turned to their guns. All were ready
for the coming struggle. Over the main hatch was mounted a howitzer,
with its black muzzle peering down into the hold, ready to scuttle the
ship when the boarders should spring upon the enemy's deck. The sun,
by this time, had sunk below the horizon, and the darkness of night
was gathering over the ocean. The two ships surged toward each
other,--great black masses, lighted up on either side by rows of open
ports, through which gleamed the uncertain light of the
battle-lanterns. On the gun-deck the men stood stern and silent; their
thoughts fixed upon the coming battle, or perhaps wandering back to
the green fields and pleasant homes they had so recently left, perhaps
forever. The gray old yeoman of the frigate, with his mates, walked
from gun to gun, silently placing a well-sharpened cutlass, a dirk,
and a heavy leather boarding-cap at each man's side. The marines were
drawn up in a line amidships; their erect, soldierly air and rigid
alignment contrasting with the careless slouchiness of the sailors.
Butts for the sailors' ridicule as they were during a cruise, the
marines knew that, in hand-to-hand conflicts, their part was as
dashing as that of their tormentors of the forecastle.

When the "President" had come within a quarter of a mile of her
adversary, Decatur perceived that his enemy was determined to decide
the contest at long range. As the "President" hauled down nearer, the
"Endymion" sheered off, keeping up meanwhile a vigorous cannonade. To
this the Americans responded in kind; and so much superior was the
gunnery of the Yankee tars, that the rigging of the enemy was seen to
be fast going to pieces, while her guns were being silenced one by
one. But her fire did sad havoc among the men of the "President," and
particularly among the officers. The first broadside carried away
Decatur's first lieutenant, Mr. Babbitt, who was struck by a
thirty-two-pound shot, which cut off his right leg below the knee, and
hurled him through the wardroom hatch to the deck below, fracturing
his wounded leg in two places. Shortly after, Decatur was knocked to
the deck by a heavy splinter. For some time he lay unconscious; then
opening his eyes, and seeing a throng of anxious seamen about him, he
ordered them to their stations, and resumed his duties. The fire of
the "Endymion" then slackened; and she lay upon the water, with her
sails cut from the yards. At that moment Lieut. Howell turned to a