This point blank shot might have saved me, when, as if Providence had determined to make my attempt at lying a total failure, one of them detected a glittering anchor button, which had contrived to get rid of the covering placed over it by the fingers of the widow. Pointing it out to the others, he said, “Where did you get that English button? Did you pick it up in Philadelphia?”
This was a shot which raked me fore and aft. I hauled down my colors and stood silent. The officers laughed heartily as one of them said, “Go below, my lad; you will make a pretty good Yankee.”
Through all this procedure the reader will perceive how perfect was the disregard of truth among all parties, from my humble self to the officers, who were evidently rather pleased than otherwise at my attempt to pass for an American. Such an absence of moral rectitude is deplorable; it exhibits the unfitness of the parties for a mansion in His kingdom who is a God of truth: it lays the foundation for a mutual distrust and suspicion among men, and it leaves the offender to meet a fearful weight of responsibility in the day that shall try every man’s work. I am thankful that the influences of Christianity have fallen upon me since that time, in such abundance as to renew the spirit of my mind, and to fill me with abhorrence towards a violation of truth.
The next morning I and my companion, who had escaped the ordeal that had proved too much for me, were summoned to go ashore to the rendezvous, that we might sign the ship’s articles; or, in sailor phrase, get shipped. The officer of the watch shouted, “Boatswain’s mate!”
“Sir,” answered a deep, gruff voice.
“Pipe away the cutter,” said the officer.
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“Pass the word for James Wilson and William Harper.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
Then followed a loud, shrill whistle, accompanied with the cry of, “Away, there, cutters, away!” We were also summoned to appear, and told to take our seats in the cutter, which by this time lay alongside, manned by her crew of six men, who sat each with his oar elevated in the air, waiting the word of command. We were soon seated, the lieutenant passed the words, “Let fall, and give way;” the oars fell into the water with admirable precision, and away we flew towards the shore.