From the city arose the soft low
murmur of the night. In the fleet all was still.

On the decks of the "Intrepid" but twelve men were visible. The rest
lay flat on the deck, in the shadow of the bulwarks or weather-boards.
Her course was laid straight for the bow of the frigate, which she was
to foul. When within a short distance, a hail came from the
"Philadelphia." In response, the pilot of the ketch answered, that the
ketch was a coaster from Malta, that she had lost her anchors in the
late gale, and had been nearly wrecked, and that she now asked
permission to ride by the frigate during the night. The people on the
frigate were wholly deceived, and sent out ropes to the ketch,
allowing one of the boats of the "Intrepid" to make a line fast to the
frigate. The ends of the ropes on the ketch were passed to the hidden
men, who pulled lustily upon them, thus bringing the little craft
alongside the frigate. But, as she came into clearer view, the
suspicions of the Tripolitans were aroused; and when at last the
anchors of the "Intrepid" were seen hanging in their places at the
catheads, the Tripolitans cried out that they had been deceived, and
warned the strangers to keep off. At the same moment the cry,
"Americanos! Americanos!" rang through the ship, and the alarm was
given.

By this time the ketch was fast to the frigate. "Follow me, lads,"
cried Decatur, and sprang for the chain-plates of the "Philadelphia."
Clinging there, he renewed his order to board; and the men sprang to
their feet, and were soon clambering on board the frigate. Lieut.
Morris first trod the deck of the "Philadelphia," Decatur followed
close after, and then the stream of men over the rail and through the
open ports was constant. Complete as was the surprise, the entire
absence of any resistance was astonishing. Few of the Turks had
weapons in their hands, and those who had fled before the advancing
Americans. On all sides the splashing of water told that the
affrighted Turks were trying to make their escape that way. In ten
minutes Decatur and his men had complete possession of the ship.

Doubtless at that moment the successful adventurers bitterly regretted
that they could not take out of the harbor the noble frigate they had
so nobly recaptured. But the orders of the commodore, and the dangers
of their own situation, left them no choice. Nothing was to be done
but to set fire to the frigate, and retreat with all possible
expedition. The co