ion. On his return, he reported that the "Sandwich" was stripped
of her rigging, and lay directly under the guns of a small battery,
built on shore for her protection. To sail in with the frigate, and
capture the enemy by mere force of arms, would have been simple
enough; but the object of the Americans was to take the ship without
injuring her, in order that she might at once join the United States
squadron. Strategy was therefore necessary.

It was accordingly determined to secure an American merchant-vessel,
that could enter the port, and run alongside the "Sandwich," without
arousing suspicion. Luckily at that very moment a craft turned up that
filled the need precisely. This was the American sloop "Sally," a
battered, weather-beaten little craft, that had for some time been
trading in the West Indies, and by her very insignificance had escaped
capture by the French. She had often entered and cleared from Port
Platte, and therefore her appearance there would create no suspicion.

[Illustration: Hull Makes A Reconnoissance.]

The "Sally" was accordingly chosen to bear the sailors on their
audacious expedition. A rendezvous having been appointed, the sloop
met the "Constitution" far out at sea; and a large body of
blue-jackets and marines left the frigate, and took quarters on the
clumsy little merchantman, which then laid her course for Port Platte.
About midnight the lookouts on the "Sally" saw a vessel's lights near
at hand; but, beyond reporting to the officer of the deck, they paid
no heed to their neighbor. Suddenly, however, out of the darkness came
a bright flash; and the hum of a heavy shot in the air above the
"Sally" was followed by the dull report of a cannon. At the same time
a blue light burned on the deck of the vessel from which the shot
proceeded, showed her to be a powerful frigate. Then ensued a few
moments of intense suspense for the little band on the "Sally." Should
the stranger prove to be a French frigate, all was lost; but in that
latitude English vessels were common, and possibly this might be one.
Soon the regular thumping of oars in the tholepins, and the splashing
of the waves against an approaching boat, could be heard; and in a few
minutes a hail came from the black water alongside, and the dark
figure of a man standing in the stern-sheets of a boat was seen. A
rope was thrown him, by the aid of which he nimbly clambered aboard.
An involuntary murmur of relief arose from the party on t