a fair wind or a foul. A fair wind will
take us quickly across the Atlantic and will give us a chance of
getting back in time. A foul wind may possibly give them time to make
up their minds at the Horse Guards, and to stop us before we start. It
is a nice question."

"There is no hope whatever, major, that our government will make up
their minds before the wind changes, not if it blew in one quarter
longer than it has ever been known to do since the beginning of the
world. Especially, as not only they, but all the governments of Europe
have to come to a decision."

"Oh, if we had to wait for that it would be hopeless; but at the same
time, as it must be evident to any individual of the meanest capacity
that something or other for which troops will be required will have to
be done, surely a month ought to be sufficient for the idea to occur
to some one in authority that it would be as well not to be sending
soldiers abroad until matters are finally settled."

"I agree with you," the adjutant said. "Therefore I think we had best
decide that our hopes and wishes shall be unanimous in favor of a
continuance of westerly winds."

Never were the weathercocks watched more anxiously than they were by
the officers and men of the Twenty-eighth for the next fortnight. The
elements certainly appeared favorable to their wishes, and the wind
blew steadily from the desired quarter, so that it was not until ten
days after they were expected that the two transports which were to
convey the Twenty-eighth to America dropped anchor in Cork harbor.

Captain O'Connor rejoined the regiment on the evening before the
transports arrived. He walked with two sticks, but this was a measure
of precaution rather than of necessity.

"I feel like an impostor," he said, laughing, as he replied to the
welcome of his comrades. "I believe I could safely throw away these
sticks and dance a jig; but the doctor has laid his commands on me,
and my man, who has been ruling me with a rod of iron, will not permit
the slightest infringement of them. He seems to consider that he is
responsible for me in all respects, and if he had been master and I
man he could not have behaved with grosser despotism."

"I am glad to see you looking so well, O'Connor," Ralph said, shaking
his captain warmly by the hand.

"I don't know whether I do right in shaking hands with you, Conway,"
O'Connor said. "I have been thinking it over while I have been lying
there, and I hav