this assertion there were but three
dissenting voices, and one dissenting opinion. The opinion belonged to
Marmaduke, who, however, saw no necessity for its promulgation. Of the voices,
one, and that a pretty loud one, came from the spouse of the commander himself,
who frequently reproached her husband for condescending to lead such an
irregular band of warriors, after he had filled the honourable station of
sergeant-major to a dashing corps of Virginian cavalry through much of the
recent war.
    Another of these sceptical sentiments was invariably expressed by Mr. Pump,
whenever the company paraded, generally in some such terms as these, which were
uttered with that sort of meekness that a native of the island of our
forefathers is apt to assume, when he condescends to praise the customs or
character of her truant progeny -
    »It's mayhap that they knows sum'mat about loading and firing, d'ye see; but
as for working ship! why a corporal's guard of the Boadishey's marines would
back and fill on their quarters in such a manner as to surround and captivate
them all in half a glass.« As there was no one to deny this assertion, the
marines of the Boadicea were held in a corresponding degree of estimation.
    The third unbeliever was Monsieur Le Quoi, who merely whispered to the
Sheriff, that the corps was one of the finest he had ever seen, second only to
the Mousquetaires of Le Bon Louis! However, as Mrs. Hollister thought there was
something like actual service in the present appearances, and was, in
consequence, too busily engaged with certain preparations of her own, to make
her comments; as Benjamin was absent, and Monsieur Le Quoi too happy to find
fault with any thing, the corps escaped criticism and comparison altogether on
this momentous day, when they certainly had greater need of self-confidence,
than on any other previous occasion. Marmaduke was said to be again closeted
with Mr. Van der School, and no interruption was offered to the movements of the
troops. At two o'clock precisely the corps shouldered arms, beginning on the
right wing, next to the veteran, and carrying the motion through to the left
with great regularity. When each musket was quietly fixed in its proper
situation, the order was given to wheel to the left, and march. As this was
bringing raw troops, at once, to face their enemy, it is not to be supposed that
the manoeuvre was executed with their usual accuracy, but as the music struck up
the inspiring air of Yankee-doodle, and Richard,