could I refuse to him, whose life I had saved, and whose
character I so much esteemed, a boon so earnestly, nay,
so imploringly solicited? I acceded to his prayer,
intimating, at the same time, if he returned not before
another sentinel should relieve me, the discovery of my
breach of duty must be made, and my punishment inevitable.
His last words, however, were to assure me he should
return at the hour he had named, and when I closed the
gate upon him it was under the firm impression his absence
would only prove of the temporary nature he had
stated.--Gentlemen," abruptly concluded Halloway, "I have
nothing further to add; if I have failed in my duty as
a soldier, I have, at least, fulfilled that of a man;
and although the violation of the first entail upon me
the punishment of death, the motives which impelled me
to that violation will not, I trust, be utterly lost
sight of by those by whom my punishment is to be awarded."

The candid, fearless, and manly tone in which Halloway
had delivered this long and singular statement, however
little the governor appeared to be affected by it,
evidently made a deep impression on the court, who had
listened with undiverted attention to the close. Some
conversation again ensued, in a low tone, among several
members, when two slips of written paper were passed up,
as before, to the president. These elicited the following
interrogatories:--

"You have stated, prisoner, that Captain de Haldimar left
the fort accompanied by his servant Donellan. How were