“You will at least own we were hard pressed, and might have fared worse than we did, had it not been for a certain colonial corps, that manfully withstood the savages?”

“Yes, sir; that I allow.  I remember the corps, and its commander, a colonel Washington, with your honour’s permission.”

“It was, indeed, Joyce.  And do you happen to know what has became of this same colonel Washington?”

“It never crossed my mind to inquire, sir, as he was a provincial.  I dare say he may have a regiment—­or even a brigade by this time; and good use would he make of either.”

“You have fallen far behind his fortunes, Joyce.  The man is a commander-in-chief—­a captain-general.”

“Your honour is jesting—­since many of his seniors are still living.”

“This is the man who leads the American armies, in the war with England.”

“Well, sir, in that way, he may indeed get a quick step, or two.  I make no doubt, sir, so good a soldier will know how to obey orders.”

“From which I infer you think him right, in the cause he has espoused?”

“Bless your honour, sir, I think nothing about it, and care nothing about it.  If the gentleman has taken service with congress, as they call the new head-quarters, why he ought to obey congress; and if he serve the king, His Majesty’s orders should be attended to.”

“And, in this crisis, serjeant, may I ask in what particular service you conceive yourself to be, just at the present moment?”

“Captain Willoughby’s, late of His Majesty’s —–­th Regiment of Foot, at your honour’s command.”

“If all act in the same spirit, Joyce, we shall do well enough at the Knoll, though twice as many savages brave us as are to be seen on yon rocks,” returned the captain, smiling.

“And why should they no?” demanded Jamie Allen, earnestly.  “Ye’re laird here, and we’ve no the time, nor the grace, to study and understand the orthodoxy and heterodoxy of the quarrel atween the House of Hanover and the houses of these Americans; so, while we a’stand up for the house and household of our old maister, the Lord will smile on our efforts, and lead us to victory.”

“Divil bur-r-n me, now, Jamie,” said Mike, who having seen the major to the gate, now followed his father, in readiness to do him any good turn that might offer—­“Divil bur-r-n me, now, Jamie, if ye could have said it better had ye just aised yer conscience to a proper praist, and were talking on a clane breast!  Stick up for the captain, says I, and the Lord will be of our side!”

The serjeant nodded approbation of this sentiment, and the younger Pliny, who happened also to be within hearing, uttered the sententious word “gosh” and clenched his fist, which was taken as proof of assent also, on his part.  But, the Americans of the guard, all of whom were the tools of Joel’s and the miller’s arts, manifested a coldness that even exceeded the usual cold manner of their