"'Tis a clumsy lock, and methinks I
could mend it," he added mentally.
"The chief of the French pale-faces speaks truth," Tatua said. "Tatua
was a boy when he went first on the war-path with Montcalm."
"And shot a Wolfe at the first fire!" said the King.
"The English are braves, though their faces are white," replied the
Indian. "Tatua shot the raging Wolfe of the English; but the other
wolves caused the foxes to go to earth." A smile played round Dr.
Franklin's lips, as he whittled his cane with more vigor than ever.
"I believe, your Excellency, Tatua has done good service elsewhere than
at Quebec," the King said, appealing to the American Envoy: "at Bunker's
Hill, at Brandywine, at York Island? Now that Lafayette and my brave
Frenchmen are among you, your Excellency need have no fear but that the
war will finish quickly--yes, yes, it will finish quickly. They will
teach you discipline, and the way to conquer."
"King Louis of France," said the Envoy, clapping his hat down over
his head, and putting his arms a-kimbo, "we have learned that from
the British, to whom we are superior in everything: and I'd have your
Majesty to know that in the art of whipping the world we have no need
of any French lessons. If your reglars jine General Washington, 'tis to
larn from HIM how Britishers are licked; for I'm blest if YU know the
way yet.
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