"Done, by Jove! Hundreds of pounds of prize money swept clean out of our pockets," cried the enraged Jerry, "and we a gaping up with it almost in sight all the time. Pshaw, we ain't half as smart as them old bronzes, with all our cleverness. I'll back one of 'em agin two lawyers any day."
Loud were the growls of the men at what they termed their bad luck, but when Woodward heard of the affair, he only laughed, and declared the old fellows deserved all they got, for their coolness and sagacity.
That evening the mail arrived, and the captain received orders to embark his men at daylight; but long before that hour the Stingers were stirring. As they left the city they received a perfect ovation at every post they passed. "Going home, my boys! Going home!" Happy fellows! how proudly they marched along the narrow streets which had been the scenes of many incidents, both sad and amusing; past heaps of ruins caused by the shot from their guns; by Tartar guard houses, and dead walls, bearing still the proclamations so daringly posted by the acting boatswain,—with the fiddler scraping away at "Cheer, boys, Cheer," to which tune their happy voices joined in chorus. The first step from the ya-mun was one nearer home, and all of them felt delighted to think that in a few months they would see the faces of those who held them most dear. Tom Clare marched by the side of Mr. Thompson, and a happier face than the former's could not be found in the party.
"Jerry, old friend, in a little time I shall see her, and then won't I be happy?"
"Yes, old man, I daresay you will; but, 'pon my word, there ain't much pleasure for me to look forward to."
"Why, there's Mary Ann?"
"Yes, I know that; but she ain't A-tae. I never shall get another gal to love me as she did."
"Come, Jerry, don't you be foolish. I used to be melancholy once, but look at me now," exclaimed the delighted fellow, as he joined in the refrain,
"Cheer, boys, cheer, no more of idle sorrow,
Courage, true hearts, shall bear us on our way;