As he felt, so probably did Captain Perry, and Alec and I came to know later how these two brave men chafed, being held prisoners within the harbor, as it were, when a few miles away was an opportunity, not only to win renown for themselves, but to strike a blow in aid of their country. I understood only a portion of this at the time; but that little was enough to prevent me from saying anything more, and obeying Alec’s gestures I turned about to go over the rail into the small boat. My father stopped me with a touch on the shoulder, and as I turned, he said, looking affectionately into my eyes:-- “Be careful, Richard. Go so far as an American should, regarding not your own life when there is need that it should be sacrificed; but having a heed to your steps when nothing can be accomplished by venturing.” Then he wheeled about as if not minded to see us depart, and Alec and I went over the _Ariel’s_ rail into as trim a pleasure boat as I had ever seen. She was perhaps eighteen feet long, with a sort of cuddy aft where one might be sheltered in case of a storm, and rigged in sloop fashion, carrying a single jib and mainsail. There was a light breeze from the south, and when we, having cast off the painter, hoisted the canvas, the little craft slipped away from the schooner’s side as if under the influence of a full gale of wind. Not until we were well out into the lake did either of us lads make any comment upon this mission with which we had been intrusted, and perhaps we held silent the longer because it had come to us so suddenly that we were embarked in the enterprise before fully realizing it had been begun. After we were two or three miles from the shore my thoughts went back to that winter afternoon when, having come on much the same course across the ice, we ran into the enemy’s hands, and all the details of that disagreeable venture came into my mind. The unpleasant memories must have shown themselves in my face, for Alec, who was sitting well forward while I minded the helm, said banteringly:-- “Now that you are put in command of a vessel, the weight of responsibility seems to bow you down.” “It does indeed,” I replied, surprising him by turning that which he counted should be a jest into a serious remark. “Not that I think my responsibility any greater than yours; but to my mind we are set out on a venture wherein is far more of danger than we have yet encountered.” “And you draw a long mouth because we may, perchance, run our heads into some peril?” he asked reproachfully. “It is not that which troubles me so greatly, Alec Perry, as you should know full well by this time, having been comrades with me these three months. My gloomy thoughts are not brought about by fear of what may come to us; but because of the condition of affairs, as has just been represented to us.”