sey; that castle shall be breached and
stormed on Monday. And then on their own heads be the blood of Sir
George and of those that hold with him!"

"Under your favour, sir," said Prynne, "I think it shall not need." He
exchanged a hurried whisper with Lempriere. "What flag is that which you
see flying on the Castle staff?"

"It is not a flag of truce," shouted Haine. "God do so to me and more
also if I make them not like unto Oreb and Zeb!"

The text seemed to relieve the veteran like an execration.

"What mean you by your flag, Mr. Prynne? I am not to take my orders from
you, sir, I hope."

"It is the flag of England," answered the politician, "of your country
and of theirs--the red cross of S. George. The Royal Ensign has been
hauled down; do you not see? God save England!"

With the impulse of Latin manners, Lempriere held out his arms, and Le
Gallais fell upon his breast. Meanwhile a drummer from the Castle was
seen to ascend the bill, bearing a white pennon at the end of a lance,
which he planted on the ground when he came within sight, and beat the
_chamade_ upon his instrument.

The messenger being brought before the Brigadier, handed him a small
packet. Among them was a short note to the address of Captain Le
Gallais, in which Carteret, reminding the militia officer of their past
relations, invited him to plead his cause and that of the garrison with
Lempriere and Prynne. This note Le Gallais, after attentive perusal,
handed to Lempriere, who read it over, and waited in silence until Haine
had finished his own despatch. He then addressed the Brigadier, and
pleaded strongly the cause of his countrymen, concluded with these
words:

"Carteret, sir, was a sentinel; he hath but done his duty to his master.
So long as he was not relieved, he could not honestly leave or surrender
that which he was placed to guard. Why he now lowers his arms he hath
made plain I doubt not, to your Honour."

"Why, yes, Mr. Bailiff; for the matter of that, he hath put a fair case.
Yonder barque, it seems, brought him cold comfort. As for that thing
they call their 'King,' he is lost. He can only offer them aid on
condition of delivering the island to the French. Not that Mazarin dares
affront us by sending a French army to occupy the Castle in the name of
his King, and risk the giving us battle. Far from that, he hath a
conjunction of counsels with the Lord General, and they understand one
another. Nevertheless, there is ever a