ng inactivity. Perry alone was patient; for to
him had come the knowledge that the hostile fleet was getting short of
supplies, and would soon be starved out of its retreat at Malden.
Knowing this, he spared no pains to get his men into training for the
coming conflict. They were exercised daily at the great guns, and put
through severe drills in the use of the cutlass, in boarding, and
repelling boarders. By constant drill and severe discipline, Perry had
made of the motley crew sent him a well-drilled body of seamen, every
man of whom had become fired with the enthusiasm of his commander.

As the time passed, and the day of battle drew nearer, Perry's
confidence in his men increased; and he looked upon the coming
conflict as one certain to bring glory to his country. At early dawn
the jackies on the ships could see the slender form of their commander
perched upon the craggy heights of one of the islands, called to this
day "Perry's Lookout," eagerly scanning the horizon in the direction
of Malden. On the night of Sept. 9, 1813, the commodore felt convinced
that on the next day the British would come out to battle.
Accordingly, a conference of captains was called in the cabin of the
flag-ship, and each received directions as to his course of action
during the fight. They were urged to force the fighting to close
quarters. Said Perry, "Nelson has expressed my idea in the words, 'If
you lay your enemy alongside, you cannot be out of your place.'" As
the officers were about to depart, Perry drew from a locker a large,
square blue flag, on which appeared, in white letters, the dying words
of the gallant Lawrence, "DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP!" "This," said Perry,
"shall be the signal for action; and when it appears at the masthead,
remember your instructions." The conference then ended; and the
captains returned to their ships across the bay, silvered by the light
of the moon, to spend the greater part of the night in preparations
for the great danger of the coming day.

Morning dawned bright and clear, with a light breeze blowing, that
broke into ripples the surface of the land-locked bay. The rosy light
of the rising sun was just reddening the eastern horizon, when, from
the lookout in the foretop of the "Lawrence," came the long-drawn hail
of "Sail, ho!" quickly repeated from the other vessels.

Perry was already on deck. "What does it look like?" he shouted to the
lookout.

"A clump of square rigged, and fore and afters