at to burn the flotilla on
the approach of the enemy, without making any effort whatsoever to
defend it, and for the time I believed that Darius and all those who
bragged so much about Commodore Barney's fighting qualities, were
making idle talk, otherwise he would have attempted to hold his own,
no matter how great the odds against him.

At the time I failed to realize that our fleet of small boats amounted
to nothing, as compared with either city which the British was
threatening, and that the commodore never showed himself to be a
better fighter than when he allowed the enemy to spend their time with
a lot of boats of little value, while he was marching his men across
country to aid in the defense of Washington.

One can readily fancy that we lads were not much inclined for sleep
when Darius brought word that we might turn in.

It was definitely known that the British were only two miles away, and
would make no prolonged halt until after striking a blow at our fleet.
In fact, it was possible they might approach within an hour, the halt
having been called only to make us believe they would not attempt to
do any mischief during the night.

We gathered aft, but with no desire to go below, and stood there
leaning far out over the rail with eyes and ears open for some token
of the coming foe.

It was possible to distinguish even in the gloom a boat which was
pulled from one craft to another, stopping only a few seconds at each
vessel, and we knew the lieutenant and Darius were making their
rounds.

Again we questioned the wisdom of waiting until the enemy was close at
hand before beginning the work of destruction, never realizing how
important it was to keep the Britishers at the task of destroying the
fleet so long as possible that the defenders of Washington might have
opportunity to make ready; but we actually grew impatient because the
torch was not applied at once.

Before Lieutenant Frazier brought the inspection to a close, one of
the men who had been sent to spy out the enemy's movements, came
aboard the Scorpion to make a report. From him we learned that the
British were really encamped for the night, and there seemed little
possibility any move would be made before daylight.

Even with this assurance we lads had no desire for slumber, and were
on deck listening and watching when Darius returned.

"Why didn't you turn in?" he asked almost sharply, and I replied,
striving to speak in such a tone as wou