rampart, and moving in the direction of the guard-house.
Soon afterwards Captain de Haldimar re-appeared at my
post, accompanied by his servant Donellan; the former
had the keys of the gate in his hand, and he told me that
he must pass to the skirt of the forest on some business
of the last importance to the safety of the garrison.

"At first I peremptorily refused, stating the severe
penalty attached to the infringement of an order, the
observation of which had so especially been insisted upon
by the governor, whose permission, however, I ventured
respectfully to urge might, without difficulty, be
obtained, if the business was really of the importance
he described it. Captain de Haldimar, however, declared
he well knew the governor would not accord that permission,
unless he was positively acquainted with the nature and
extent of the danger to be apprehended; and of these, he
said, he was not himself sufficiently aware. All argument
of this nature proving ineffectual, he attempted to
enforce his authority, not only in his capacity of officer
of the guard, but also as my captain, ordering me, on
pain of confinement, not to interfere with or attempt to
impede his departure. This, however, produced no better
result; for I knew that, in this instance, I was amenable
to the order of the governor alone, and I again firmly
refused to violate my duty.

"Finding himself thwarted in his attempt to enforce my
obedience, Captain de Haldimar, who seemed much agitated
and annoyed by what he termed my obstinacy, now descended