was admitted into the cave, when she discovered the general, who as suddenly started to his feet, and forgetting his promises to the angels, ran to the trap, and looking out into a sort of trench, demanded of the girl, (she was running terrified unto death,) that she stop and relieve him from his perilous position.  But the girl ran screaming to the inn, and bid the host get to the grotto, “for” said she, in her own tongue, “I saw the devil in it, and he is surely the devil, for my eyes are good, and he looks exactly as father Segong describes him.”

The host and several of the officers, swearing to have vengeance of the perpetrators of so foul a deed, hastened to the grotto, tore away the barricades, and affecting great indignation at the insult offered their representative, set him free.  Indeed he had no sooner sallied forth than they beset him with offers of assistance to ferret out and hang the robbers, who they had not a doubt were the authors of this grave attempt on his life.  They also vied with each other in offering him their regrets, which were bestowed with so much apparent sincerity that he was almost moved to tears, and at once set himself down as a man in no want of warm and true-hearted friends.  “Verily, gentlemen, I thought my end was come, but my courage was not shaken a whit; I just resigned myself, for the soldier who fears death deserves a good hanging.  But, pray Mr. Landlord, for you are no fool, what sort of a place do you call that!  And if you say it was robbers who played me this dirty trick, why, I am content; but I have a notion that the priests know something about it, and in truth took this method of being rid of me, as well as getting a job at praying me into a better world.”  The general said this with so much simplicity of manner that the officers were astonished at his self-complacency.  As to the host, he replied with becoming gravity, assuring the general that it was no trick of the priests, who were good and holy men, but of the Tutack robbers, who came from a neighboring country, and were much given to carrying off travellers of distinction, for whose ransom they demanded large sums.  “If you will but give me the name of this country,” interposed one of the officers, “we will sail there with the frigate, and take revenge for this insult offered to our representative; yes, we will blow down every town on the seaboard.”

“If there be towns to blow down, the order must come from me, gentlemen.  But we will let that matter rest until I get my army,” rejoined the general, rubbing his eyes, and continuing to disfigure his face by mixing the colors with which they had painted it.

They had now reached the inn when they assisted him in washing his face, which they swore the bats had sadly disfigured.  They also convinced him that they had been since grey dawn, searching the country round for him, which increased his confidence in their sincerity.  And when he was restored to his natural brightness, and felt within himself that his dignity had not received the slightest damage, and indeed that such small misfortunes in no way interfered with his capacity to make great treaties in behalf of his country, the officers escorted him to the house of good father Segong, and then took a final leave of him.  Not a word did they lisp concerning what had befallen his secretary.