St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-09-24
Tom looked at the man, and then

Tom looked at the man, and then
hastily glanced about HIM 1t was
pretty piece of business! BY the uni
form of the officer before him, and by
the appointments and armament OF the
ship, he saw in an instant that he was
on board British vessel of war. What
a fool he had been to get so angry that
he would not look behind him as he
rowed! If it had not been for his I'M
fortunate temper, he never would have
mistaken this vessel for the " Amelia"
Il made mistake he said, his
voice trembling a little. II thought
this was my ship, the Amelia. y
And then he made a movement back
ward, as if he would scramble over
board and get again into his little boat.
But. the officer laid his hand ON his
shoulder.
"Stop, my good fellow" he said.
"You must 60 and report to the Cap
tain. l have been watching you for
some time, and wondered what was
bringing you here. Your ship must be
a good one if you mistook His Majesty's
| sloop-of-war 'Saracen' for it."
II should not have made such a
blunder," said Tom, elf | had looked
out better" And he dejectedly fol-
lowed the officer to the quarterback.
The Captain heard his story, and
asked him good many questions.
what is the cargo Of your ship, the
'Amelia2' " he asked.
Nothing but stones and old iron.
answered Tom. "She's going North
for cargo, and sails in ballast. There
is nothing in our little village with
which she could load She came here
to reft."
1.-The Captain looked at the first Of
ticer, and said:
IF this boys story is true, the
Amelia would be no great prize
s'But how can you tell that it is
tl'ue?' said the other.
You find it out very soon if you
coult. look into her hold" said Tom.
He was about to say more, but the Cap
tain interrupted him.
How much water is there on your
bar at high tide?' he said.
Fourteen feet answered Tom.
That would be a tight scrape for the
'Saracen,' remarked the Captain to
his officer. "But she could do it,
'Oh yes, SIR" said the other, land
a couple of feet to spare"
The Captain then addressed Tom
again: 1.-The channel of the harbor runs
around the end of the island opposite
the town, does it not?" said he.
Eyes. SIR" answered Tom.
"Are YOU familiar with the inlet and
the channel?" asked the Captain.
.'Oh, yes, sir" said Tom. 81 have
piloted vessels in three or four times. "
swell, sir said the Captain, g If l
make you handsome present, will you
pilot the 'Saracen' into the harbor?'
bring a British vessel into our har-
bor%' cried Tom. Il will never dc
that. Our bar and our crooked chan
mel, as father has often said are better
for us than a fort; and | am not the
man to show an enemys vessel the way
through"
"suppose | were to order you to be
tied up and logged until you should
agree to do what | ask?' said the Cap
tain.
"You may tie up and fog said
Tom, but l will never pilot you"
The Captain looked at Tom atten
} lively. II don't think ! will trust
: you,H he said Even with pistol al
your head, l believe you would run me
aground. 1 may not be able to take
, any prizes in your harbor, and doubt
if there is anything there worth taking
But an able bodied young fellow Like
you is no slight prize, and so | viii
: take you. You may 60 forward ane
Mr.. Burns will assign you to watch
Tom went forward with the officer
thinking sadly enough of the dreadful
scrape he had got into; but determin
ing in his heart that he would nevel
assist the crew in fighting one OF hi
country's ships. They might kill hin
first. He would do his duty as a sea
, man in working the ship, but he woult
never fight. 8 On that point he was de
termined.
AS soon as he had an opportunity
Tom went to one of the sailors and said
That little boat that I came in be
lonos to Jacob Hopkins, and L "a ikest'
getSit back TO shimsif ] could" - sg~rs"
ssYou needn' t trouble yourself abou
the little boat, 'a'ssaid the sailor laugh
: ing ''Mr. Burns ordered that Gu
adrift. It wasn'ts worth shoistini
aboard r; =.
Tom was very. sorry that he ha
caused Jacob Hopkins the loss of hi
a boat, but he was still more sorry TO
!. the fate that had befallen him.. II
Q went about his work quietly and sadly
= but he did what he was told to do, an
tha nnffioars fnund no faI11t with him I
\ suited him much better to work, eve
a on the ship Of his enemies, chan to-
n hut up as a prisoner Of wal; and, he
foreslong, he became moderatelyscon
Q tented with his lot.
e He was never called upon to hel
finht his conntrymen. In a few month