between the
reef and shoal which formed its mouth. He steered on steadily toward the
Philadelphia, the breeze getting constantly lighter, and by half-past
nine was within two hundred yards of the frigate. As they approached
Decatur stood at the helm with the pilot, only two or three men showing
on deck and the rest of the crew lying hidden under the bulwarks. In
this way he drifted to within nearly twenty yards of the Philadelphia.
The suspicions of the Tripolitans, however, were not aroused, and when
they hailed the Intrepid, the pilot answered that they had lost their
anchors in a gale, and asked that they might run a warp to the frigate
and ride by her. While the talk went on the Intrepid's boat shoved off
with the rope, and pulling to the fore-chains of the Philadelphia, made
the line fast. A few of the crew then began to haul on the lines, and
thus the Intrepid was drawn gradually toward the frigate.

The suspicions of the Tripolitans were now at last awakened. They raised
the cry of "Americanos!" and ordered off the Intrepid, but it was too
late. As the vessels came in contact, Decatur sprang up the main chains
of the Philadelphia, calling out the order to board. He was rapidly
followed by his officers and men, and as they swarmed over the rails and
came upon the deck, the Tripolitan crew gathered, panic-stricken, in a
confused mass on the forecastle. Decatur waited a moment until his men
were behind him, and then, placing himself at their head, drew his sword
and rushed upon the Tripolitans. There was a very short struggle, and
the Tripolitans, crowded together, terrified and surprised, were cut
down or driven overboard. In five minutes the ship was cleared of the
enemy.

Decatur would have liked to have taken the Philadelphia out of the
harbor, but that was impossible. He therefore gave orders to burn the
ship, and his men, who had been thoroughly instructed in what they were
to do, dispersed into all parts of the frigate with the combustibles
which had been prepared, and in a few minutes, so well and quickly was
the work done, the flames broke out in all parts of the Philadelphia. As
soon as this was effected the order was given to return to the Intrepid.
Without confusion the men obeyed. It was a moment of great danger, for
fire was breaking out on all sides, and the Intrepid herself, filled
as she was with powder and combustibles, was in great peril of sudden
destruction. The rapidity of Decatur's movements,