Decatur called his officers together. "Gentlemen, we have to fight this Sabbath morning instead of worshiping. I want you to tell all your men that the conflict will be severe; but that the flag of my country on the ship I command shall never leave the staff on which it waves as long as there is a hull to support it." The officers saluted as became men of their rank, but one middy was far too excited to merely salute. He threw up his cap and shouted: "Hurrah for Captain Decatur!" Thus challenged, the officers responded, and never did men give more hearty cheers than those officers of the U. S. frigate _United States_. There were a number of youths on board the American ship whose ages were from twelve to fourteen. Many a lad, at that time, received his warrant as a midshipman while still in his tenth year. If he was tall and well formed no questions were asked, but if below the ordinary stature he was interrogated closely. It was illegal to enroll any boy's name on the roster, unless he had passed his twelfth birthday. Jack Creamer wanted two weeks to be ten years old, but he was allowed to stay on board. When Jack saw the English frigate approaching he looked troubled. No one would have thought he was so young, for his face looked pinched and wan. "Cowardly, cowardly, custard!" sneered one of the middies who had managed to get enrolled, though only eleven years old. "I am no coward," said Jack. "Of course not," responded another middy; "not a coward, only a little bit scared like. No wonder, you are only a child." "I'm nearly as old as you," retorted Jack. "Are you? I'm an officer in the United States navy, while you are too young to be enrolled." So they rallied Jack, and he became indignant. Something worried him. No one imagined in his heart that Jack was afraid, but boys like to tease each other, and even middies are no exception to the rule. An old quartermaster watched Jack closely. "What is the matter, Jack?" he asked kindly. "I would like to see the captain before going into action." "You shall, my boy. Come now." He took Jack Creamer up to the quarterdeck, and there waited for Captain Decatur's attention. The captain turned and saw the two, and in his cheery voice asked: "What is wanting now, Jack?" The boy saluted, and in a quivering voice replied: "Commodore, will you please to have my name put down on the muster roll?" "Why, what for, my lad? You are far better as you are." Jack had grown bold. He pointed to the British ship, which was almost within gunshot range, and replied: "So that I can draw my share of the prize money, commodore, when we take that Britisher." "Your name shall be entered, Jack." The lines left the boy's face, a brightness came to his eyes, and he left the captain's presence far from decorously, for it was with a hop, skip and a jump. Decatur directed the attention of the masthead man to the strange sails to the leeward. "She flies the American flag," was the answer.