At this point Lieutenant Yarnall reported that the required number of unwounded men could not be mustered in the brig unless all the guns were abandoned, and I stepped forward, for now was come the time when I could make no claim of comradeship--in this hour of death the brothers stood apart by themselves, out of my world, as it were. “With this lad, I can give you four at the oars, sir,” the lieutenant reported, and our commodore replied, with that smile which had come to be in my eyes more precious than anything he could bestow:-- “It will do, Mr. Yarnall. The smaller the number the less to be put in jeopardy of their lives. Is the boat away?” “Ay, sir, all is ready, now that the lad will be taken on as an able seaman.” Obeying a gesture of the lieutenant’s, I went forward to the starboard rail, beneath which was the tiny craft for the conveyance of the commander-in-chief, and without venturing to presume upon any possible claims of comradeship, took my place among the oarsmen. As soon thereafter as might be, the commodore and Alec came over the shattered rail, the former carrying under his arm the broad banner of blue, and the pennant. I had been eager to accompany the commander, and yet when I took my station in the boat, and had a better view of that stretch of water whereon it seemed that every square inch was covered by bullet or ball, the chance of escaping with life seemed less than when we stood on the deck of the _Lawrence_ exposed to the fire of the Britishers’ heaviest guns. “Little show of takin’ a cockle-shell like this across yonder stretch, eh?” one of the seamen said, with a grin, observing the direction of my glance, and most likely noting the sudden pallor of my face. “It surely seems as if we would be cut to pieces before going fifty yards from the brig’s side,” I replied, and certain am I that my voice trembled like a coward’s, although at the moment I was not conscious of what might rightly be called fear. “That’s what I allow will happen,” the man said, as he stuffed his mouth full of tobacco. “It’s a likely spot in which to swamp a boat, yet I’m not so sure but that a decent man would choose to die there, rather than in yonder hole where Dr. Parsons hacks an’ hews to his heart’s content before the breath of life goes out.” Perhaps it was some such reminder as this which I needed to give me the proper amount of spirit, for once he spoke of the cockpit I felt such a sense of relief at being free from it for the moment that there came to me a certain degree of calmness, enabling me to greet our commander properly when he came over the rail, followed by Alec. It was as if my comrade shared in the glory which Commodore Perry had already won, and yet I did not envy him the honor. He was a brave lad, while I could be counted only as a timorous being whose courage was like to fail him at the supreme moment, and I felt more pride in his distinction of place than if our positions had been reversed.