“I swear it,” the man replied, whereupon I began loosening his bonds, and that the poor fellow had suffered not a little by being thus held in one position so long, could be seen when it became absolutely necessary for him to chafe his limbs vigorously before it was possible to use them. Having thus formerly surrendered himself as a prisoner of war, the lobster-back proved to be a very companionable fellow, and before he had been at liberty an hour I found myself wondering how so decent, so cheery, and so seemingly friendly a man could have had it in his heart to take part in depriving the American colonists of their rights or their lives. It was while Abe and I were making ready a sumptuous meal, I slicing the salt pork while Abraham was frying ship’s biscuit, that I put into words for the Britisher’s benefit, the thoughts which had been in my mind, and it was after this fashion that he made answer: “I did not enlist to deprive any man of his rights, an’, once enlisted, it did not come within my line of duty to question whether the king was actin’ justly or unjustly. The English Government has said that you colonists must do certain things, an’ you’ve allowed that you won’t; it’s what you might call a family quarrel, an’ we who are servin’ his majesty haven’t any personal feelin’ in the matter, more than a constable might have who was called in by a father to check a row between children.” “Are you meaning to say that the king stands to us of the colonies like a father?” Abraham asked with no little heat, and the Britisher replied with a laugh: “I don’t see how else you can put it. It wasn’t so long ago when all hands of you were English, an’ lookin’ to England for whatsoever was needed. Now a difference of opinion has come up. Of course you claim to be in the right, an’ I allow the king is claimin’ the same thing; however, you won’t give him credit for anythin’ except tryin’ to grind you down. So far as the outcome of this ’ere trouble is concerned, I don’t care a farthin’ either way; but I’m puttin’ it to you, lads, that if you’d taken the king’s shillin’ an’ sworn to serve him, whether you wouldn’t do so accordin’ to the best of your abilities? We of the rank and file are doin’ just the same as you lads would, in case there was a riot in New York, let us say, an’ the officers of your army told you to turn to an’ help put down the rioters. Wouldn’t you do it? Of course you would, unless you were blasted duffers. You see, it is altogether owing to which side you’re on, that puts a different color to the business. Just now I’m a prisoner of war, an’ can’t for the life of me see why we shouldn’t be just as chummy, until my parole has come to an end, as if there’d never been any trouble betwixt the king and the colonists.”