or tomahawk, it by no means enters into his code of
bravery that he is to submit himself to the terrible
ordeal of being battered to a jelly by a huge globe
of solid iron. With, an alertness not common
to the habits and corpulence of these celebrated chiefs,
and fully calculating on exemption from danger while
they plied their rifles successfully themselves, they
ascended to the main top long before the action commenced.
But they had counted without their host, for no sooner
did the enemy begin to suffer from their fire, and
perceive the quarter whence it came, when a swivel
gun, loaded with grape, was brought to hear upon the
point where they lay concealed. They had provided
themselves with a breast work against small arms,
but no breast work could resist the shower of iron
hail that was directed towards them; and in proportion
as the splinters and shot flew about their ears, so
did their desire to distinguish themselves oze forth
from the palms of Messrs. Split-log and Walk-in-the-Water;
in so much so indeed that, without waiting to descend
the rigging in the usual manner, each abandoning his
rifle, slid down by the first rope on which he could
lay his hands; nor stayed his course until he found
himself squatted, out of all reach of danger in the
lowest hold, and within the huge coils of a cable
where already lay ensconced a black bear, the pet of
one of the sailors. In this comfortable hiding
place were Messrs Split-log and Walk-in-the-Water
found, when at the close of the action they became,
in common with those with whose fortunes they had
identified themselves, prisoners of the Americans.
The action between the adverse fleets had been witnessed
by many of the inhabitants of Amherstburg, and by the
officers of the Garrison who, at the first sounds of
conflict, had ridden along the banks of the lake to
be as near spectators of the event as the distance
of the combatants, and the thick smoke in which they
speedily became enveloped, would allow. High
in hope, and strong in the reliance they placed upon
the skill and experience of the English Commodore,
each had looked forward with confidence to the overthrow
of the enemy, even with the limited means and unequal
resources placed at his disposal. Great therefore
was the disappointment of all, when after the firing,
which raged for two hours without intermission, had
finally ceased, they found the English squadron lay
a mere wreck upon the waters, and in the very act of
being towed by their more fortunate enemies into the
harbour they had but recently quitted to engage them.
But on none did the disappointment of that hour sit
more heavily than on Tecumseh. He had watched
the whole conflict with an anxious eye and a swelling
heart, for he well knew what important results to
himself and kindred hung upon the issue; but filled
with enthusiastic admiration as he was of the Naval
Captain, he had believed that personal devotedness
and heroism alone were sufficient to compensate for
the absence of advantages he had heard named, without