Stephen Decatur grew up loving the sea. His father had been a naval officer in the American Revolution. When Stephen was only eight, he accompanied his father on a voyage to France.

At nineteen, Stephen joined the Navy as a midshipman and fought in the undeclared war with France. Soon afterward there was trouble with the Barbary pirates of North Africa. Now in command of a ship of his own, Stephen won worldwide fame for his courage and daring. He was the hero of the Battle of Tripoli.

Later he won new honors in the War of 1812. When his ship was outnumbered and Decatur had to surrender, the English captain said to him, "Sir, I refuse to take the sword of any officer who has fought so gallantly."

Wyatt Blassingame writes with an intimate knowledge of the period and a deep respect for facts. Mr. Blassingame lives by the sea in Florida and is the author of many successful books for children.

From the dust jacket