ight,' said Humbert, in a half-whisper to
Conolly, 'we are as little expected by our friends as by our enemies;
and that there is little or no force in arms among the Irish.'

'There are plenty ready to fight, he says, sir, but none accustomed to
discipline.'

A gesture, half contemptuous, was all Humbert's reply, and he now turned
away and walked the deck alone and in silence. Meanwhile the bustle and
movements of the crew continued, and soon the great ships, their sails
all coiled, lay tranquilly at anchor in a sea without a ripple.

'A boat is coming out from the shore, general,' whispered the lieutenant
on duty.

'Ask the fisherman if he knows it.'

Conolly drew the peasant's attention to the object, and the man, after
looking steadily for a few seconds, became terribly agitated.

'What is it, man--can't you tell who it is?' asked Conolly.

But although so composed before, so ready with all his replies, he
seemed now totally unmanned--his frank and easy features being struck
with the signs of palpable terror. At last, and with an effort that
bespoke all his fears, he muttered--' 'Tis the king's boat is coming,
and 'tis the collector's on board of her!'

'Is that all?' cried Conolly, laughing, as he translated the reply to
the general.

'Won't you say that I'm a prisoner, sir; won't you tell them that you
"took" me?' said the fisherman, in an accent of fervent entreaty, for
already his mind anticipated the casualty of a failure, and what might
betide him afterwards; but no one now had any care for him or his
fortunes--all was in preparation to conceal the national character of
the ships. The marines were ordered below, and all others whose uniforms
might betray their country, while the English colours floated from every
mast-head.

General Humbert, with Serasin and two others, remained on the poop-deck,
where they continued to walk, apparently devoid of any peculiar interest
or anxiety in the scene. Madgett alone betrayed agitation at this
moment, his pale face was paler than ever, and there seemed to me a kind
of studious care in the way he covered himself up with his cloak, so
that not a vestige of his uniform could be seen.

The boat now came close under our lee, and Conolly being ordered to
challenge her in English, the collector, standing up in the stern,
touched his hat, and announced his rank. The gangway-ladder was
immediately lowered, and three gentlemen ascended the ship's side and
walked aft