his men came to his relief. Now, I think, Mr. Pitts, your hero was at
least equalled in Col. M'Lean."

[Illustration: EXPLOIT OF COLONEL M'LEAN.]

"Beaten, beaten!" exclaimed Pitts. "I admit that, in resolution and
daring, Francisco was surpassed by M'Lean. He _was_ a hero!"

"Major Garden, in his Anecdotes of the Revolution, eulogizes McLean's
courage and enterprise," said Hand.

"If courage and resolution make up the hero, our country didn't hunger
for 'em during the Revolution," said Davenport.

"Yes, it's a difficult and nice matter to say who bears away the palm.
But I do not believe that Col. M'Lean was surpassed," said Kinnison.
"Col. Henry Lee was a man of the same mould," added Colson.

"Aye, he was; and that reminds me of an adventure of his which displays
his courage and resolution," replied Kinnison.




THE ADVENTURE OF MAJOR LEE.


"In the Revolution, a prison was erected at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for
those red-coats who fell into our hands. The prisoners were confined in
barracks, enclosed with a stockade and vigilantly guarded; but in spite