of good news. Your brother is not the person who has been
slain."

Again De Haldimar sank back upon his pillow, overcome by
a variety of conflicting emotions. A moment afterwards,
and he exclaimed reproachfully, yet almost gasping with
the eagerness of his manner,--

"For God's sake, Sumners--in the name of common humanity,
do not trifle with my feelings. If you would seek to
lull me with false hopes, you are wrong. I am prepared
to hear and bear the worst at present; but to be undeceived
again would break my heart."

"I swear to you by every thing I have been taught to
revere as sacred," solemnly returned Ensign Sumners,
deeply touched by the affliction he witnessed, "what I
state is strictly true. Captain Erskine himself sent me
to tell you."

"What, is he only wounded then?" and a glow of mingled
hope and satisfaction was visible even through the flush
of previous excitement on the cheek of the sufferer.
"Quick, Morrison, give me my clothes.--Where is my brother,
Sumners?" and again he raised up his debilitated frame
with the intention of quitting his couch.

"De Haldimar, my dear De Haldimar, compose yourself, and
listen to me. Your brother is still missing, and we are
as much in the dark about his fate as ever. All that is