or us to
take a decided part, when we get better ideas of what is really going
on."

"Doesn't the captain, then, think matters have got far enough towards a
head, for the Americans to make up their minds conclusively, as it
might be?" put in Joel, in his very worst manner.

"I think it will be wiser for us all to remain where we are, and
_as_ we are. Civil war is a serious matter, Strides, And no man
should rush blindly into its dangers and difficulties."

Joel looked at the miller, and the miller looked at Joel. Neither said
anything, however, at the time. Jamie Allen had been _out_ in the
'forty-five,' when thirty years younger than he was that day; and
though he had his predilections and antipathies, circumstances had
taught him prudence.

"Will the parliament, think ye, no be bidding the soldiery to wark
their will on the puir unairmed folk, up and down the country, and they
not provided with the means to resist them?"

"Och, Jamie!" interrupted Mike, who did not appear to deem it necessary
to treat this matter with even decent respect--"where will be yer
valour and stomach, to ask sich a question as _that_! A man is
always reathy, when he has his ar-r-ms and legs free to act accorthing
to natur'. What would a rigiment of throops do ag'in the likes of sich
a place as this? I'm sure it's tin years I've been _in_ it, and
I've niver been able to find my way _out_ of it. Set a souldier to
rowing on the lake forenent the rising sun, with orders to get to the
other ind, and a pretty job he 'd make of marching on that same! I
knows it, for I've thried it, and it is not a new beginner that will
make much of _sich_ oare; barring he knows nothin' about them."

This was not very intelligible to anybody but Joel, and _he_ had
ceased to laugh at Mike's voyage, now, some six or seven years; divers
other disasters, all having their origin in a similar confusion of
ideas, having, in the interval, supplanted that calamity, as it might
be, _seriatim_. Still it was an indication that Mike might be set
down as a belligerent, who was disposed to follow his leader into the
battle, without troubling him with many questions concerning the merits
of the quarrel. Nevertheless, the county Leitrim-man acknowledged
particular principles, all of which had a certain influence on his
conduct, whenever he could get at them, to render them available. First
and foremost, he cordially disliked a Yankee; and he hated an
Englishman, both as an o