One thing that both of us lads were alive to, however, was the slow progress our fleet was making.
The breeze was hardly more than strong enough to ruffle the surface of the waters, and during the first four-and-twenty hours we advanced only that number of miles, Captain Perry meanwhile eating his heart out with impatience because of the dull sailing, thereby giving us quite as severe a task as we could perform in keeping him below according to Dr. Parson’s orders.
When we were thus come twenty-four miles in as many hours, and the little fleet of vessels and boats lay becalmed upon the mirror-like lake, a canoe, in which were two men, put out from the American shore, one of the boatmen paddling vigorously, while the other waved a small flag in such manner as gave us to understand that they were either fleeing from pursuit, or bringing important intelligence.
Becalmed as the Caledonia was, we could do no less than await the coming of these strangers, even had we been otherwise disposed; and when they were finally arrived on board we had ample food for reflection and fear.
The British squadron, under command of Captain Finnis, was even at that time searching for us, so the newcomers reported; within eight-and-forty hours they had passed over this same course, and in such force as boded ill for us should we chance to come upon them.
The squadron consisted, so we were told, of the ship Queen Charlotte, carrying seventeen guns; the schooner Lady Prevost, with thirteen guns; the brig Hunter, having ten guns; the schooner Little Belt, mounting three guns, and the Chippewa, of one gun.
Our little fleet consisted of the brig Caledonia, mounting two small guns (the same craft which had been captured on the ninth of October under the guns of Fort Erie by the expedition in command of Lieutenant Elliott); the schooner Somers, which carried one long twenty-four-pounder; the schooner Ariel, with one long eighteen-pounder; the schooner Ohio, with one long twenty-four-pounder, and the sloop Contractor,[2] with one long eighteen-pounder, to say nothing of the small boats.
Taking all our armament into account, we could add to such a number of guns as I have mentioned, perhaps two hundred muskets, therefore it behooved us to keep out of the way if possible.
When those who brought the disagreeable intelligence came on board the Caledonia, Captain Perry was lying in his berth; Dr. Parsons had just given him a most bitter potion, and Alec and I stood by with fans, for the heat in the close cabin was almost unbearable.
I watched the young captain closely, expecting to see some show of fear when he learned in what force the enemy had mustered; but it was as if that which to nearly every one was most unwelcome intelligence, only served to animate him.