ridden, not directly for the
hat, but to one side until close upon it, then, turning his horse, he
went down at the same moment, seized the plume of the hat, regained his
upright attitude, and came smiling back, though the horse, not accustomed
to such performances, was snorting and bounding like a deer.

All hands were delighted, and Grace shot out to Sedgwick such a look of
pride and love that his heart beat a tattoo for a quarter of an hour.

The officer who owned the saddle was most profuse in his expressions
of delight. "Give up America, my friend," he said; "come and be an
Englishman and join my regiment. We will get you a commission, and supply
every chance for promotion."

Sedgwick thanked him, and assured him that he would duly consider the
offer.

The old English Colonel took a great fancy to Sedgwick. After dinner, the
day of the ride, he sought him out, and they conversed together for two
or three hours; or, rather, the Colonel talked and Sedgwick listened. The
Colonel had been sent on many a service by his government; he was a keen
observer, had good descriptive powers, and was an interesting talker.
Moreover, he liked to hear himself converse.

Having visited South Africa a few months before, he described the
country minutely, its topography, its flora and fauna, its geological
presentations, and expatiated upon its promising future. Sedgwick was
very greatly interested, and with his retentive memory the facts were
fixed upon his mind.

As they were about separating, Sedgwick said: "You ask me to leave
my native land and make this my country. I understand you, and
appreciate the offer, but you do not comprehend the Great Republic at
all. England, at the beginning of this century, was well-nigh the anchor
of civilization. By the end of the next century England will be in
cap and slippers, and her children across the sea will have to be her
protector. The American who gives up his native land for any other is
a renegade son."

CHAPTER XII.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

Next morning Jack and Rose went out for a walk along the beach. Out in
the little bay a man and a woman were sailing and enjoying themselves,
for the sound of their laughter came across the water to the shore. Jack
was just remarking to Rose that they in the boat were carrying a good
deal of sail, when a sudden squall upset the boat. The man was not a
swimmer, but as he came to the surface he managed to seize upon the
overturned bo