Joel placed his elbow on his knee, and his chin in the palm of his hand, and pondered on what had been suggested, with seeming good-will, and great earnestness.

“If any one could be found venturesome enough to go out with a flag,” he at length remarked, “the whole truth might be come at, in a few minutes.”

“And who shall I employ?  Cheerfully would I go myself, were such a step military, or at all excusable in one in my situation.”

“If the likes of myself will sarve yer honour’s turn,” put in Mike, promptly, and yet with sufficient diffidence as regarded his views of his own qualifications—­“there’ll be nobody to gainsay that same; and it isn’t wilcome that I nade tell you, ye’ll be to use me as ye would yer own property.”

“I hardly think Mike would answer,” observed Joel, not altogether without a sneer.  “He scurce knows an Indian from a white man; when it comes to the paint, it would throw him into dreadful confusion.”

“If ye thinks that I am to be made to believe in any more Ould Nicks, Misther Strhides, then ye’re making a mistake in my nature.  Let but the captain say the word, and I’ll go to the mill and bring in a grist of them same, or l’ave my own body for toll.”

“I do not doubt you in the least, Mike,” captain Willoughby mildly observed; “but there will be no occasion, just now, of your running any such risks.  I shall be able to find other truce-bearers.”

“It seems the captain has his man in view,” Joel said, keenly eyeing his master.  “Perhaps ’tis the same I saw out with him last night.  That’s a reliable person, I do s’pose.”

“You have hit the nail on the head.  It was the man who was out last night, at the same time I was out myself, and his name is Joel Strides.”

“The captain’s a little musical, this morning—­waal—­if go I must, as there was two on us out, let us go to these savages together.  I saw enough of that man, to know he is reliable; and if he’ll go, I’ll go.”

“Agreed”—­said Robert Willoughby, stepping into the library—­“I take you at your word, Mr. Strides; you and I will run what risks there may be, in order to relieve this family from its present alarming state.”

The captain was astounded, though he knew not whether to be displeased or to rejoice.  As for Mike, his countenance expressed great dissatisfaction; for he ever fancied things were going wrong so long as Joel obtained his wishes.  Strides, himself, threw a keen glance at the stranger, recognised him at a glance, and had sufficient self-command to conceal his discovery, though taken completely by surprise.  The presence of the major, however, immediately removed all his objections to the proposed expedition; since, should the party prove friendly to the Americans, he would be safe on his own account; or, should it prove the reverse, a king’s officer could not fail to be a sufficient protection.

“The gentleman’s a total stranger to me,” Joel hypocritically resumed; “but as the captain has belief in him, I must have the same.  I am ready to do the ar’nd, therefore, as soon as it is agreeable.”