M. de Drucour at the New Year that I saw
how far his petty cruelty could go.

With an air of assumed geniality he said to the Commandant: "M.
de Drucour, before I start on my expedition to-morrow, I am tempted
to ask for a volunteer in the English lad Christopher. He is anxious
to go, and I shall be pleased to have him."

"But, monsieur, you can hardly have him without me, for I am
responsible to M. de Drucour for his safe-keeping," I broke in,
with a chilling fear at my heart that my one treasure in the world
would be imperilled in such treacherous hands.

"M. de Maxwell seems over-fond of this prisoner," sneered M. Prevost,
who was an unwelcome guest, but could not well be left out on an
official occasion. "A too-lenient jailer may be even more dangerous
than his prisoner at times," he went on; and I saw that further
discussion might only precipitate matters, when I stood in so
delicate a position; for a soldier in foreign service, no matter
what his merit, is ever a ready object of suspicion.

However, M. de Drucour turned matters by addressing me in his usual
courteous and friendly manner: "With these rumours of war in the
spring, have you had no inspiration for your Muse, Chevalier?"

"I have a song, if you will not hold the end a reflection on our
surroundings," I replied. "However, remember that it is not I, but
my sword, that sings, and, I am afraid, only strikes a note common
to us all."

I regret I cannot give the graceful French couplets into which
Madame de Drucour had obligingly turned my verses, and so cleverly
preserved all the fire and strength of my original, which must now
serve as it was written.

"In Spanish hands I've bent and swung
With Spanish grace and skill;
I've scoured Lepanto of the Turk,
And Spain of Boabdil;
I've clanged throughout the Low Countrie;
I've held the Spanish Main;--
Ferrara made and fashioned me,
In Cordova, In Spain.

"In Scottish hands I've saved the pride
That else had starved at home,
When under Bourbon's banner wide
We swept through Holy Rome;
In private fight I've cleared the slight
That Beauty's brow would stain;--
Ferrara made and fashioned me,
In Cordova, in Spain.

"At Killiecrankie with Dundee
I've struck for James the King;
The blood-red waters of the Boyne
Have heard my metal ring;
Again with Mar at Sherriff-muir
I've raised the olden strain;--
Ferrara m