Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/126

 "More than you may think," said I. "Have you heard the news as you came along?"

At the word "news," the poor man's face became the colour of one in the jaundice.

"What news?" said he, in a state of trepidation that hardly admitted of utterance.

"Why, only that your president, Mr. Madison, has thought fit to declare war against England."

"You're only a joking?" said the captain. "I give you my word of honour I am serious," said I; "and your vessel is a prize to his Britannic majesty's ship, the ——."

The poor man fetched a sigh from the waistband of his trowsers. "I am a ruined man," said he. "I only wish I'd known a little sooner of the war you talk about: I've got two nice little guns there forward; you shouldn't a had me so easily."

I smiled at his idea of resistance against a fast-sailing frigate of fifty guns; bat left him in the full enjoyment of his conceit, and changing