cover of canvas, spread over with a resinous substance, was made to fit at will upon this frame, and gave it the appearance of an Indian canoe. 3. He hoped to meet with an English ship that would take him on board, if he could only get near it in his frail little boat. In this hope he kept watching from the highest trees of the forest. At length, after waiting patiently for several days, his joy was very great to see an English brig in sight, and near enough to the shore to offer every chance of success. 4. He immediately descended from the tree, placed his little boat upon his shoulders, and ran towards the shore. But at the moment when he was launching it, he was discovered by the guards of the coast. They ran up to him, seized him as a spy, and took him into Boulogne. 5. This bold attempt of the sailor boy soon became generally known and talked about. All were eager to see the frail boat which Tom's skill had constructed, and it was shown as a sight in the courtyard belonging to the guard-house. Bonaparte visited it and ordered the poor youth to be brought into his presence. Tom was not afraid, but when asked by the Emperor how he had planned his escape in order to get to England, he told the exact truth in a straightforward way. 6. "You seem to have a great wish," said the Emperor, “to return to your own country." "Oh, sir," said he, "it is my poor mother I want to see once more before she dies. She is very ill, and has been a very kind, good mother to me. If I might but be taken over to see her and then brought back, I would gladly submit to any punishment for deserting my prison." 7. Bonaparte was quite touched and pleased with the youth's love for his parent, as well as with his patience and courage. He set him at liberty immediately, ordered that money and clothes should be given him, and that he should be sent to England on the very first opportunity, saying, "Such a good son must have a good mother." cover of canvas, spread over with a re stance, was made to fit at will upon this gave it the appearance of an Indian can 3. He hoped to meet with an Englis would take him on board, if he could on it in his frail little boat. In this ho watching from the highest trees of the length, after waiting patiently for seve joy was very great to see an English b and near enough to the shore to offer of success 4. He immediately descended from th his little boat upon his shoulders, and the shore. But at the moment when he ing it, he was discovered by the guards They ran up to him, seized him as a s him into Boulogne 5. This bold attempt of the sailor boy generally known and talked about. A to see the frail boat which Tom's s structed, and it was shown as a sight yard belonging to the guard-house visited it and ordered the poor youth into his presence, Tom was not aft asked by th Now he had p stay-ing straight-for-ward op-po-site sub-stance pris-on-er de-scend-ed pun-ish-ment ap-pear-ance gen-er-al-ly cour-age un-known high-est be-long-ing op-por-tu-ni-ty great-est pa-tient-ly plan-ned de-sert-ing Who was Bonaparte? Where was he then staying? What was the name of the English sailor boy who had been taken prisoner? When he escaped from the prison where did he hide himself? What did he make in this wood? What for? What was it made of? When did he take his boat to the shore? How? What happened just as he was launching it? What was done to the boy? Where was the boat put? Who ordered the youth to be brought into his presence? What did the emperor say to the boy? What did the boy reply? How was he treated? |