At last I said that I must go to headquarters to meet Captain Rogers.
ROGERS ASSUMES ENGLAND'S DEBT
"So you belong to the Rangers? They're a braw set of men, and there's many a gude Scotchman among them. We'll come over and see you."
I returned and waited for Rogers, and when he came out, he said: "Come over to the sutler's hut; I want to buy some things we haven't got on the island."
Rogers made some purchases and then listened to two English officers who were seated at a table, drinking. They had reached a maudlin state, and were bewailing the fate of England.
"This is a sad day for old England, my boy."
"Yes, the country will never be able to stand up under the great debt that we have incurred for these miserable Provinces."
Rogers went over to them and said:—
"Don't let that trouble you, my friends. Make yourselves easy on that score, for I will pay half the national debt, and my good friend here says he will take the other half on his shoulders, and the nation will be rid of her difficulties."