ch Captain Nockelles,
finding he had made a mistake, very quickly accomplished. The judge
then shook Rochford warmly by the hand. "I am very sure that our friend
here will be able to give a satisfactory account of himself, although he
might not have been inclined to explain matters when he found himself
treated as he has been. You'll come and dine with me, Captain
Nockelles, and I will hear all about it. You will meet the great
naturalist Lejoillie, who knows Mr. Rochford as well as I do, and who
will, I am sure, answer for his being a person of high character, and
not at all likely to commit any act unworthy of a man of honour.--Oh!
there's my friend Kearney. Glad to see you back, my boy. You'll join
us. I must then send you to Castle Kearney, as your father is anxious
to have you back to assist in looking after your young cousins, who,
poor girls, will not only have to mourn the loss of their father and
brother, but of their mother also, of whose life, I fear, there is but
little hope."

I was very sorry to receive this latter piece of information, though it
did not prevent me joining the party at the judge's dinner-table, where
Rochford was seated as an honoured guest, instead of being, as his
captors expected, sent off to the State prison. Little Paul was brought
in after dinner, and the company were informed of the gallant way in
which Rochford had saved his life at the hazard of his own.

My friend gave us an account of his adventures among the Indians and
blacks, which fully satisfied the patriotic militia captain that he had
no hostile intentions towards the Government of the United States.

After dinner, I found that a boat was in readiness to carry me to Castle
Kearney.

"Our friend Rochford will, I suspect, be happy to accompany you," said
the judge. "It will be as well for him to get out of this place, in
case any disagreeable gentlemen should take it into their heads that he
has been too leniently dealt with. And, in truth, the sooner he leaves
the country, perhaps, the better; though we shall be delighted to see
him back again when affairs are more settled, and this Seminole war has
been brought to a close."

I was not exactly surprised to find that Rochford was very willing to
follow the judge's advice.

Wishing the judge, his wife, and their friends good-bye, we embarked
shortly before sunset, and were able to continue our journey at night
without difficulty. As we approached Castle Kea