By the time Mike had got through this sentiment he was on the staging, where he stood hitching up his nether garment, with a meaning grin on his face that gave a peculiar expression of heavy cunning to the massive jaw and capacious mouth, blended with an honesty and good-nature that the well-meaning fellow was seldom without when he addressed any of the captain’s family.  Joyce glanced at the captain, expecting orders to seize the returned run-away; but his superior read at once good faith in the expression of his old retainer’s countenance.

“You have occasioned us a good deal of surprise, O’Hearn, on more accounts than one,” observed the captain, who thought it prudent to assume more sternness of manner than his feelings might have actually warranted.  “You have not only gone off yourself, but you have suffered your prisoner to escape with you.  Then your manner of getting into the house requires an explanation.  I shall hear what you have to say before I make up my mind as to your conduct.”

“Is it spake I will?—­That will I, and as long as it plase yer honour to listen.  Och!  Isn’t that Saucy Nick a quare one?  Divil burn me if I thinks the likes of him is to be found in all Ameriky, full as it is of Injins and saucy fellies!  Well, now, I suppose, sarjeant, ye’ve set me down as sin riding off with Misther Joel and his likes, if ye was to open yer heart, and spake yer thrue mind?”

“You have been marked for a deserter, O’Hearn, and one, too, that deserted from post.”

“Post!  Had I been that, I shouldn’t have stirred, and ye’d be wanting in the news I bring ye from the Majjor, and Mr. Woods, and the savages, and the rest of the varmints.”

“My son!—­Is this possible, Michael?  Have you seen him, or can you tell us anything of his state?”

Mike now assumed a manner of mysterious importance, laying a finger on his nose, and pointing towards the sentinel and Jamie.

“It’s the sarjeant that I considers as one of the family,” said the county Leitrim-man, when his pantomime was through, “but it isn’t dacent to be bawling out sacrets through a whole nighbourhood; and then, as for Ould Nick—­or Saucy Nick, or whatever ye calls him—­Och! isn’t he a pratthy Injin!  Ye’ll mar-r-ch t’rough Ameriky, and never see his aiquel!”

“This will never do, O’Hearn.  Whatever you have to say must be said clearly, and in the simplest manner.  Follow to the library, where I will hear your report.  Joyce, you will accompany us.”

“Let him come, if he wishes to hear wonderful achaivements!” answered Mike, making way for the captain to descend the steps; then following himself, talking as he went.  “He’ll niver brag of his campaigns ag’in to the likes of me, seeing that I’ve outdone him, ten—­ay, forty times, and boot.  Och! that Nick’s a divil, and no har-r-m said!”

“In the first place, O’Hearn,” resumed the captain, as soon as the three were alone in the library—­“you must explain your own desertion.”