olid columns--but a kind of
helter-skelter warfare, like a reel or a country-dance at a village inn,
while the house is on fire.

ADELA. Indeed?

PENDRAGON. All true, I assure you. Why, do you know, ma'am, that one of
your common soldiers was amusing himself with shooting at me for several
minutes, although he saw from my air, and my dodging, that I was a man
of fashion? Monstrous assurance! wasn't it?

ADELA. Why ay, it was rather impertinent for a common soldier to attempt
to bring down a man of fashion.

LAROLE. Oui--it is dam impertinent, mai par example, de littel bullet of
von common soldat, he sometime kill von great general.

PENDRAGON. Pray, ma'am, will you permit me to ask, when you arrived from
England, and what family has the honour to boast of so beautiful a
representative?

ADELA. Sir, I am not of England, I stand on my native soil.

PENDRAGON. Oh.

ADELA. And much as I esteem English women for their many amiable
qualities, I hope that worth and virtue are not wholly centered in that
country.

PENDRAGON. Why, 'pon my soul, ma'am, though it is not fashionable this
year to be prejudiced, yet were I to admit that I saw any beauty or
elegance in America, my Bond-Street friends would cut me--split me!

ADELA. I cannot admire their candour. Merit is the exclusive property of
no country, and to form a just estimate of our own advantages, we should
be ever prepared to admit the advantages possessed by others.

_Enter a SOLDIER._

SOLDIER. We have surprised and made captive the celebrated Indian chief,
who fought so desperately against us.

GENERAL. Bring him before us. [_Exit SOLDIER._] He has long been the
terror of the neighbourhood, and the crafty foe of our country.

_Enter SOLDIERS with the INDIAN CHIEF._

INDIAN. Who among you is the chief of these pale-faced enemies of our
race?

GENERAL. I am he.

INDIAN. 'Tis well, sir; behold in me your captive, who has fallen into
your power after a resistance becoming a warrior. I am ready to meet
that death which I know awaits me.

GENERAL. Chief, your fears are groundless; we intend you no harm, but by
our example, teach you the blessings of valour and mercy united.

INDIAN. Wherefore show me mercy? I ask it not of you.--Think you that I
cannot bear the flames? that a warrior shrinks from the uplifted
tomahawk? Try me--try how a great soul can smile on death. Or do you
hope that I will meanly beg a life, which fate and evil fortune has
throw