The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-12-08

how in harmony with the great song
ternoon OF September 8, we came 10
| the bay. and pulled up at headquarters,
two-story frame building on high
shore. There were wooded islands in
the otfing, and between them we
could see the feet-nine vessels, big
and little.
| turned over the men who were taxi
en- 10 the ships Immediately and put
under drill. Surgeon Usher of the
Lawrence and young midshipman
rowed me TO Gibraltar island we'll
out into the harb0r, where the surgeon
presented me to Perry--a tail. shapely
man. with dark hair and eyes. and
ears hidden by tufts of heavy beard.
He stood on rocky point high above
the water. a glass to his eye. looking
seward His youth surprised me: he
was then 2S. | had read much of him
and was looking for an older man. He
received me kindly: he had a fine dig
| nifty and gentle manners. Somewhere
he had read of that scrape of mine
1.-The last one there among the Aveng-
ers He gave my hand squeeze and my
sword compliment have not YET
forgotten, assuring me of his pleasure
that | was to be with him awhile
The greeting over. we rowed away to
the Lawrence. She was chopping laZ-
lily at anchor in light breeze. her sails
loose. Her crew cheered her COM
mander as we came under the frown-
ing guns
They re tired Of waiting, said he;
they re looking for business when
come aboard"
He showed me over the clean decks:
Il was all as clean as a puritan par
lor,
Captain" said he, 'tie yourself TO
that big bow gun. 1t s the modern
sling of David. only its pebble is
Dig as rock Learn how 10 handle it,
and you may take fling at the Brit
sh some day
He put D'ri in my squad, as | re-
luested leaving me with the gunners.
went TO work at once, and knew
shortly how TO handle the big machine.
Drl and | convinced the captain win
no difficulty that we We're fit for
fight so soon as IL might come.
Ii came sooner than we expected
The cry of Sail ho!' woke me early
one morning. II was the 10th OF Sep
tember The enemy was coming. Sails
were sticking out of the misty dawn
few miles away. la moment oul
decks were black aud noisy with the
hundred and two that manned the yes
sci. Ii was every hand TO rope ana
windlass then Sails went up with a
snap all around us, and the creak OF
OF blocks sounded far and near. In IL
minutes we were under way lead
ing the van to battle The sun came
up ligh ting the great towers OF can
vas. Every vessel was now feeling for
the wind. some with oars and sweeps to
aid them light breeze came out
Of the southwest Perry stood near
me, his hat in his hand. He was look
ing back al the Niagara.
run to the leeward of the Islands,
said he TO the ,sailing-master.
Then you NJ have 10 fight TO the
leeward." said thelatter.
Don't care, so long as we fight
said Perry. "Windward or leeward, We
want to fight
Then came The signal to change our
course. The wind shifting TO the south
east, we were all able to clear the is
lands and keep the weather-gauge A
cloud came over the sun; far away the
mist thickened The enemy wallowed
TO the topsails, and went out OF
sight We had lost the wind. Our
sails went limp: flag and pennant hung
llfeless. A slight rain drizzIed down.
breaking the smooth plane of water
into bubbles Perry stood out In the
drizzle as we lay waiting. All eyes
were turning TO the sky and to Perry.
He had A look of worry and disgust
He was out FOR quarrel. though the
surgeon said he was in more need
of physic, having the fever of malaria
as well as that Of war. He stood there.
tall and handsome. in a loose JACKIE
of blue nankeen. with no sign OF weak
ness IN MIN. his eyes flashing as he
looked atsfhe sky.
D'rI and stood in the squad at the
bow gun D'ri was wearing an old
straw hat mis- flannel shirt was open
at the collar.
ship STAINS lux an oil COW chawin.
Ter cud," said he. looking of at the
weather. They s win comm over
there II II give 'er slap n III
side purity soon. mebbe. Then she
II switch 'er tail n go on bout 'eT
business"
In a moment we heard roaring
cheer back amidships. Perry had come
ND the companionway with his blue
le-nag. He held it before him at
arm 's-length. | could see part OF
its legend. in white letters Don't give
up the ship.
My brave lads" he shouted. shall
we hoist it,"
Our "Ay. ay' sir" could have been
heard a mile away. and the flag rose,
above tossing bats and bowling voices.
tu the msinroyalmasthead
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