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 CHAPTER III.

TREASON. ", you are set upon the watch to-night, and will report after the evening gun at the Fort." "The devil you say, Giles Hopkins! And who gave you leave to order your betters about?"

"Captain Standish names the watch, and I as ancient-bearer am under his orders and carry his messages."

"You may be under Satan's orders or under a monkey's orders for aught I care, Giles, my boy, but if you dare come nigh me with any more of Captain Shrim's orders I'll wring your neck for you, master bantam cockerel, mark you that." "I will report to the captain," calmly replied Hopkins, who, despite his father's restless example, was fast becoming one of the colony's most valued young citizens.

A profane exclamation was Oldhame's only reply, but as the ensign strode away he turned his head and called into the house at whose door he sat, "Lyford! Lyford! Here's some merry-making afoot! Captain Shrimp has summoned me to stand on watch to-night, and I have sent him and his errand-boy to the devil. Aha! here he comes himself with fury stiffening every hair of his red beard and snapping out of his eyes. Stand behind the door and hearken"—