Upon taking possession of the prize it was found that 30 had been killed and there were 406 prisoners.  On the Guerriere 3 had fallen and 11 were wounded by the fire of the enemy.

Believing that the rest of the Algerian squadron would make haste to their home port, Decatur hastened thither with the view of cutting them off.  If the Dey refused to come to terms, he intended to blockade the squadron and bombard the city.  It was on the 28th of June, 1815, that the American fleet appeared off Algiers, and the commander signalled a request for the Swedish consul to come aboard.  He came out a few hours later, accompanied by the Algerian captain of the port.  When Decatur proved by the testimony of one of the native prisoners that their admiral had been killed and his ship and a second one captured, the officer was astounded, and so alarmed that he asked the American commander on what terms he would make peace.

Decatur was prepared for this question, and produced a letter to the Dey from the President of the United States, in which it was declared that the only conditions upon which peace could be made was the full and final relinquishment by Algiers of all claim to tribute in the future, and the guarantee that American commerce would not be molested.  The captain, like all Orientals, began to quibble to gain time, asking that the commissioners should land and conduct the negotiations on shore.  Decatur replied that they must be negotiated on board the Guerriere and nowhere else.

The next day the Moorish captain returned with full powers to negotiate.  Decatur now notified him that, in addition to the terms already named, every American prisoner must be given up without ransom, and the value, to the last penny, of their stolen property restored.  Other minor demands were added, all of which were within the province of Decatur, who had been clothed with full authority to make peace.  The captain asked for a truce that he might lay the terms before the Dey.  This was denied.  Then he asked for a delay of three hours.

“Not three minutes,” replied Decatur; “if the remaining ships of your squadron appear before the treaty is signed, or before every American prisoner is on board this ship, I will capture every one of them.”

[Illustration:  CAPTAIN BAINBRIDGE AND THE DEY OF ALGIERS.]

The Moor was thoroughly cowed by the aggressive American, and, promising to do all he could to secure the consent of the Dey, he was hastily rowed ashore.  It was understood that if the Dey agreed to the terms the captain would return in the boat with a white flag displayed at the bow.