Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-01-31
CHAPTER XVII.

Oroers came from the War depart
ment providing detail to go and
help man the guns of Perry at Putin
Bay. l had the honor of leading them
on the journey and turning them over
to the young captain. l could not
bear to be lying idle at the garrison.
A thought of those in captivity was
with me night and day, but could do
nothing for them. had had
friendly talk with Gen. Brown. He
invited and received my confidence
touching the tender solicitude l was
unable to cover. l laid before him the
plan of an expedition. He smiled,
putting cigar thoughtfully.
Reckless folly, Bell" said he, after
a moment. You are young and
lucky. If you were flung in the broad
water there with a milestone tied to
your neck. should not be surprised
to see you turn up again. My young
friend, to start off with no destination
but Canada is too much even for you.
We have no men to waste. Wait;
rusting saber is better than hole in
the heart. There will be good work
for you in few days. l hope"
And there was-the job of which
have spoken, that came to me through
his kind Offices. We set sail in
schooner one bright morning-D'rl
and I and 30 others-bound for Two
Mile Creek. Horses were waiting for
us there. We mounted them, and made
the long journey ove7land-a ride
through wood and swale on a road
worn by the wagons Of the emigrant,
who, even then, was pushing west
ward to the fertile valleys of Ohio.
1t was hard travelling, but that was the
heyday of my youth, and the bird mu-
sic, and the many voices of a waning
summer in field and forest, were some-
how in harmony with the great song
Of my heart. In the middle of the af-
ternoon of September 6, we came to
the bay, and pulled UP at headquarters,
a two-story frame building on high
shore, There were wooded islands in
the offing, and between them we
could see the feet-nine vessels, big
and little.
turned over the men who were taxi
en- to the ships Immediately and. put
under drill. Surgeon Usher of the
Lawrence and young midshipman
rowed me to Gibraltar island, well
out into the harbor, where the surgeon
presented me to Perry-a tall, 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 %. had read much of him
and was looking for an older man. He
received me kindly: he had fine dig.
nifty and gentle manners. Somewhere
he had read of that scrape of mine
the last one there among the Aveng-
ers. He gave my hand squeeze and my
sword compliment l 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 1
| come aboard"
He showed me over the clean decks:
it was all as clean as puritan par
lor.
Captain" said he. 'ttie yourself to
that big bow gun. 1t s the modern
sling of David, only it's pebble is
big as a rock. Learn how to handle it,
and you may take fling at the Brit
ish some day."
He put D'ri in my squad, as 1 re.
quested, leaving me with the gunners
| went to work at once, and knew
shortly how to handle the big machine.
D'ri and convinced the captain with
no difficulty that we were fit for q
fight SO soon as it might come.
| 1t came sooner than we expected.
The cry of sail ho!" woke me early
one morning. 1t was the 10th Of Sep
TENDER. The enemy was coming. Sails
were sticking out of the misty dawn
few miles away. In moment our
decks were black and noisy with the
hundred and two that manned the yes,
sci. 1t was every hand to rope and
windlass then. Sails went up with 9
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, lighting the great towers of can
vas. Every vessel was now feeling fol
the wind, some with oars and sweeps tc
aid them. A light breeze came ou1
of the southwest. Perry stood neal
me, his hat in his hand. He was look.
ing back at the Niagara.
Run to the leeward of the islands,
said he to the sailing-master.
"Then you II have to fight to THE
leeward," said the latter.
II Don't care, SO long as we fight,
said Perry. "Windward or leeward, WI
want to fight
Then came The signal to change oul
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 TIN
mist thickened. The enemy wallowet
to the topsails, and went out O
sight. We had lost the wind. GU
sails went limp; flag and pennant hunf
lifeless. A slight rain drizzled down
breaking the smooth plane Of waite
into bubbles. Perry stood out in tn
. drizzle as we lay waiting. All eye
were turning to the sky and to Perry
He had look Of worry and disgust
He was out for a quarrel, though tn
surgeon said he was in more nee