Page:The Garden of Years.djvu/80

 Tripoli

"And what ye ask is an easy task," an officer made reply.

"Since ye have no line, I will send you mine, with leave in our lee to lie."

So the ketch crept near to the frigate's sheer, and, swung by the swirling tide,

Veered around, till her bowsprit ground on the Philadel- phia s side.

Then Stephen Decatur's slender sword in the moonlight

winked, as he thundered "Board! " The hatches yawned on the ketch's deck, and, quick as a

man may turn, Up from her hold, with a stirring shout, sixty American

tars leapt out, And mounted the frigate's black redoubt like a wave that

breaks astern ! And the startled night saw such a fight as none but the

desperate make,

Blow on blow from foe to foe for the Philadelphia's sake ! Cheer on cheer, as the end drew near, and a final charge,

and then The frigate lay in Tripoli Bay an American ship again !

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