orders, and is practically
acquainted with the mechanism of the gun. Lieutenant Crosstrees is
a very gallant officer. One of us always remains on board while the
other is on shore. He would think nothing of blowing me up, so long
as he obeyed orders."

"I was going on to observe," I continued, "that though this power
is in your hands, and in that of your country, the exercise of it
betrays not only tyranny of disposition, but poorness and meanness
of spirit." I here bowed first to the one gentleman, and then to the
other. "It is simply a contest between brute strength and mental
energy."

"If you will look at the contests throughout the world," said Sir
Ferdinando, "you will generally find that the highest respect is paid
to the greatest battalions."

"What world-wide iniquity such a speech as that discloses!" said I,
still turning myself to the captain; for though I would have crushed
them both by my words had it been possible, my dislike centred itself
on Sir Ferdinando. He was a man who looked as though everything were
to yield to his meagre philosophy; and it seemed to me as though he
enjoyed the exercise of the tyranny which chance had put into his
power.

"You will allow me to suggest," said he, "that that is a matter of
opinion. In the meantime, my friend Captain Battleax has below a
guard of fifty marines, who will pay you the respect of escorting you
on board with two of the ship's cutters. Everything that can be there
done for your accommodation and comfort,--every luxury which can be
provided to solace the President of this late republic,--shall be
afforded. But, Mr Neverbend, it is necessary that you should go to
England; and allow me to assure you, that your departure can neither
be prevented nor delayed by uncivil words spoken to the future
Governor of this prosperous colony."

"My words are, at any rate, less uncivil than Captain Battleax's
marines; and they have, I submit, been made necessary by the conduct
of your country in this matter. Were I to comply with your orders
without expressing my own opinion, I should seem to have done so
willingly hereafter. I say that the English Government is a tyrant,
and that you are the instruments of its tyranny. Now you can proceed
to do your work."

"That having all been pleasantly settled," said Sir Ferdinando, with
a smile, "I will ask you to read the document by which this duty has
been placed in my hands." He then took out of his pocket a letter
addr