"Oh! Ah! Indeed!"
"I am Tommy Four Canoes, and I am Tommy Five Canoes, and I am Tommy Six Canoes, and I am Tommy Ten Canoes."
"Well, Tommy Ten Canoes," answered the Pilot, "don't you ever get into any trouble with the white people, because you might find yourself merely Tommy No Canoes."
Tommy was offended at the answer. He had no fears of such a fall from power, however.
The old Jamaica pilot had taken a boat and drifted down the Sowans River one long June day, when he chanced to discover Tommy and his five canoes. The canoes were hauled up on the shore under the cool trees which over-shadowed the water. The Pilot, who had with him three men, rowed boldly to the shore and surprised Tommy Ten Canoes, who had gone into the wood, leaving his weapons in one of his canoes.
The Pilot seized the canoe with the weapons and drew it from the shore.
Tommy Ten Canoes beheld the movement with astonishment. He called to the old Pilot, "I am Tommy Ten Canoes!"
"No, no," answered the Pilot. "You are Tommy Nine Canoes."
Presently the Pilot drew from the shore another canoe. Tommy called again:
"Don't you know me? I am—"