to his office he dealt much in intelligence; and doubted not but
there was some foundation for his reports for the rest of the
company, as well as for the whimsical account he gave of me. The
next morning at day-break we were all called; and I, who knew my
own natural shyness, and endeavour to be as little liable to be
disputed with as possible, dressed immediately, that I might make
no one wait. The first preparation for our setting-out was, that
the captain's half-pike was placed near the coachman, and a drum
behind the coach. In the mean time the drummer, the captain's
equipage, was very loud, that none of the captain's things should
be placed so as to be spoiled; upon which his cloke-bag was fixed
in the seat of the coach: and the captain himself, according to
a frequent, tho' invidious behaviour of military men, ordered his
man to look sharp, that none but one of the ladies should have
the place he had taken fronting to the coach-box.

We were in some little time fixed in our seats, and sat with that
dislike which people not too good-natured usually conceive of
each other at first sight. The coach jumbled us insensibly into
some sort of familiarity; and we had not moved above two miles,
when the widow asked the captain what success he had in his
recruiting? The officer, with a frankness he believed very
graceful, told her, "That indeed he had but very little luck, and
had suffered much by desertion, therefore should be glad to end
his warfare in the service of her or her fair daughter. In a
word," continued he, "I am a soldier, and to be plain is my
character: you see me, Madam, young, sound, and impudent; take
me yourself, widow, or give me to her, I will be wholly at your
disposal. I am a soldier of fortune, ha!" This was followed by
a vain laugh of his own, and a deep silence of all the rest of