cept among intimate friends, or they may prove
inconvenient, if not dangerous to you."

"My heart burns with indignation when I think of the wrongs inflicted on
those noble red men, the rightful inheritors of the soil, and on the
down-trodden negroes, dragged from their native land to become the
helpless slaves of arbitrary tyrants," answered the other.

"Hush, hush, my friend!" again repeated Monsieur Lejoillie. "Such
words, just as they may be, are not suited to the atmosphere of the land
for which we are bound. I entreat you not to let them pass your lips in
mixed society, such as is here assembled."

Fortunately at this moment a warm discussion engaged the attention of
most of the persons at table, who failed to hear the remarks made by my
countryman, or the friendly advice given him by the naturalist. I saw
that an old gentleman was seated near the former, a young lady only
intervening. The old gentleman, who was listening to what was said,
cast a look more of pity than of anger at the young man, but did not
speak. The lady smiled, and said in a pleasant, sweet voice, "I would
counsel you, Mr. Rochford, to follow the advice of Monsieur Lejoillie.
There are some on board who would resent such remarks as you have made.
You must pass some time among us before you can form a correct opinion
as to the way the Indians or the slaves are treated. You may discover
that the red men are not quite the heroes you suppose, and that the
negroes are far better off with us than they would be in their own
country."

"Faith! I cannot but desire to be guided by so fair an adviser,"
answered Rochford, in a rich Irish brogue, bowing as he spoke.

The next day, as we were sailing down the Channel, I spoke to my
countryman, Maulins Rochford--for such I learned was his name--not
letting him understand that I had overheard his remarks on the previous
evening. When he found that I was a countryman, he became frank and
communicative. He was two or three years older than myself. His
appearance and manner were prepossessing, and we at once became
intimate. He had lately, by the death of his parents, come into a small
property; but instead of spending his time idly at home in hunting and
shooting, as many in his position do, he was anxious to be of use to his
fellow-creatures. Having but a limited knowledge of the subject, and no
one to consult, he had taken it into his head that he might aid the red
men in retaining their right