Stewart told me that Decatur was a good student, but there was hardly a boy in the school, anywhere near his own age, with whom he did not have a fight.

He would "rather fight than eat," but he was not a bully, and never imposed upon any one younger or weaker than himself.
A great many of my talks with old Admiral Stewart related to the war with Tripoli, which began in 1801 and lasted nearly four years.

As you will learn, Stewart had a great deal to do with that war, and most of the incidents that follow were told to me by him, a fact which insures their truthfulness and interest.
Among others to whom I shall refer was Commodore Richard Dale, who was born in 1756, and died in 1826.

He was older, as you will notice, than the three whom I have mentioned.

As to his bravery, it is enough to say that he was first lieutenant on the _Bonhomme Richard_ during her terrible fight under Paul Jones with the _Serapis_, and served with that wonderful naval hero on the _Alliance_ and the _Ariel_.