By thus dividing the laboring force in order to arm the Lawrence as speedily as possible, the work on the Niagara required much more time than it had on the flag-ship, and not until noon of the 5th did the last vessel of the squadron move out over the bar.
Just at that moment, when our work was so well-nigh completed that we need have little fear, the enemy’s squadron appeared in sight.
Commodore Barclay had at last come to his senses; but it was too late, so far as capturing the Yankee fleet on the bar was concerned.
Eight-and-forty hours previous, the sight of the British flags hoisted on vessels carrying forty-four guns would have filled us with dismay, and well it might, for then our doom was sealed.
Now, however, having successfully combated greater difficulties, we felt as if the coming of Commodore Barclay was something so trifling as not to be considered, and many of our people, like old Silas, rejoiced in the belief that we might even at this moment, when the Niagara was virtually dismantled, give them battle.
Among those who were eager to meet the British, even though we were unprepared, was Captain Perry.
It is proper now, perhaps, that I call him by a higher title, since he was really in command of the fleet, and I noted the fact, as did Alec, with most intense satisfaction, that once the vessels were in deep water the men spoke of our commander as “commodore,” when previously it had been simply “captain.”
We had a taste of what this young commander was ready to do, when he sent orders to Lieutenant Packet and Sailing-Master Champlin to go out with their respective vessels, the Ariel and the Scorpion, and boldly engage the squadron for the purpose of detaining them until we should be able to come up.
This order was so much to the liking of those who were sent to repeat it to the commanders of the schooners, that they shouted the words loudly that all might hear, and as we labored with redoubled efforts, although well nigh on the verge of exhaustion, to refit the Niagara, a shout of satisfaction and triumph went up such as must have been heard by the tardy Commodore Barclay.
“We are in for hot work now, lads, and plenty of it,” old Silas said in a tone of satisfaction, as we two lads assisted him in mounting one of the guns that had just been sent on board, for every able-bodied man from the Lawrence had been ordered to aid in the work of refitting this last vessel to cross the bar. “Our commodore isn’t one to shilly-shally ’round when there’s a chance of burnin’ powder with good effect, an’ his sendin’ the schooners out in such prompt fashion shows that he ain’t minded to lose an opportunity for a fight.”