t was struck by a spent grape-shot, and fell stunned
upon the deck. He lay there for a time, unnoticed. Perry raised him
up, telling him he was not hurt, as no blood could be seen. The
lieutenant put his hand to his clothing, at the point where the blow
had fallen, and discovered the shot lodged in his coat. Coolly putting
it in his pocket, he remarked, "You are right: I am not hurt. But this
is my shot," and forthwith returned to his duty.

It was a strange-looking body of men that fought at the guns of the
"Lawrence." Lean, angular Yankee sailors from the seafaring
communities of New England stood by the side of swarthy negroes, who,
with their half-naked black bodies, in the dense powder-smoke, seemed
like fiends in pandemonium. In the rigging were stationed a number of
Kentucky riflemen, who had volunteered to serve during the battle. The
buckskin shirts and leggings gave an air of incongruity to their
presence on a man-of-war. Their unerring rifles, however, did brave
service for the cause of the stars and stripes. At the opening of the
action, two tall Indians, decked in all the savage finery of war-paint
and feathers, strode the deck proudly. But water is not the Indian's
element, and the battle had hardly begun when one fled below in
terror; the other remained on deck, and was killed early in the
action.

[Illustration: Making Ready To Leave The "Lawrence."]

Courageous and self-confident though the American commander was, the
moment came when he could no longer disguise the fact that his gallant
flag-ship was doomed to destruction before the continuous and deadly
fire of her adversaries. There was but one course of action open, and
upon this he determined at once. He would transfer his flag to the
"Niagara," and from the deck of that vessel direct the movements of
his fleet. Accordingly, the only uninjured boat of the "Lawrence" was
lowered; and Perry sprang into the stern, followed by his little
brother. Before the boat pushed off, the battle-flag was thrown into
her; and, wrapping it about him, Perry took a standing position in the
stern, and ordered the oarsmen to give way. He steered straight for
the "Niagara," through the very centre of the fight. The enemy quickly
grasped the purpose of the movement, and great guns and muskets were
trained on the little boat. Shot of all sizes splashed in the water
about the boat, splintered the oars, and buried themselves in the
gunwale. The crew begged their commande