he contrive to enter a place so vigilantly guarded?"

"Ask me not HOW, Blackwater," returned the Governor
seriously; "let it suffice that he has been in this very
room, and that ten minutes since he stood where you now
stand."

The Major looked aghast.--"God bless me, how singular!
How could the savage contrive to obtain admission? or
was he in reality an Indian?"

"No more questions, MAJOR Blackwater. Hasten to distribute
the men, and let diligent search be made every where;
and recollect, neither officer nor man courts his pillow
until dawn."

The "Major" emphatically prefixed to his name was a
sufficient hint to the stout officer that the doubts thus
familiarly expressed were here to cease, and that he was
now addressed in the language of authority by his superior,
who expected a direct and prompt compliance with his
orders. He therefore slightly touched his hat in salutation,
and withdrew to make the dispositions that had been
enjoined by his Colonel.

On regaining the parade, he caused the men, already
forming into companies and answering to the roll-call of
their respective non-commissioned officers, to be wheeled
into square, and then in a low but distinct voice stated
the cause of alarm; and, having communicated the orders