The _Intrepid_ drifted closer and closer, with her crew hidden, except for six or eight men dressed as Maltese sailors. Decatur stood by the pilot at the helm. When the little ship was about one hundred yards from the _Philadelphia_ she was hailed and ordered to keep away. The pilot answered that his boat had lost her anchor in the storm, and asked permission to make fast to the frigate for the night. This was given, and the Moorish officer on the _Philadelphia_ asked what the ship in the distance was. The pilot said that she was the _Transfer_, a vessel lately purchased at Malta by the Moors, which was expected at Tripoli about that time. The pilot kept on talking in order to lull the Moors' suspicions, and meantime the little _Intrepid_ came close under the port bow of the _Philadelphia_. Just then the wind shifted and held the schooner away from the frigate, and directly in range of her guns. Again the Moors had a chance to destroy the American boat and crew if they had known her real object. They did not suspect it, however. Each ship sent out a small boat with a rope, and when the ropes were joined the two ships were drawn close together. When the vessels were almost touching some one on the _Philadelphia_ suddenly shouted, "Americanos!" At the same moment Decatur gave the order "Board!" and the American crew sprang over the side of the frigate and jumped to her deck. The Moors were huddled on the forecastle. Decatur formed his men in line and charged. The surprised Moors made little resistance, and Decatur quickly cleared the deck of them; some jumped into the sea, and others escaped in a large boat. The Americans saw that they could not get the _Philadelphia_ safely out of the harbor, and so quickly brought combustibles from the _Intrepid_, and stowing them about the _Philadelphia_, set her on fire. In a very few minutes she was in flames, and the Americans jumped from her deck to their own ship. It took less than twenty minutes to capture and fire the _Philadelphia_. Decatur ordered his men to the oars, and the _Intrepid_ beat a retreat from the harbor. But now the town of Tripoli was fully aroused. The forts opened fire on the little schooner. A ship commanded the channel through which she had to sail, but fortunately for the _Intrepid_ the Moors' aim was poor, and the only shot that struck her was one through the topgallantsail. The harbor was brightly lighted now. The flames had run up the mast and rigging of the _Philadelphia_, and as they reached the powder loud explosions echoed over the sea. Presently the cables of the frigate burned, and the _Philadelphia_ drifted ashore and blew up. In the meantime the _Intrepid_ reached the entrance safely, and joining the _Siren_ set sail for Syracuse.