“You don't know how you disappointed the people here. Your travelling companion had given them to understand that you were some other Burke, whose alliance they have been long desiring. In fact, they were certain of it; but,” said he, starting up hastily, “it is far better as it is. I suspect, my young friend, the way in which you have been entrapped. Don't fear; we are perfectly safe here. I know all the hackneyed declamations about wrongs and slavery that are in vogue; and I know, too, how timidly they shrink from every enterprise by which their cause might be honorably, boldly asserted. I am myself another victim to the assumed patriotism of this party. I came over here two years since to take the command. A command,--but in what an army! An undisciplined rabble, without arms, without officers, without even clothes; their only notion of warfare, a midnight murder, or a reckless and indiscriminate slaughter. The result could not be doubtful,--utter defeat and discomfiture. My countrymen, disgusted at the scenes they witnessed, and ashamed of such _confrerie_; accepted the amnesty, and returned to France. I--” Here he hesitated, and blushed slightly; after which he resumed:-- “I yielded to a credulity for which there was neither reason nor excuse: I remained. Promises were made me, oaths were sworn, statements were produced to show how complete the organization of the insurgents really was, and to what purpose it might be turned. I drew up a plan of a campaign; corresponded with the different leaders; encouraged the wavering; restrained the headstrong; confirmed the hesitating; and, in fact, for fourteen months held them together, not only against their opponents, but their own more dangerous disunion. And the end is,--what think you? I only learned it yesterday, on my return from an excursion in the West which nearly cost me my life. I was concealed in a cabin in woman's clothes--” “At Malone's, in the Glen?” “Yes; how did you know that?” “I was there. I saw you captured and witnessed your escape.” “_Diantre_! How near it was!” He paused for a second, and I took the opportunity to recount to him the dreadful issue of the scene, with the burning of the cabin. He grew sickly pale as I related the circumstance; then flushing as quickly, he exclaimed,-- “We must look to this; these people must be taken care of, I 'll speak to Dalton; you know him?” “No; I know not one here.” “It was he who met you last night; he is a noble fellow. But stay; there 's a knock at the door.” He approached the fireplace, and taking down the pistols which hung beside it, walked slowly towards the door. “'Tis Darby, sir,--Darby the Blast, coming to speak a word to Mister Burke,” said a voice from without. The door was opened at once, and Darby entered. Making a deep reverence to the French officer, in whose presence he seemed by no means at his ease. Darby dropped his voice to its most humble cadence, and said,--