“Joel,” observed the captain, when the three men were near enough to hear his orders, “this great change in the times will render some changes in our means of defence prudent, if not necessary.”

“Does the captain s’pose the people of the colony will attack us?” asked the wily overseer, with emphasis.

“Perhaps not the people of the colony, Mr. Strides, for we have not yet declared ourselves their enemies; but there are other foes, who are more to be apprehended than the people of the colony.”

“I should think the king’s troops not likely to trouble themselves to ventur’ here—­the road might prove easier to come than to return.  Besides, our plunder would scarce pay for such a march.”

“Perhaps not—­but there never has yet been a war in these colonies that some of the savage tribes were not engaged in it, before the whites had fairly got themselves into line.”

“Do you really think, sir, there can be much serious danger of that!” exclaimed the major, in surprise.

“Beyond a question, my son.  The scalping-knife will be at work in six months, if it be not busy already, should one-half of your reports and rumours turn out to be true.  Such is American history.”

“I rather think, sir, your apprehensions for my mother and sisters may mislead you.  I do not believe the American authorities will ever allow themselves to be driven into a measure so perfectly horrible and unjustifiable; and were the English ministry sufficiently cruel, or unprincipled, to adopt the policy, the honest indignation of so humane a people would be certain to drive them from power.”

As the major ceased speaking, he turned and caught the expression of Joel’s countenance, and was struck with the look of intense interest with which the overseer watched his own warm and sincere manner.

“Humanity is a very pretty stalking-horse for political orations, Bob,” quietly returned the father; “but it will scarcely count for much with an old campaigner.  God send you may come out of this war with the same ingenuous and natural feelings as you go into it.”

“The major will scarce dread the savages, should he be on the side of his nat’ral friends!” remarked Joel; “and if what he says about the humanity of the king’s advisers be true, he will be safe from them.”

“The major will be on the side to which duty calls him, Mr. Strides, if it may be agreeable to your views of the matter,” answered the young man, with a little more hauteur than the occasion required.

The father felt uneasy, and he regretted that his son had been so indiscreet; though he saw no remedy but by drawing the attention of the men to the matter before them.