tain
heroes were on their way to England the prevalent idea was that they
derived their name from the color of their skin.

When the other prisoners disembarked the march was commenced to the
barracks.

The people flocked round the prisoners so that progress was impeded.

The soldiers had to charge the crowd with bayonets many times.

"What did they mean by saying they thought we were Irish?" asked Eben.
"I heard an Englishman say in New York that if it had not been for the
Irish the Americans would not have rebelled. Of course it was
nonsense, but the people do not know us yet, while they do know the
Irish."

At the barracks the prisoners were received with as much curiosity as
we can imagine was shown by Ferdinand and Isabella when Columbus
presented the American Indians in 1492.

Every man was made to answer a lot of questions, and many times over.

Allen was questioned about the strength of the American army, and
replied:

"I know not its numbers, but it is well equipped and can beat all the
armies you can send over there."

"They are rebels, and only the lowest people sympathize with them."

"Do you call George Washington a common man?" asked Allen.

"He is a rebel, and ought to know better."

"And Richard Montgomery, who fought with you at Havana and Martinique?"

"Is he with the rebels?"

"I had the honor of serving under him."

"He will be hanged, for he was a soldier of his majesty."

"You will have to capture him first."

They could not make anything of Allen, so they desisted questioning and
sent all the prisoners to the guardroom.

It was a difficult question for the government of England to decide.

The men were locked up in the barracks at Falmouth, but England did not
know what to do with them.

If the prisoners were hanged as rebels, England would be blamed by
other civilized nations, and yet it would not do to pardon them.

There was a very powerful opposition among the English people to harsh
measures, and, in fact, many English wished America success in its
struggle with the tory ministry.

And so Allen and his friends remained in jail, simply because the
ministry did not know what to do with them.

CHAPTER XXX.

IRISH HOSPITALITY.

Some months later the ministry decided to deport the American
prisoners, and the captain of the _Solebay_, man-of-war, was ordered to
take the prisoners back to America under sealed orders.

It was a pleasant change to leave the bar