"Sit down!" cried Perry's men. "We will stop rowing if you don't sit down."
So Perry sat down, and when a ball came crashing through the side of the boat he took off his coat and plugged up the hole.
Providence favored him and his men. They reached the Niagara without being hurt. The British had fired in vain. Perry sprang on board and ordered the men to raise the flag.
"How goes the day?" asked Lieutenant Elliott.
"Bad enough," said Perry. "Why are the gunboats so far back?"
"I will bring them up," said Elliott.
"Do so," said Perry.
Elliott jumped into the boat which Perry had just left, and rowed away. Up to the mast-head went the great blue banner with the motto, "Don't give up the ship." Signals were given for all the vessels to close in on the enemy, and the Niagara bore down under full sail.
The Lawrence was out of the fight. Rent and torn, with only a handful of her crew on their feet, and not a gun that could be fired, her day was done. Her flag was pulled down by the few men left to save themselves. The British had no time to take possession, for the Niagara was on them, fresh for the fray, like a new horse in the race.
Right through the British fleet this new ship went. Three of their ships were on one side of her and two on the other, and all only a few yards away. As she went her guns spoke out, sweeping their decks and tearing through their timbers.