"Yes, that was pretty good," laughed Walter. "The ladies had at least one advantage over the men in those days, they could give the invaders many a home thrust with their tongues without much danger of personal violence or imprisonment, in return for it."
"That reminds me of a little anecdote of something that occurred in Charleston, South Carolina, when they were in possession there," said Grandma Elsie. "One of the British officers had taken a great fancy to a beautiful American girl, but she would have nothing to do with him; which, of course, made him very angry. One day they met in the street. A big negro was near at hand and the British officer said to him, so that the lady could hear, 'Go and kiss that lady, and I'll give you a guinea.'
"'Yes,' said she, 'come and kiss me. I'd a thousand times rather be kissed by you than by him.'"
"So he didn't make much by that," laughed Mr. Embury.
"I wonder if the darkey did kiss her," said Grace. "I'm glad I wasn't in her place, if she had to let either him or the British officer do it."
"And you would rather be living now, wouldn't you, daughter?" said her father, giving her a loving look.
"And belong to you, papa? Yes, indeed!" she replied.
"How very straight these openings in the rocks are!" remarked Walter. "They look as if they had been cut with a knife."
Then perceiving that the others had turned away and were going toward the spot where the little ones were, they followed.
"There is a fine prospect here on both land and water," remarked Mr. Embury. "Do you see that hanging rock over yonder--not close to the water. That, they say, is where Bishop Berkeley used to preach. I visited it the other day, and found it so hard a place to climb to that I should think his congregations must have been small; unless they stood in the valley below; which would make his pulpit very high above them."
"Where is the house he lived in?" asked Rosie.
"At some distance, I believe. I have not seen it yet."
"Now," said Captain Raymond, "will any or all of you take a sail in the _Dolphin_? You can all see her lying out yonder and the row-boat will soon carry us to her. There is plenty of room for everyone here, a warm welcome if they choose to go aboard, and a more delightful day for a sail around the island could hardly be found."