high road, and chanced to meet the Collector's party; that he had taken
no part in the slaughter of the children, and had intended leaving the
band as soon as they came in sight of his own village, and in
conclusion said, "If you will swear to obtain my pardon, and liberty to
go where I please, I will lead you and any number of your men through
this same passage, and in less than two hours from leaving this place,
you shall be in possession of the fort and all it contains." This offer
our hero did not consider himself at liberty to refuse or accept, but
promised at once to bring the matter to the notice of the officer
commanding the force, and let him (the prisoner) know the result as
speedily as might be, and immediately left the guard room for that
purpose.


The prisoner's proposition was at once accepted by the authorities, and
very shortly a party of five hundred infantry, and one hundred
dismounted dragoons, led by Carlton and accompanied by the prisoner as
guide, left the camp and soon made their way without difficulty, or
exciting the notice of the insurgents, through the subterraneous passage
before alluded to into the fort, and the whole party were soon ensconced
within the ruins of the old palace, without the garrison having the
least idea of their presence in that quarter. On gaining this position,
the signal agreed on, a blue light, was burned for one minute, then the
whole force in camp turned out, and a demonstration was made from every
available cannon and musket, as if the storming of the fort had
commenced in earnest. The consternation of the mutineers at finding
themselves so suddenly attacked was very great, and imagine their dismay
on rushing to the walls, to find the ramparts lined with our men. Unable
to account their appearance there, and believing treachery to be at work
among themselves, and that the gates had been opened to admit the foe,