314 _ WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND, [vI.

 

house. As, in this instance, she found him perishing
in a manner not likely to add much to the credit or
dignity of the family, I suppose she thought she might
as well say something nasty to the person who had
caused his end. At all events, whatever her reason
may have been, she gave vent to the speech which I
have told you, and I confess that it did not improve
my temper or spirits by any means.

‘J stayed in the castle long enough to ransack it
completely, which took me a couple of days, not so
much on account of the quantity of booty in the build-
ing itself, but because of the cattle which had to be
driven in, and moreover on account of my followers,
who always required a little time for enjoyment when
they had the luck to sack such a place. On the third
day, however, I told them that it was high time we
should be off, or our folks at home would certainly
think we had met with some misfortune.

‘I had not thought it necessary to send a messenger
with the news of our success, partly because I ex-
pected to be back so soon, and partly because I was
not over well pleased with the lack of interest which
the Englander had shown in my expedition. In fact,
he had seconded Christina’s efforts to induce me to
abandon my intention, pointing out to me that these
raids were things discreditable in themselves, and
likely some day to lead me into trouble, by drawing
down upon me the united vengeance of those who
would eventually become tired of being attacked one
at a time and destroyed in detail. So I thought it
would be quite time enough to tell Sir Smith in my
own words what had happened, and tell him that at