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He leaned his head on his hand, and gazed thoughtfully on the bright waves below.

"For myself," said Gus, who had been deeply impressed by Fred's earnestness, "I always sympathized with the Colonies; but it was merely the natural feeling which all must experience when they see a band of brave men struggling for freedom. Like yourself, America is the land of my birth, but, up to the present, I have been absent from it so long, that I had almost ceased to regard if as such. Now, however, my feelings are changed. Together, Fred, we will fight the battles of our native land; every arm that will lift itself in her defence is needed now."

"Your sentiments do you honor, my dear Gus; but, as you asked me before, what will your friends say?"

"Oh, I have no friends worth mentioning," replied Gus, resuming his former indifferent tone. "I am an orphan, you know, with a bank-stock sufficient for all my wants, with no relations that I know of except an uncle in America, whom I have not seen these ten years. And I tell you what," he added, with sudden animation, "he has two confoundedly pretty daughters—especially the youngest. I used to be desperately in love with Nell, as a boy."