Our adventurer made no reply, assenting to the truth of what the other had said by a simple inclination of his head.  They then resumed the walk to and fro in their narrow limits, neither manifesting, however, any anxiety to renew the discourse.

“We are in good condition for the alternative of flight or combat,” the Rover at length observed, while he cast a rapid look over the preparations which had been unostentatiously in progress from the moment when the officers dispersed.  “Now will I confess, Wilder, a secret pleasure in the belief that yonder audacious fool carries the boasted commission of the German who wears the Crown of Britain.  Should he prove more than man may dare attempt, I will flout him; though prudence shall check any further attempts; and, should he prove an equal, would it not gladden your eyes to see St. George come drooping to the water?”

“I thought that men in our pursuit left honour to silly heads, and that we seldom struck a blow that was not intended to ring on a metal more precious than iron.”

“’Tis the character the world gives; but I, for one, would rather lower the pride of the minions of King George than possess the power of unlocking his treasury!  Said I well, General?” he added, as the individual he named approached; “said I well, in asserting there was glorious pleasure in making a pennant trail upon the sea?”

“We fight for victory,” returned the martinet.  “I am ready to engage at a minute’s notice.”

“Prompt and decided, as a soldier.—­Now tell me, General, if Fortune, or Chance, or Providence, whichever of the powers you may acknowledge for a leader were to give you the option of enjoyments, in what would you find your deepest satisfaction?”

The soldier seemed to ruminate, ere he answered,——­

“I have often thought, that, were I commander of things on earth, I should, backed by a dozen of my stoutest bullies, charge at the door of that cave which was entered by the tailor’s boy, him they call Aladdin.”

“The genuine aspirations of a freebooter!  In such case, the magic trees would soon be disburdened of their fruit.  Still it might prove an inglorious victory, since incantations and charms are the weapons of the combatants.  Call you honour nothing?”

“Hum!  I fought for honour half of a reasonably long life, and found myself as light at the close of all my dangers as at the beginning.  Honour and I have shaken hands, unless it be the honour of coming off conqueror.  I have a strong disgust of defeat, but am always ready to sell the mere honour of the victory cheap.”

“Well, let it pass.  The quality of the service is much the same, find the motive where you will.—­How now! who has dared to let yonder top-gallant-sail fly?”