One must needs hear the thin quaver of “_Vive le_” this and “_Vive le_” that, of some Latin race to fully appreciate the power of an Anglo-Saxon cheer. It is significant of the power of the dominant race. But this was a family feud--it was Anglo-Saxon against Anglo-Saxon, and Perry’s men heard the bold shout with smiles. A moment later another ball, better aimed, crashed through the bulwarks of the Yankee flagship and some of the landsmen shivered. But Perry, tall, broad-shouldered, clear-eyed, faced them from the quarter deck and said “Steady boys, steady!” And that was enough. Not a man flinched--not one man flinched on the deck of the _Lawrence_ thereafter. Barclay was anxious to fight at long range, of course, but Perry was for a contest yard-arm to yard-arm. For ten minutes he held on his course without replying, but Stephen Champlin, who commanded the little _Scorpion_, was eager, and so let drive the first gun from the American side. As it happened, he also fired the last shot of the battle. At 11.35 A.M. the _Lawrence_ was near enough to the _Detroit_ to satisfy Perry, who opened fire with the long twelve on the bow; the _Caledonia_, that was astern of him, followed, while the _Niagara_, next in line, began to fire the long twelve also, though it was at very long range. Meantime the _Scorpion_ and _Ariel_ were doing their best, of course. The squadrons became fogged in with smoke--a smoke bank in which the darting flashes of the guns tore long rifts, and which the variable breeze swayed hither and yon as it swelled on the air. [Illustration: First View of Perry’s Victory. _From an engraving of a drawing by Corné._] In a few minutes the advantage which the British commander held in his concentration of power over the scattered weight of the American metal--the gathering of his long guns on the large ships as well--became apparent. For the _Lawrence_ was about as near to the _Hunter_ and the _Queen Charlotte_ as she was to the _Detroit_, and all three of these ships concentrated their fire upon her, while Perry made sail to close in on the _Detroit_. Even the _Lady Prevost_ was able to reach out with her three long guns to tear the life out of the Yankee flagship. How long could the American commander and his ship stand such pelting as that? For more than two hours. At noon his short guns were still unable to reach the _Detroit_, and he passed the word by trumpet down his line ordering all the vessels to close as rapidly as possible with the enemies to which they had been assigned. Every vessel got this order--Elliott on the _Niagara_, himself passed it--and every officer except Elliott obeyed it as well as the faint wind would permit.