. He then ordered his boat, and in a few moments, was -pulling toward the frigate. - -Somers’s words had inspired another heart besides that of the four -sailors. Pickle Israel, with his dark eyes fixed on the bright horizon, -felt a longing, a consuming desire, tugging at his heart. A voice seemed -to be repeating to him the sailor’s words, “We means to do our duty.” -Pickle, being only a boy, could not exactly see the reason why he should -not be allowed to go on the expedition—and some strange and -overmastering power seemed impelling him to go. It was not mere love of -adventure. It was Moriarity’s untutored words, “Them chaps died for -their country.” Well, he had but one life to give his country, thought -Pickle, and there was no better time or place to give it than that very -night. However, Pickle said not one word more to anybody about his -disappointment; but his face cleared up, as if he had formed a -resolution. - -On reaching the Constitution, the men were mustered, and Commodore -Preble made a short speech to them before calling for volunteers. “And I -consider it my duty,” he said, “to tell every one of you, from Captain -Somers down, that this powder must not be suffered to fall into the -enemy’s hands. For my own part, it is with pride and with fear that I -shall see you set forth; but, although I value your lives more than all -Tripoli, yet not even for that must the pirates get hold of this powder. -I have not asked this service from any of you. Every man, from your -captain down, has volunteered. But if you choose to take the honorable -risk, all I can say is, ‘Go, and God protect you!’” - -As Commodore Preble spoke, tears rolled down his face, and the men -cheered wildly. As on the Nautilus, the whole ship’s company -volunteered, and six had to be chosen. To Danny Dixon’s intense chagrin, -he was not among them. When the men were piped down, Pickle Israel -caught sight of the handsome old quartermaster going forward with a look -of bitter disappointment on his face. Pickle could not but remember -Danny’s glib consolation to him only a few hours before; so he sidled up -to Danny, and said with a smile: - -“Never mind, Dixon. If you weren’t so old you’d have been allowed to go. -All the officers know you haven’t got any flunk in you. And we—I mean -those that come back—will have some yarns to spin equal to yours about -Captain Paul Jones and the Bon Homme Richard!” - -For answer, Danny looked gloomily in the little midshipman’s face, and -said, in a much injured manner: - -“It do seem hard, sir, as when a old sailor, sir, as fought with Cap’n -Paul Jones, is disapp’inted in goin’ on a expedition, to have the young -gentlemen on the ship a-pullin’ his leg.” - -“That’s the way you comforted me!” chuckled Pickle in high glee. - -By sunset everything was ready. Decatur was with Somers on the Nautilus, -and just as the sun was sinking they stood together at the gangway. It -was a clear and beautiful September evening, with no moon, but a faint -and lovely starlight. Over the dark bosom of the sea was a light haze, -that was the thing most desired by Somers, to conceal the Intrepid as -she made her perilous way toward the city of the corsairs. A soft breeze -ruffled the water and gently rocked the tall ships. As the two friends -stood watching the dying glow in the west, Decatur was pale and -agitated, while Somers, instead of his usual gravity, wore an air of -joy, and even gayety. - -“Does not this remind you, Decatur, of Delaware Bay, and the first -evening we ever spent together as midshipmen? The water is almost as -blue at home as it is here, and I can quite imagine that ‘Old Ironsides’ -is ‘Old Wagoner,’ and that the Siren over there is your father’s ship, -the Delaware. It seems only the other day, and it is more than six years -ago.” - -Decatur, unable to speak, looked at Somers with a sort of passion of -brotherly love shining out of his eyes. He felt, as sure as that he was -then living, that he would never see his friend again. - -The boat being ready, Moriarity and his three companions were called -forward. As they advanced, Somers smiling, said to them: - -“There is bound to be some disappointment among you. Each one of you has -come privately to ask that he may be the one to apply the match; but -that honor, my fine fellows, I have reserved for myself.” - -Somers and Decatur then went down the ladder, followed by the four -seamen; and at the same moment, as if by magic, the yards of the -Nautilus were manned and three cheers rang over the quiet water. - -The boat pulled first to the Constitution, where the second boat was -waiting. Commodore Preble was standing on the quarter-deck. Somers, with -an air of unwonted gayety, came over the side. Going up to the -commodore, he said pleasantly, “Well, commodore, I have come for my last -instructions.” - -Commodore Preble could only clasp his young captain’s hand and say: - -“I have given all that I have to give. I know your prudence and your -resolute courage. You are in the hands of the great and good God, and no -matter what the result of this night’s work may be, your country will -never forget you.” - -As Somers, still wearing his pleasant smile, left the Constitution, the -men also manned the yards and cheered him. With Decatur he went on board -the fire-ship, to take one last look, and to wait for complete darkness, -which was now approaching. On the ketch were Captain Stewart and -Lieutenant Wadsworth, first, of the Nautilus, and these four spent this -last hour together. Wadsworth, a man of vigor and determination, like -Somers, was perfectly easy and cheerful. Stewart and Decatur, who were -to follow the ketch as far in the offing as was prudent, were both -strangely silent. Decatur had a terrible foreboding that he and Somers -would never meet again in this world. - -Meanwhile the Constitution’s cutter had been lowered, and with the -Nautilus’s boat had been made fast to the frigate’s side, directly under -a port in the steward’s pantry. Somers having determined to wait another -half hour for the blue fog which was steadily rising on the water to -conceal him entirely, the men had been permitted to leave the boat. -Danny Dixon, taking advantage of this, was in the Constitution’s cutter, -making a last examination, for his own satisfaction, of the oars, -rowlocks, etc., when above the lapping of the water against the great -ship’s side, he heard a whisper overhead of— - -“Dixon! I say, Dixon!” - -Danny glanced up, and saw, poked out of the pantry window, in the dusky -half light, Pickle Israel’s curly head. - -“Now, whatsomdever are you up to, Mr. Israel?” began Danny; but a -violent shaking of the head, and a “Sh-sh-sh!” checked him. - -“Turn your lantern round,” whispered Pickle. - -Danny turned the dark side round, and then drew the boat up close to the -port. When the boat was just below the port, and Danny had raised his -head to hear Pickle’s mysterious communication, the little midshipman -quickly wriggled himself out, and, swinging himself down by his hands, -landed silently in the boat. - -Danny was so surprised that he could not speak a word, but he at once -suspected Pickle’s design—to go on the expedition. - -“Now, Dixon,” said Pickle, in a wheedling voice, “don’t go and tell on -me. In fact, as your superior officer, I direct you, on leaving this -boat, to go immediately forward, and stay there unless you are sent -for.” - -Danny grinned broadly at this, and grasping Pickle’s hand in his own -brawny one, he nearly wrung the boy’s arm off. - -“I knows, sir—I knows!” said he, in a delighted whisper. “But I ain’t -a-goin’ to blow the gaff on you. I likes these ’ere venturesome -youngsters that’s allers ready for to risk their lives for their -country. That’s the sort as Cap’n Paul Jones loved. But, Mr. Israel, -I’ll have to git out o’ this ’ere boat, ’cause if any o’ them foremast -men seen me in here, when you is missed they’ll all say as how Dixon, -the quartermaster, was a-talkin’ with you, and then the Commodore will -take my hide, sure. But good-by, Mr. Israel, and God bless you, as the -commodore says; and if you ain’t but a little shaver, let me tell you, -sir, you’ve got a sperrit that’s fittin’ to sarve under the greatest man -as ever sailed blue water—Cap’n Paul Jones!” - -With that Danny wrung the little midshipman’s hand again, and with a -spring he noiselessly gained the ladder and disappeared. - -Pickle, being very small, crawled under the gunwale of the boat, where -there was an extra coil of rope, spare lanterns, and other things -necessary to repair damages, all covered with a tarpaulin. These things -he carefully distributed along the boat, under the gunwales, and then, -covering himself up with the tarpaulin, made himself as small as -possible in the place of the ropes and lanterns. He had left a little -hole in the tarpaulin through which he could see; and as he curled -himself up comfortably and fixed his eyes on this opening, there was -never a happier boy. He had succeeded perfectly, so far, in his scheme. -He thought, if any of the men suspected he was on board, they would be -inclined to wink at it, like Danny Dixon; and as soon as they cast off -and got the Intrepid in tow, there would be no earthly way, as Pickle -gleefully remembered, to get rid of him. At this idea he almost laughed -aloud; and then, he thought, when they came back in triumph, and Captain -Somers and Mr. Wadsworth were being congratulated and almost embraced, -on the Constitution’s deck, by the commodore and all the officers of the -squadron, and the men cheering like mad, as at Decatur’s return, then -would he be brought forward—Midshipman Israel! and his name would be in -the report sent home, and everybody would know what prodigies of valor -he had performed, and he would no doubt receive a sword like Decatur’s -and be made a lieutenant. Lieutenant Israel! How charming was the sound! -Pickle was so comfortable and so happy that unconsciously his eyelids -drooped. How faint were the stars shining in the quiet skies, and how -gently the boat rocked on the water! It was like being rocked to sleep -when he was a little boy, not so long ago, in his mother’s arms. And in -five minutes the little midshipman was sleeping soundly. - -An hour afterward he was wakened by the boat drawing up to the side of -the fire-ship. Ahead, he could see the Constitution’s boat carrying the -towline. The mist was denser still on the water, through which the hulls -and spars of the ships loomed with vague grandeur. The Siren and the -Argus were getting under way; and standing at the low rail of the ketch -were two dark figures—Somers and Decatur. - -Somers had taken a ring from his finger, and, breaking it in two, gave -one half to Decatur and put the other half in the breast of his jacket. - -“Keep that, Decatur,” he said, “in case we should never meet again. I -need not ask you to remember me——” Here Somers could say no more. - -Decatur put both hands on Somers’s shoulders, and his lips moved, but no -sound came. Utterly overcome with emotion, he turned silently away, got -into his boat, and was quickly on board his ship, where, in his cabin, -for a few moments he gave way to a burst of tears, such as he had not -known since he could remember. - -Somers descended into his boat, the towline was made fast, and, with the -ketch’s sails set to catch the faint breeze, soon the “infernal” was -making fast through the dark water. The Siren and Argus, having got up -their anchors, followed the ketch at a distance, under short canvas. - -The boats and the “infernal” were fast leaving the brigs astern in the -murky night, when Somers, who was sitting in the stern sheets, felt -something moving close by him, and, glancing down, he recognized in the -uncertain light Pickle Israel’s laughing eyes peering up mischievously -at him. - -“Why—what is this?” he asked, amazed. - -“Nothing, Captain Somers, only me,” answered Pickle, scrambling up from -under the gunwale. “I wanted to go, sir, very much, on this expedition, -just as I did on Captain Decatur’s, and nobody would let me; so I took -French leave, and came by myself.” - -Somers, although vexed with the boy, and alarmed at having him on board, -yet could not but admire his pluck. - -“Did any man on this boat help you to get aboard?” he asked. - -“No, sir,” chirped Pickle gayly. “Not one of them knew I was aboard -until just now.” - -“Please, sorr,” said Moriarity, who was sitting next Pickle’s -hiding-place, “I thought as how the lantherns and things was moighty -ristless under there, and wanst I thought I heard ’em snaze, but I sez, -sez I, ‘Moriarity, me man, yez never heard of a snazin’ lanthern;’ and -the next minute, here comes Misther Israel, and it warn’t the lantherns, -afther all!” - -Somers could not help smiling at Moriarity and Pickle too; but he said -gravely to the little midshipman: - -“Do you understand the terrible risk we run in this attempt, and that it -will be our duty, if in danger of capture, to blow up the ketch?” - -“Perfectly, sir,” answered Pickle. He now sat up straight in the boat, -and his eyes were shining so that Somers could see them even in the -gloom. “I know that we have only a few chances for our lives; but—but—we -have a great many chances for immortality; and, Captain Somers, although -I am only a midshipman, and you are a captain, I am as willing, even as -eager, to risk my life for our country and for our shipmates in prison -as you are.” - -“I believe you,” answered Somers, in a sweet and thrilling voice; “you -are a brave boy, and, be it life or death, we will be together.” - -They soon entered the offing, and drawing rapidly ahead, helped by wind -and tide, they reached the western passage of the harbor. There they -rested for a few minutes. Before them, in the misty night, lay the black -masses of the town, and the encircling forts, over which the Bashaw’s -castle reared its pile of towers and bastions. They saw the twinkling -lights of the town, and those on the mastheads of the shipping in the -harbor. Near the entrance lay three low gunboats that looked unnaturally -large through the dim and ghostly fog that lay upon the water, but left -the heavens clear and darkly blue. Behind them they could see the -outline of the two American brigs, on which, as a precaution, not a -light was shining. The fire-ship, as black as midnight, was stationary -on the water for a moment. Somers, rising in his boat, uncovered his -head, and every man in both boats, understanding that he was making a -solemn prayer, removed his hat and prayed likewise. Little Israel, with -his midshipman’s cap in his hand, stood up, with his eyes fixed on the -stars overhead. He made his prayer briefly but reverently, and then, -pointing to a brilliant group of stars, that blazed with splendor far -down on the horizon, he said to Somers with a smile: - -“The stars, I believe, mean glory. That is why we steer by them.” - -The breeze had then died out, and the men took to their oars, which were -muffled. Like a black shadow moving over the water the ketch advanced. -The darkness of the night favored their escaping the gunboats. They -crept past the rocks and reefs, entered the western passage, and were -within the harbor of Tripoli. The lights of the town grew plain, and -they could still see the stars, although they seemed to be alone in a -world of fog. - -Suddenly and silently three shadows loomed close upon them—one on each -side and one on their bows. The men, without a word, seized the towline -and drew themselves noiselessly back toward the ketch. - - [Illustration: _Exploding the “infernal” at Tripoli._] - -As the two American boats disappeared like magic, and as if they had -vanished from the face of the water, the Tripolitan gunboats closed up, -and in another moment the Americans found themselves surrounded on all -sides but one by the corsairs, and that one side was next the fire-ship. -The Tripolitans, with a yell of triumph, prepared to spring over the -side. - -“Are you ready to stand to your word, men?” asked Somers, standing up in -the boat, with a lighted torch in his hand. - -“Ay, ay, sir!” promptly answered every man in both boats, laying down -his oars. - -“And I!” called out Wadsworth. - -“And I!” said Pickle Israel, in his sweet, shrill, boyish voice. - -“Then may God bless our country, and have mercy on us!” said Somers -solemnly, and throwing the torch upon the Intrepid’s deck. - -The next moment came an explosion as if the heavens and the earth were -coming together. The castle rocked upon its mighty base like a cradle. -The ships in the harbor shivered from keel to main truck, and many of -them careened and almost went over. The sky was lighted up with a red -glare that was seen for a hundred miles, and the deafening crash -reverberated and almost deafened and paralyzed all who heard it. - -Those on the American ships heard the frightful roar of the hundred -barrels of gunpowder that seemed to explode in an instant of time, and, -stunned by the concussion, they could only see a mast and sail of the -ketch as they flew, blazing, up to the lurid sky, and then sank in the -more lurid water. - -To this succeeded an appalling blackness and stillness. Every light on -the shipping and in the castle and the town had been extinguished by the -force of the explosion. Not a cry, not a groan was heard from the -harbor, upon which the dense mist of the fog had again settled; but -floating on the dark bosom of the water were thirteen blackened and -lifeless bodies—the thirteen brave men who had cheerfully rendered up -their lives, when it was all they could do for their country. - -All night, at intervals, a moaning gun was heard from the frigate, in -the vain hope that some of those heroic men might yet be living. All -night Decatur swung on the forechains of his ship, flashing a lantern -across the water, and listening vainly and in agony for some sound, some -token, from the friend he was never again to see. But the gray dawn -brought with it despair to him. For Somers and his brave companions had -another morning, and another and more glorious sunrise. - - * * * * * * * * - -Six years after this, one evening in September, 1810, the Constitution, -which had been standing off and on Tripoli for several days, approached -the town. Since her last visit the Tripolitans had been effectually -conquered, and peace had long prevailed; and so highly was the American -name respected, that an American officer could go safely and alone all -about the town and its suburbs. - -The captain’s gig was lowered and manned, and Danny Dixon was its -coxswain. Presently Decatur, in the uniform of a post captain, came down -the ladder and seated himself in the stern sheets. The gig was then -rapidly pulled toward the beach at the end of the town. Here Decatur -left the boat, and, telling Danny that he would be back within an hour, -walked quickly along to a little clump of trees outside the wall. - -It was just such an evening as that six years before. The sun had gone -down, and there was no moon, but, as if led by some invisible power, -Decatur walked straight along the path to where the few straggling and -stunted trees made a shadow against the white walls of the town and the -white sand of the beach. - -When he reached the spot, he saw, by the light of the stars that glinted -faintly through the leaves, a little group of three graves, and farther -off a larger group. These were the resting places of Somers and his men. -At the first of the three graves together, there were four stones laid; -at the second, two stones; while at the third and smallest, in which -Israel, the little midshipman, slept, was only one stone. - -Decatur stood with folded arms at the head of Somers’s grave. As in a -dream the whole of his early life with his friend rose and passed before -him. He remembered their boyhood together; then their happy days as -careless and unthinking midshipmen, and the great scenes and adventures -through which they had passed before Tripoli. That night, six years -before, they had parted to meet no more in this world. Every incident of -the night returned to him—the horror of the explosion, the long hours he -spent hanging in the brig’s forechains, the agony of daybreak, when not -a man or a boat or even a spar could be seen. - -As Decatur stood by this lonely grave, he felt as if he were still -conversing with his friend. - -“No one has ever been, no one could ever be to me what you were, -Somers,” he almost said aloud—“the bravest, the most resolute, and the -gentlest of men.” - -He then stood for a moment by Wadsworth’s mound. “You, too, were brave -and generous, and worthy to die with Somers,” he thought. And then he -went to the head of the smallest grave of all. The tears were falling -from his eyes, but he smiled, too. He seemed to see the little -midshipman’s merry eyes, and to hear faintly, from the far-off world of -spirits, his boyish laughter. He thought that Pickle must have gone -smiling to his death, in his white-souled youth. “How can I feel sorry -for you?” thought Decatur, as he stooped and pulled some of the odorous -and beautiful jasmine blossoms that grew on the small grave, which was -almost hidden under their straggling leaves. “You lived purely and died -bravely. Your life, though brief, was glorious. You, too, were worthy to -die with Somers—the best and bravest!” - -Decatur turned again to Somers’s grave, but he could not see it for the -mist of tears. - -About an hour afterward a young moon climbed into the blue-black sky, -and just as its radiance touched the three graves, Decatur turned and -walked away, without once looking behind at the spot where slept his -friend. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber’s note: - ---Silently corrected obvious typographical errors. - ---Non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECATUR AND SOMERS*** - - -******* This file should be named 63209-0.txt or 63209-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/3/2/0/63209 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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