"
"No!" exclaimed the sergeant. "What, nobody there?"
"Yes, there is somebody there, the cave has been chosen by the smugglers
to land their goods in."
"But some of them must be there in charge of the goods."
"Yes, so there are, but they are all women, the smugglers' wives, who
live there; what an expedition! Let me see:--one gallant major, one
gallant captain, two gallant lieutenants, eight gallant non-commissioned
officers, and a hundred gallant soldiers of the Buffs, all going to
attack, and rout, and defeat a score of old women."
"But you're joking, Mistress Nancy."
"Upon my life I'm not, sergeant, you'll find it true; the admiral's
ashamed of the whole affair, and the cutter's crew swear they won't fire
a single shot."
"By the god of war!" exclaimed the sergeant, "but this is cursed bad
news you bring, Mistress Corbett."
"Not at all; your regiment will become quite the fancy, you'll go by the
name of the lady-killers, ha, ha, ha. I wish you joy, sergeant, ha,
ha, ha."
Nancy Corbett knew well the power of ridicule, she left the sergeant,
and was accosted by one of the lieutenants; she rallied him in the
same way.
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