“Well,” said the colonel, who seemed startled by my father’s words, “I must confess I—”
“Had not much faith in me, Preston. But I hope that in any emergency where my help is required, I shall not be found wanting.”
“I am sure of it. I beg your pardon for my ungenerous thoughts,” said the colonel, warmly; “and I am sorry that you and I do not always think the same.”
“Whatever we may think, Preston,” said my father, warmly, “I hope we shall always hold each other in esteem.”
“I know we shall,” cried the colonel; and he shook hands warmly with me. “Glad to see you, youngster,” he said; “but be quick and grow into a man. We want sturdy fellows who can handle a sword, and fight for their land.”
“Then they are aggressive, Preston?” said my father.
“Aggressive! You never heard such overbearing insolence.”
“Yes, insolence,” said the other officer. “Would you believe it, Captain Bruton; they demand that we shall immediately give up this land—this settlement which we have taken in the name and by permission of his Majesty the King—and go.”
“Where?” said my father, gravely.
“Ah, that they do not say,” cried Colonel Preston. “An officer has come with this command from the governor of their settlement, and, in the customary haughty style of the overbearing Spaniard, the message has been delivered, and the ambassador is coming to meet us at the General’s in about an hour for our reply as to how soon we shall be gone.”