THE AMERICANS AND THE ABORIGINES. 385 



This boisterous greeting, uttered in a rough, good- 

 humoured voice, proceeded from our friend Squire 

 Copeland, who had just landed from the second boat 

 with his companions and horses, and having given the 

 latter to a negro to hold, now stepped into the circle 

 of officers, his broad - brimmed Quaker - looking hat 

 decorated with the magnificent bunch of feathers, for 

 which his daughters had laid the tenants of the 

 poultry-yard under such severe contribution. 



" Gentlemen," said he, half seriously and half 

 laughing, " you see Major Copeland before you. To- 

 morrow my battalion will be here." 



"You are welcome, major," said the general and 

 other officers, with a gravity that seemed intended as 

 a slight check on the loquacity of their new brother 

 in arms. 



" And these men," continued the major, who either 

 did not or would not understand the hint, "you 

 might perhaps take for my aides-de-camp. This one, 

 Dick Gloom, is our county constable ; and as to the 

 other" he pointed to the Englishman "I myself 

 hardly know what to call him." 



"I will help you, then," interrupted Hodges, impa- 

 tient at this singular introduction. " I am an Eng- 

 lishman, midshipman of his Majesty's frigate Thun- 

 derer, from which I have, by mishap, been separated. 

 I demand a prompt investigation of the fact, and 

 report to your headquarters." 



The general glanced slightly at the overhasty 



