Only, you see, they had
been very close together for the moment, and looked each other in
the eyes. Soon after the Major was wounded, taken prisoner, and
carried into Cadiz. One fine day they announced to him the visit
of the General, Sir Thomas Graham. "Well, sir," said the General,
taking him by the hand, "I think we were face to face upon the
field." It was the white-haired officer!'
'Ah!' cried the boy,--his eyes were burning.
'Well, and here is the point,' I continued. 'Sir Thomas fed the
Major from his own table from that day, and served him with six
covers.'
'Yes, it is a beautiful--a beautiful story,' said Ronald. 'And yet
somehow it is not the same--is it?'
'I admit it freely,' said I.
The boy stood awhile brooding. 'Well, I take my risk of it,' he
cried. 'I believe it's treason to my sovereign--I believe there is
an infamous punishment for such a crime--and yet I'm hanged if I
can give you up'
I was as much moved as he. 'I could almost beg you to do
otherwise,' I said. 'I was a brute to come to you, a brute and a
coward. You are a noble enemy; you will make a noble soldier.'
And with rather a happy idea of a compliment for this warlike
youth, I stood up straight and gave him the salute.
He was for a moment confused; his face flushed. 'Well, well, I
must be getting you something to eat, but it will not be for six,'
he added, with a smile: 'only what we can get smuggled out.
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