cried the other. 'I'd never have
treated those fellows other than as bandits and freebooters. I'd have
hanged them as highwaymen. Theirs was less war than rapine; but what
could you expect? I have been assured that Humbert's force consisted of
little other than liberated felons and galley-slaves--the refuse of the
worst population of Europe!'

Distracted with the terrible tidings I had overheard--overwhelmed with
the sight of the ships, now glistening like bright specks on the verge
of the horizon, I forgot my own position--my safety--everything but the
insult thus cast upon my gallant comrades.

'Whoever said so was a liar, and a base coward, to boot!' cried I,
springing down from the height and confronting them both where they
stood. They started back, and, seizing their guns, assumed an attitude
of defence, and then, quickly perceiving that I was alone--for the boy
had taken to flight as fast as he could--they stood regarding me with
faces of intense astonishment.

'Yes,' said I, still boiling with passion, 'you are two to one, on your
own soil besides, the odds you are best used to; and yet I repeat it,
that he who asperses the character of General Humbert's force is a
liar.'

'He's French.'

'No, he's Irish,' muttered the elder.

'What signifies my country, sirs,' cried I passionately, 'if I demand
retraction for a falsehood.'

'It signifies more than you think of, young man,' said the elder calmly,
and without evincing even the slightest irritation in his manner. 'If
you be a Frenchman born, the lenity of our Government accords you the
privilege of a prisoner of war. If you be only French by adoption, and a
uniform, a harsher destiny awaits you.'

'And who says I am a prisoner yet?' asked I, drawing myself up, and
staring them steadily in the face.

'We should be worse men, and poorer patriots than you give us credit
for, or we should be able to make you so,' said he quietly; 'but this is
no time for ill-temper on either side. The expedition has failed. Well,
if you will not believe me, read that. There, in that paper, you will
see the official account of General Humbert's surrender at Boyle. The
news is already over the length and breadth of the island; even if you
only landed last night I cannot conceive how you should be ignorant of
it!' I covered my face with my hands to hide my emotion; and he went on:
'If you be French you have only to claim and prove your nationality, and
you partake the fortun