ect?" she replied. "Is Mr. Seymour seriously wounded?"

"No, madam," answered that young man, from the carriage; "but I fear me
my cause makes me an unwelcome visitor."

"Nay, not so, sir. No wounded helpless man craving assistance can ever
be unwelcome at my--at the home of the Talbots, whatever his creed.
How died Blodgett, did you say, Hilary?"

"Fighting for his master, at the foot of the path, shot by those
ruffians."

"So may it be to all enemies of the king," she replied; "but after all
he was a brave man. 'T is a pity he fell in so poor a cause."

And that was thy epitaph, old soldier; that thy requiem, honest
Blodgett,--from friend and foe alike,--"He was a brave man."

BOOK II

KNIGHTS ERRANT OF THE SEA

CHAPTER XI

_Captain John Paul Jones_

"You would better spread a little more canvas, Mr. Seymour. I think we
shall do better under the topgallantsails. We have no time to lose."

"Ay, ay, sir," replied the young executive officer; and then lifting
the trumpet to his lips, he called out with a powerful voice, "Lay
aloft and loose the topgallantsails! Man the topgallant sheets and
halliards!"

The crew, both watches being on deck, were busy with the various duties
rendered necessary by the departure of a ship upon a long cruise, and
were occupied here and there with the different details of work to be
done when a ship gets under way. Some of them, their tasks
accomplished for the moment, were standing on the forecastle, or
peering through the gun ports, gazing at the city, with the tall spire
of Christ Church and the more substantial elevation of the building
even then beginning to be known as Independence Hall, rising in the
background beyond the shipping and over the other buildings which they
were so rapidly leaving. In an instant the quiet deck became a scene
of quick activity, as the men left their tasks and sprang to their
appointed stations. The long coils of rope were thrown upon the deck
and seized by the groups of seamen detailed for the purpose; while the
rigging shook under the quick steps of the alert topmen springing up
the ratlines, swarming over the tops, and laying out on the yards,
without a thought of the giddy elevation, in their intense rivalry each
to be first.

"The main royal also, Mr. Seymour," continued the captain. "I think
she will bear it; 'tis a new and good stick."

"Ay, ay, sir. Main topgallant yard there."

"Sir?"

"Aloft, one of you, a