rd. I do not wish to be
insulting in return for the service he has done us and his own people by
giving these savages so severe a lesson, but you may ask him what he
would say if I came down with a strong party and ordered him and his
people to quit the Spanish settlement."

"Am I to tell him that?" said the ambassador.

"Yes; and that we are here, and mean to stay, even to holding our homes
by force of arms if it is necessary."

"Oh!" said the man, staring and looking from one to the other. "Isn't
that foolish talk! You see we are very strong, while you are--"

"Not so very weak as you think for, sir."

"But I'm sure you don't want us to turn you all out by force, and burn
down your settlement, though it seems to me as if there isn't much left
to burn," he added, as he glanced round at the distant heaps of burned
timber and ashes.

"We will build it all up ready for you, sir, against your expedition
comes," said Colonel Preston, sharply.

"Oh, come, come," said the man; "that's all brag. Look here: take my
advice, make friends with the Dons here, and let me say you'll pack off
quietly, because they mean mischief if you do not go."

"You have had my answer, sir," said the General, haughtily. "Tell your
leader that, for his own sake, I hope he will not drive us to
extremities. We are prepared to fight, and fight we shall to the end."

"Oh, very well," said the man, in a grumbling tone; "I'm only a
messenger. I've given our people's orders, and now I'm ready to take
back yours. Only don't say, when you're all made prisoners and marched
off to our plantations, that I didn't as an Englishman give you a timely
hint."

The General bowed, and the man stood staring at him for a few moments,
and then from one to the other, in an undecided way.

"Then you won't go?" he said at last.

The General made a sign to Colonel Preston.

"No, sir; we will not go," said the latter, firmly.

"Oh, very well. 'Tarn't my fault. I like peace, I do; but if you will
have it rough, why, it's your own fault."

He turned away, and talked to the two leading Spaniards for a few
moments, the elder of the two stamping his foot imperiously as he
frowned and pointed to us. The man shrugged his shoulders, and came
back.

"Look here," he said, roughly; "the Dons say they won't stand any
nonsense, and you are to go."

"Tell him he has had his answer, Preston," said the General.

"Oh, yes, I know about that answer," said the m