in the two commanders singled each
other out, and a fierce combat ensued. The Turk was armed with a
cutlass, while Trippe fought with a short boarding-pike. They fought
with caution, sparring and fencing, until each had received several
slight wounds. At last the Tripolitan struck Trippe a crushing blow on
the head. The American fell, half stunned, upon his knees; and at this
moment a second Tripolitan aimed a blow at him from behind, but was
checked and killed by an American marine. Rallying all his strength,
Trippe made a fierce thrust at his adversary. This time the sharp pike
found its mark, and passed through the body of the Tripolitan captain,
who fell to the deck. His men, seeing him fall, abandoned the contest,
and the Americans were soon bearing away their prize in triumph. But
in the excitement of victory no one thought to haul down the
Tripolitan flag, which-still flaunted defiant at the end of the long
lateen mast. So, when the prize came near the "Vixen," the American
man-of-war, mistaking her for an enemy, let fly a broadside, that
brought down flag, mast and all. Luckily no one was hurt, and the
broadside was not repeated.

But by this time the wind had veered round into an unfavorable
quarter, and the flag-ship showed a signal for the discontinuance of
the action. The gunboats and their prizes were taken in tow by the
schooners and brigs, and towed out of range of the enemy's shot. While
this operation was going on, the "Constitution" kept up a rapid fire
upon the shore batteries, and not until the last of the smaller craft
was out of range, did she turn to leave the fray. As she came about, a
shot came in one of her stern-ports, struck a gun near which Commodore
Preble was standing, broke to pieces, and scattered death and wounds
about.

When the squadron had made an offing, Preble hoisted a signal for the
commanders to come aboard the flag-ship, and make their reports. He
was sorely disappointed in the outcome of the fray, and little
inclined to recognize the conspicuous instances of individual
gallantry shown by his officers. He had set his heart upon capturing
the entire fleet of nine Tripolitan gunboats, and the escape of six of
them had roused his naturally irascible disposition to fury. As he
stalked his quarter-deck, morose and silent, Decatur came aboard. The
young officer still wore the bloody, smoke-begrimed uniform in which
he had grappled with the Turk, his face was begrimed with powder, h