Bees ?" "Yes, your Majesty," put in Captain Barker, "he is telling you the truth.

You see, it happened that my bees swarmed this afternoon, and had no better taste than to alight on this arch, under which your Majesty was shortly expected to pass.

We were about to hive them when this young gentleman came along at the head of his company, and there arose a discussion, at the end of which I hived him instead." "But these wounded men--" "Ah, your Majesty, it was unfortunate; but one can never tell where these discussions will end." "Three of my men and a sergeant placed _hors de combat_--a dozen more unfit to be seen--an officer dismounted, and his whole company scattered like a flock of geese! I am seriously annoyed, sir.

What is your name ?" "Sire, I am called Captain Barker, and was formerly an officer in the fleet of his late Majesty King Charles the Second." "Barker.

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