“You shall go as a member of the boat’s crew,” the commodore replied promptly, and at the same time kindly; “yet I am not certain it is a friendly act to take you two lads through that deadly fire.”
“We would venture very much more, sir, for the sake of being with you,” I made bold to say, and was rewarded for the speech by a kindly smile from the man who on that day proved himself to be chief of a band wherein every man was a hero.
At this point Lieutenant Yarnall reported that the required number of unwounded men could not be mustered in the brig unless all the guns were abandoned, and I stepped forward, for now was come the time when I could make no claim of comradeship—in this hour of death the brothers stood apart by themselves, out of my world, as it were.
“With this lad, I can give you four at the oars, sir,” the lieutenant reported, and our commodore replied, with that smile which had come to be in my eyes more precious than anything he could bestow:—
“It will do, Mr. Yarnall. The smaller the number the less to be put in jeopardy of their lives. Is the boat away?”
“Ay, sir, all is ready, now that the lad will be taken on as an able seaman.”
Obeying a gesture of the lieutenant’s, I went forward to the starboard rail, beneath which was the tiny craft for the conveyance of the commander-in-chief, and without venturing to presume upon any possible claims of comradeship, took my place among the oarsmen.
As soon thereafter as might be, the commodore and Alec came over the shattered rail, the former carrying under his arm the broad banner of blue, and the pennant.
I had been eager to accompany the commander, and yet when I took my station in the boat, and had a better view of that stretch of water whereon it seemed that every square inch was covered by bullet or ball, the chance of escaping with life seemed less than when we stood on the deck of the Lawrence exposed to the fire of the Britishers’ heaviest guns.
“Little show of takin’ a cockle-shell like this across yonder stretch, eh?” one of the seamen said, with a grin, observing the direction of my glance, and most likely noting the sudden pallor of my face.