26 A COUNCIL OF WAB AT FORT RICHMOND. 



eyes of the commander fell upon him, he too raised his glass and 

 drank ; but the effect upon the company was quite noticeable. Then, 

 as with a great effort to regain his lost ground, Simcoe raised his re- 

 filled glass and said "Here's to the captor of George Washington's 

 head!" Every e} T e rested upon Lord Howe, and every one pres- 

 ent, who prided in being " an officer and a gentleman," awaited 

 to learn how the rival of the American general would treat the 

 sentiment. "Col. Simcoe," said Lord Howe, "while we are at war 

 with a people whose half-defeated army is led by this man Washing- 

 ton, and while I have no sentimentality to devote to the distinguished 

 but deluded subject of His Majesty, the King of Great Britain, I 

 feel that it would be highly improper to behead him in the midst of 

 all this gayety and pleasure. Can you not modify your toast so 

 that nothing but good will shall prevail for the time being?" 



Colonel Simcoe felt the rebuke keenly ; but he was too shrewd to 

 resent the stinging sarcasm of his superior officer. He attempted to 

 assume an easy air, and then proposed the health of His Majesty, 

 Lord Howe !" 



" His Majesty ?" whispered Major Andre, thinking that Colonel 

 Simcoe had committed an unintentional error. 



" Certainly !" replied Simcoe, in a defiant manner, " he's King of 

 America, isn't he ?" 



The explanation was accepted pleasantly, and the other toasts 

 were given to the finish. When the pleasures of the event had 

 ended (and it may not have been until the great punch-bowl was 

 empty), the group wandered out of the old stone house to the grassy 

 lawn. It was far into the night. No sound broke the deep silence 

 save the thudded stamping of the restless horses, as they stood im- 

 patiently champing their bits. The full, bright moon was directly 

 overhead, lighting up the surroundings with such splendor as to re- 

 awaken in the minds of the warriors the scenes and memories of 

 other days. Far beyond the dark, restless ocean there were homes 

 and loved ones which could never be effaced from the hearts' lists 

 of precious treasures. As the distinguished group strolled leisurely 

 in the direction of the fort, with uncovered heads, the keen percep- 

 tion for the beautiful in nature which ever characterized Major 

 Andre, seemed to awaken to its very limit, and his admiration for 

 the magnificent surroundings found a cordial sympathy in no less a 



