Page:The Partisan (revised).djvu/135

 "There is a way of evading that necessity, Colonel Walton," said Proctor, eagerly.

The other looked at him inquiringly, though he evidently did not hope for much from the suggested alternative.

"That difficulty, sir, may be overcome: his majesty has need of troops in the West Indies; Lord Cornwallis, with a due regard to the feelings of his dutiful subjects of the colonies, has made arrangements for an exchange of service. The Irish regiments will be withdrawn from the West Indies, and those of loyal Carolinians substituted. This frees you from all risk of encountering with your friends and countrymen, while at the same time it answers equally the purposes of my commander."

The soldier by profession saw nothing degrading, nothing servile in the proposed compromise. The matter had a different aspect in the eyes of the southern gentleman. The proposition which would send him from his family and friends, to engage in conflict with and to keep down those to whom he had no antipathy, was scarcely less painful in its exactions than to take up arms against his immediate neighbours. The suggestion, too, which contemplated the substitution of troops of foreign mercenaries, in the place of native citizens, who were to be sent to other lands in the same capacity, was inexpressibly offensive, as it directly made him an agent for the increase of that power which aimed at the destruction of his people and his principles. The sense of ignominy grew stronger in his breast as he heard it, and he paced the apartment in unmitigated disorder.

"I am no hireling, Major Proctor; and the war, hand to hand with my own sister's child, would be less shameful to me, however full of pain and misery, than this alternative."

"There is no other, sir, that I know of."

"Ay, sir, but there is&mdash;there is another alternative, Major Proctor; more than that, sir&mdash;there is a remedy."

The eyes of the speaker flashed, and Proctor saw that they rested upon the broadsword which hung upon the wall before them.

"What is that, sir?" inquired the Briton.

"In the sword, sir&mdash;in the strife&mdash;to take up arms&mdash;to prepare for battle!" was the stern reply.