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"Now, gentlemen," said Colonel Willett casually, as he seated hinal, I next to the Colonel at his nod of invitation

The fat little landlord, Burke, notorious for the speed hich he fled from Sir John Johnson when that warrior-baronet raided Johnstown, ca into the coffee-roo our pleasure in a brogue thick enough to season the bubbling, stea he set before us aup at his apart, hands clasped behind him, and jolly head laid on one side, "is there any news of Sir John Johnson in these parts?"

"Faith," said Burke, with a toss of his head, "'tis little I botherwid the likes o' Sir John Lave hiy an' dhrown there, bad cess to hilad to know that, Jimmy," said another officer earnestly "And if that's the case Captain Renault's Rangers ht as well pack up andto me, "'tis not f'r the likes o' Jimmy Burke to say it, but there do be a fri'nd o' -runnin' lad they call Tiers here--an' ye'll not e me, sorr, that Jimmy Burke is afeared o' Sir John an' his red whippets!"

"Oh, no," I said gravely; "I'm quite ready to leave Johnstown to your protection, Jiht--with Colonel Willett's permission----"

"Sorra the day! Och, listen to hilance at Willett "Wud ye lave us noid th' ould women an' childer huddled like catthle in the foort, an' Walther Butler at Niagary an' Sir John on the Sacandagy! Sure, 'tis foolin' ye arre, Captain dear--wid the foine ale I have below, an' divil a customer--the town's that crazy wid fear o' Sir John! 'Tis not f'r meself I shpake, sorr," he added airily, "but 'tis the jooty o' theof prosperity at the p'int o' the bagnet, sorr"

"In that case," observed Willett, "you ought to stay, Carus Burke can't attend to his tavern and take time to chase Sir John back to the lakes"

"Thrue f'r ye, sorr!" exclairay eye "Where wud th' b'ys find a dhram, sorr, wid Jimmy Burke on a scout, sorr, thrimmin' the Tories o' Mayfield, an' runnin' the Scotch loons out o' Perth an' the Galways, glory be!"