In the confusion caused by this treacherous act the enemy's boat got away and started for the city.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR.] Meanwhile, Captain Decatur had been doing characteristic work.

With three gunboats he attacked a force three times as numerous as his own.
Impetuously boarding the first craft, after a discharge from his long boat, he engaged the numerous crew in a furious hand-to-hand struggle, in which all were made prisoners or forced to leap into the sea to save themselves.

Then Decatur began towing away his prize, when he was told of the murder of his brother.
The grief-stricken and enraged captain instantly cast his prize adrift and started after the "unspeakable Turk." The boat was easily recognized, and, delivering a destructive fire, the pursuer ran alongside and the Americans rushed aboard, with Decatur in the lead.

The enormous size and gorgeous uniform of the Turkish captain made him so conspicuous that Decatur knew him at once, and, rushing forward, lunged at him with his boarding pike.

The Turk must have felt contempt for the American who dared thus to assail him, for his assailant was but a boy in size compared to him.