Chapter I: Front Matter

WITH PERRY ON LAKE ERIE

BOOKS BY JAMES OTIS.

=WITH PERRY ON LAKE ERIE.= A TALE OF 1812. 307 pp. Cloth. $1.50.

=WITH PREBLE AT TRIPOLI.= A STORY OF “OLD IRONSIDES” AND THE TRIPOLITAN WAR. 349 pp. Cloth. $1.50.

=WITH PORTER IN THE ESSEX.= A STORY OF HIS FAMOUS CRUISE IN SOUTHERN WATERS DURING THE WAR OF 1812. 344 pp. Cloth. $1.50.

=THE CRUISE OF THE ENTERPRISE.= BEING THE STORY OF THE STRUGGLE AND DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH PRIVATEERING EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES IN 1779. 359 pp. Cloth. $1.50.

WITH PERRY ON LAKE ERIE

A TALE OF 1812

BY

JAMES OTIS

AUTHOR OF “THE CHARMING SALLY,” “AN AMATEUR
FIREMAN,” “JOEL HARFORD,” ETC., ETC.

ILLUSTRATED BY

WILLIAM F. STECHER

BOSTON AND CHICAGO
W. A. WILDE COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1899,
BY W. A. WILDE COMPANY.
_All rights reserved._

WITH PERRY ON LAKE ERIE.

TO THE READER.

Some explanation regarding the method of dealing with facts as set down in this tale should, perhaps, be made. Let it first be understood that no liberty has been taken with the names or movements of those men or boys introduced herein. Much of the incident has been taken from manuscript, the correctness of which cannot be doubted, and all has been verified by reference to our standard histories. In no single instance has any departure been made from the truth, even though the interest of the story might have been increased by a more decided flavor of romance,--notably during the time when the American fleet lay in Presque Isle bay, useless because lacking men.

It seems fitting that Commodore Perry’s deeds should be related from the standpoint of that younger brother who shared his troubles as he did his triumphs, whether the same be set forth as reading for adults, or young people; because it must be admitted that he who won such a glorious victory on Lake Erie was hardly more than a boy. Very young people look upon one who has seen twenty-seven years of this world’s battle as an elderly person; but those who have passed the noon of life are prone to speak of such as “lads,” and therefore is this essentially a story of young people.

JAMES OTIS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. PRESQUE ISLE 11

II. SNUG QUARTERS 29

III. THE ESCAPE 46

IV. THE ATTACK 62

V. THE BRITISH FLEET 79

VI. LEON MARCHAND 96

VII. IN HIDING 112

VIII. A CLOSE SHAVE 131

IX. A BLOODLESS VICTORY 150

X. THE TRAITOR 168

XI. CROSSING THE BAR 186

XII. PUT-IN-BAY 203

XIII. CRUISING 221

XIV. SAIL HO! 240

XV. THE FIRST SHOT 257

XVI. THE BATTLE 275

XVII. VICTORY 293

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

“‘WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?’” _Frontispiece_ 32

“CAPTAIN PERRY HAD LEAPED OVERBOARD FROM THE FOREMOST
OF THE FLEET OF BOATS” 74

“I STRETCHED FORTH MY HAND TO TOUCH HIM” 130

“HE STEPPED ASHORE, AND AN INSTANT LATER WAS LOST TO VIEW” 224

“‘AY, AY, SIR, HOIST IT!’” 263

WITH PERRY ON LAKE ERIE.

A Tale of 1812.