第124章

"Late come, late served, Mabel," said her uncle, be-tween mouthfuls of broiled salmon; for though the cook-ery might be very unsophisticated on that remote frontier, the viands were generally delicious, -- "late come, late served; it is a good rule, and keeps laggards up to their work.""I am no laggard, uncle; for I have been stirring nearly an hour, and exploring our island.""It's little you'll make o' that, Mistress Mabel," put in Muir; "that's little by nature.Lundie -- or it might be better to style him Major Duncan in this presence" (this was said in consideration of the corporal and the common men, though they were taking their meal a little apart) --"has not added an empire to his Majesty's dominions in getting possession of this island, which is likely to equal that of the celebrated Sancho in revenues and profits --Sancho, of whom, doubtless, Master Cap, you'll often have been reading in your leisure hours, more especially in calms and moments of inactivity.""I know the spot you mean, Quartermaster; Sancho's Island -- coral rock, of new formation, and as bad a land-fall, in a dark night and blowing weather, as a sinner could wish to keep clear of.It's a famous place for cocoa-nuts and bitter water, that Sancho's Island.""It's no' very famous for dinners," returned Muir, re-pressing the smile which was struggling to his lips out of respect to Mabel; "nor do I think there'll be much to choose between its revenue and that of this spot.In my judgment, Master Cap, this is a very unmilitary position, and I look to some calamity befalling it, sooner or later.""It is to be hoped not until our turn of duty is over,"observed Mabel."I have no wish to study the French language.""We might think ourselves happy, did it not prove to be the Iroquois.I have reasoned with Major Duncan on the occupation of this position, but 'a wilfu' man maun ha' his way.' My first object in accompanying this party was to endeavor to make myself acceptable and useful to your beautiful niece, Master Cap; and the second was to take such an account of the stores that belong to my par-ticular department as shall leave no question open to con-troversy, concerning the manner of expenditure, when they shall have disappeared by means of the enemy.""Do you look upon matters as so serious?" demanded Cap, actually suspending his mastication of a bit of veni-son -- for he passed alternately from fish to flesh and back again -- in the interest he took in the answer."Is the danger pressing?""I'll no' say just that; and I'll no' say just the contrary.

There is always danger in war, and there is more of it at the advanced posts than at the main encampment.It ought, therefore, to occasion no surprise were we to be visited by the French at any moment.""And what the devil is to be done in that case? Six men and two women would make but a poor job in defend-ing such a place as this, should the enemy invade us; as, no doubt, Frenchman-like, they would take very good care to come strong-handed.""That we may depend on -- some very formidable force at the very lowest.A military disposition might be made in defence of the island, out of all question, and accord-ing to the art of war, though we would probably fail in the force necessary to carry out the design in any very creditable manner.In the first place, a detachment should be sent off to the shore, with orders to annoy the enemy in landing; a strong party ought instantly to be thrown into the blockhouse, as the citadel, for on that all the dif-ferent detachments would naturally fall back for support, as the French advanced; and an entrenched camp might be laid out around the stronghold, as it would be very un-military indeed to let the foe get near enough to the foot of the walls to mine them.Chevaux-de-frise would keep the cavalry in check; and as for the artillery, redoubts should be thrown up under cover of yon woods.Strong skirmishing parties, moreover, would be exceedingly ser-viceable in retarding the march of the enemy; and these different huts, if properly piqueted and ditched, would be converted into very eligible positions for that object.""Whe-e-e-w-, Quartermaster! And who the d---l is to find all the men to carry out such a plan?""The king, out of all question, Master Cap.It is his quarrel, and it's just he should bear the burthen o' it.""And we are only six! This is fine talking, with a vengeance.You could be sent down to the shore to op-pose the landing, Mabel might skirmish with her tongue at least, the soldier's wife might act chevaux-de-frise to entangle the cavalry, the corporal should command the entrenched camp, his three men could occupy the five huts, and I would take the blockhouse.Whe-e-e-w!