"What's this I hear of you, Tom?" demanded the captain, as he reined in
his horse. "They say you have joined the company."

"Yes, sir. I have."

"Bravo! my boy. Good on your head! You ought to go out as a brigadier
general. What does your mother say?"

"I have her written consent in my pocket."

"All right. God bless you, my boy!" said the old salt, as he started his
horse.

"Thank you, sir. There's only one thing that troubles me."

"Eh? What's that, my boy?" demanded Captain Barney as he reined up the
horse again.

"I suppose you have heard of my scrape at Squire Pemberton's the other
night."

"Yes; and shiver my timbers if I didn't want to keelhaul the old traitor
when I heard of it."

"I don't care anything about the scrape, sir; only I'm afraid the squire
will bother my mother when I'm gone," said Thomas, with some diffidence.

"If he does, he'll settle the matter with Jack Barney," replied the
captain, decidedly.