Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-03-30
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D'ri and I
By IRVING BACHELLER
Author Of Eben Holden" 4" 'Darrel Of
the Blessed Isles, Etc.
Copyright, 1901, by LOthrop Publishing Compan,
CHAPTER XVII.

Orders came from the War Depart
ment providing a detail to go and
help man the guns of Perry at Putin
Bay | had the honor of leading them
on the journey and turning them over
to the young captain. | 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 a
friendly talk with Gen. Brown. He
invited and received my confidence
unable to cover. | laid before him the
plan of an expedition. He smiled,
putting a 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. Watt a
Tusting saber is better than a hole in
the heart. There will be good work
for you in a few days, | hope"
And there was-the job of which
| have spoken, that came to me through
his kind offices. We set sail in a
schooner one bright morning-Dri
and | and 80 others-bound for Two
Mile Creek. Horses were waiting for
us there. We mounted them, and made
the long journey oyerland-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 g. we came to
the bay, and pulled up at headquarters,
two-story frame building on a high
shore. There were wooded islands in
the ofting, and between them we
could see the fieet-nine vessels, big
and little.
turned OYer the men who were talk
en- to the ships Immediately and put
under drill. Surgeon Usher of the
Lawrence and a young midshipman
rowed me to Gibraltar island, we'll
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 a rocky point high above
the water, a glass to his eye, looking
seaward. His youth surprised me: he
was then %. had read much of him
and Vas 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
the last one there among the Aveng-
ers He gave my hand a squeeze and my
sword compliment | have not yet
Forgotten, assuring me of his pleasure
that | was to be with him awhile.
fhe 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:
1t 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
bic as q rock. Learn how to handle it,
and you may take a fling at the Brit
ish some day"
He put D'ri in my squad, as | 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
fight SO soon as it might come.