The Red Cloud chief., 1881-10-20
On that point he was d.

never fight. On that point he was d.
termined.
As scou as he had m opportunity.
Tom went 10 a OF the sailors and said:
That little boa, that ] came In be-
longs Z o jacob Hopkins. and Id like To
get il back to Inn II | could"
"You neednt trouble yourself about
the little boat" said the sailor. laugh
ing. MIR. Burns ordered that cut
aidft- II wasn't worth hosting
aboard"
Tom was very cory that he had
caused Jacob Hopkins the loss Of his
boat. but he was still more sorry for
the fa.e that had besalien him. He
went about his work quietly and sadly.
but he did what he was told to do. and
the officers found no fault with him. IL
suited him much better to work. oven
on the ship IL his enemies. than 20 bs
shut up IS a prisoner OF war; and. be-
fore long. he became moderately con-
tented with his lot
He was never called upon to help
fight his countrymen. In q few months
the ..Saracenr sailed into a neutral
port, where there was an American war
vessel. having on board . couple OF
British sailors who had been taken
prisoners. For one Of these Tom Was
exchanged. and he regularly enlisted on
board the United States ship, on which
he remained until the close OF the war.
The vessel had nc engagements with
British men-of-war. but she captured
several OF the enem-'s merchant ships.
49, - r.. aa Iauns1I ArA
was quite a large sum of prize-money
due To him.
Tom lost no time in making his way
down TO his native town. de ound his
parents alive and well, although they
had been in great grief ever since their
son rowed away in the night To go on
board the Amelia" They had never
known for certain what had become OF
him, although many persons supposed
that he might have been captured by an
English war vessel which had been seen
in the ofing. aud which sailed away be-
fore daylight on the night of Toms dis
appearance. His parents earnestly
hoped that this was the case, for 1t
would be much better u have had their
son taken prisoner than to have had
him drowned.
Tom soon heard the reason why he
could not find the "Amelia." A man
living on the island opposite the town
had discovered the British vessel. and.
while Tom was spending the evening
with his parents, had rowed over to the
amelia to tell the Captain of the
danger which awaited him outside the
harbor. The Amelia" Immediately
weighed anchor. and, there being a IA
yorable breeze, she sailed past the town
to a point where she would be tOlerably
safe from an attack by the enemy's
boats. The town was greatly excited
by the news. and Jacob Hopkins. sup
posing Tom knew all about the matter,
had never thought Of rowing him. over
TO the "Amelia," which would certainly
now be in no hurry to sail.
Toms prize-mo:ey amounted to
much more than he could possibly have
made by n dozen voyages in the
"Amel a." and he was not only ab.e to
make his parents very comfortable. but
seriously thought of becoming part
owner OF a small coasting vessel This
plan he, in time. accomplished. and he
commanded his own schooner for many
years.
But, before starting on his new career.
| Tom took a holiday, and spent many an
hour among the boats along shore, tell
inp his father and the old men of the
town the stories Of his adventures.
One OF the first persons he went to
see was Jacob Hopkins. OF course
thew had met before, since Toms re-
turn, but now he came on business.
Jacob" said he, Il want To paw
YOU for your skiif. which | lost when ]
went away from here"
You didn't lose it. Three days aft
er YOU left, | found it on the beach rs
good rs new"
Pm glad of that" said Tom; ''but
didn't the empty boats return a the
old peoples"
..They never heard of it. l knew
they'd be dreadfully scared to know
that the boat. in which their son went
away had been cast up empty on the
beach, so | rowed her here ut night.
and put her in a shed in my yard, where
she has been wei since, and I've never
said n word about it."
..You are a good, kind fellow" said
Tom, pressing Jacobs hand; "but
your skif must be in a sorry condition
by this time"
So saying. Tom walked over to the
shed where the boat had been slowed
away. He found it dry. cracked and
practically useless. Again thanking
Jacob for sacrificing his boat to spare
the feelings of two old people. Ton
walked away.
But. in a few days. Jacob Hopkins
was the owner of the best row-boat that
could be bought in that old seaport
town.-FranE X. Stockton, in 81.
Nicholas.