It was Captain Elliott himself who met Commodore Perry at the Niagara’s gangway, and he stared as if facing a ghost, when our commander saluted him ceremoniously, for he believed him dead.
“How is the day going, sir?” Elliott asked, as soon as he could control his voice sufficiently to speak.
“Badly, Mr. Elliott, badly. I have lost nearly all my men; the Lawrence is a wreck, and I am transferring my flag and the banner to this ship. What are the gunboats doing so far astern? Why do they not bear their full share of the burden?”
“With your permission I will go to ascertain the reason, and bring them up.”
“Very well, sir. Lose no time, and see to it that they come to close quarters without delay.”
Then we, who had come out of death, as it were, clambered up on the Niagara’s deck, cheered to the echo by every man who saw us, and the officer who for a few moments had believed himself first in command, took Commodore Perry’s place in the stern-sheets of the boat with a full crew at the oars to carry him rearward.
FOOTNOTES:
[4] Lossing’s “War of 1812.”
CHAPTER XVII.
VICTORY.
To men who had come from such a scene of ruin as had we, the Niagara appeared to be in perfect condition. But few of her crew were wounded, and she was in as perfect order for the conflict as if having just come from the navy-yard.