n sight, and
at daybreak the ship was fairly surrounded by the enemy's vessels. All
at once gave chase to the luckless American; and a few hours were
enough to show that her sailing qualities were so seriously injured by
her pounding on the bar, that the enemy was rapidly overhauling her.
Decatur adopted every known expedient to increase his ship's speed,
but to no avail. After she had been lightened by starting the water,
cutting away boats and anchors, chopping up and heaving overboard the
ponderous cables, together with spars and provisions, the enemy still
gained; and the foremost pursuer, a razee, opened fire. The
"President" responded with her stern-chasers, but her shot had no
effect. "It is said that on this occasion," writes Cooper, "the shot
of the American ship were observed to be thrown with a momentum so
unusually small, as to have since excited much distrust of the quality
of her gunpowder. It is even added, that many of these shot were
distinctly seen, when clear of the smoke, until they struck." At six
o'clock in the evening, the frigate "Endymion" led the British
squadron in chase, and had gained a position so close upon the
American's beam that her broadsides were rapidly crippling the
fugitive. Thereupon Decatur determined upon a desperate expedient,
that sounds like some of his reckless exploits in the war with
Tripoli. His plan was to bring the "President" about, and run boldly
alongside the enemy. Every thing was to be sacrificed to the end of
getting to close quarters. When once the two ships had grappled, the
Americans were to board, carry the British ship in a hand-to-hand
battle, and then, abandoning the crippled "President," escape in the
captured frigate. So desperate a plan needed the cordial co-operation
of every man: so it was first presented to the commissioned officers,
who gladly embraced the desperate project. The sailors were then sent
aft, and Decatur addressed them from the quarter-deck.

"My lads," said he, "that ship is coming up with us. As our ship won't
sail, we'll go on board of theirs, every man and boy of us, and carry
her into New York. All I ask of you is to follow me. This is a
favorite ship of the country. If we allow her to be taken, we shall be
deserted by our wives and sweethearts. What, let such a ship as this
go for nothing! 'Twould break the heart of every pretty girl in New
York."

[Illustration: "President" and "Endymion."]

With hearty cheers, the jackies re