rn to the
continent; and his Majesty compassionates his situation too much to
offer any obstacle to his doing so.'

'Is this real?' said Redgauntlet. 'Can you mean this? Am I--are all, are
any of these gentlemen at liberty, without interruption, to embark in
yonder brig, which, I see, is now again approaching the shore?'

'You, sir--all--any of the gentlemen present,' said the general,--'all
whom the vessel can contain, are at liberty to embark uninterrupted
by me; but I advise none to go off who have not powerful reasons
unconnected with the present meeting, for this will be remembered
against no one.'

'Then, gentlemen,' said Redgauntlet, clasping his hands together as the
words burst from him, 'the cause is lost for ever!'

General Campbell turned away to the window, as if to avoid hearing what
they said. Their consultation was but momentary; for the door of escape
which thus opened was as unexpected as the exigence was threatening.

'We have your word of honour for our protection,' said Sir Richard
Glendale, 'if we dissolve our meeting in obedience to your summons?'

'You have, Sir Richard,' answered the general.

'And I also have your promise,' said Redgauntlet, 'that I may go on
board yonder vessel, with any friend whom I may choose to accompany me?'

Not only that, Mr. Ingoldsby--or I WILL call you Mr. Redgauntlet once
more--you may stay in the offing for a tide, until you are joined by any
person who may remain at Fairladies. After that, there will be a sloop
of war on the station, and I need not say your condition will then
become perilous.'

'Perilous it should not be, General Campbell,' said Redgauntlet, 'or
more perilous to others than to us, if others thought as I do even in
this extremity.'

'You forget yourself, my friend,' said the unhappy Adventurer; you
forget that the arrival of this gentleman only puts the cope-stone on
our already adopted resolution to abandon our bull-fight or by whatever
other wild name this headlong enterprise may be termed. I bid you
farewell, unfriendly friends--I bid you farewell,' (bowing to the
general) 'my friendly foe--I leave this strand as I landed upon it,
alone and to return no more!'

'Not alone,' said Redgauntlet, 'while there is blood in the veins of my
father's son.'

'Not alone,' said the other gentlemen present, stung with feelings which
almost overpowered the better reasons under which they had acted. 'We
will not disown our principles, or see you