“'Don't you think, sir,' said the corporal, hesitatingly, as he prepared to execute my orders—'don't you think it would be well for the ladies' sake that they should not be reminded of the name of this place, more than can be helped?'
“'Undoubtedly, Nixon, but what do you mean?'
“'Why, sir, I mean that as poor Mr. Heywood never can be here again, it would be better nothing should be left to remind them of the bloody doings of yesterday.'
“'And what other name would you give it?' I asked.
“'If it was left to me, Mr. Ronayne,' replied the corporal; 'I would call it HARDSCRABBLE, on account of the hard struggle the fellows must have had with Mr. Heywood, judging from his wounds and his broken rifle, before they mastered him.'
“'Then, HARDSCRABBLE be it,' I said, 'not that I can really see it will make much difference in calling the thing to mind, yet it would scarcely be fair to deny to you, who have so bravely defended the place, the privilege of giving it a new name, if the old one is to be abandoned.'
“'Thank you, sir,' returned Nixon, 'but if you hadn't come to our assistance, I don't know what the upshot might have been, I suspect that fellow whose comrade you killed, sent them off sooner than they intended.'
“'No more of that, Nixon—and now do you remember what you are to say when you get back to the Fort?'
“'I do, sir, and every man shall be told to say as I do—but about the new name, Mr. Ronayne,' he pursued, returning, after he had gone a few paces, 'do you think, sir, Mrs. Heywood will consent to it?'
“'My good fellow,' I answered, 'recollect that Mrs. Heywood must know nothing about it—at least for the present. I will settle all that later. In the mean time, as you have called it HARDSCRABBLE, so let it remain.'