given, and the equally singular circumstance of his being
thus closely interrogated by the collective body of his
officers: he, however, persisted in declaring that he
had been in no wise inattentive to his duty, and that no
cause for alarm or suspicion had occurred near his post.
The officers then, in order to save time, separated into
two parties, pursuing opposite circuits, and arranging
to meet at that point of the ramparts which was immediately
in the rear, and overlooking the centre of the semicircular
sweep of wild forest we have described as circumventing
the fort.

"Well, Blessington, I know not what you think of this
sort of work," observed Sir Everard Valletort, a young
lieutenant of the ---- regiment, recently arrived from
England, and one of the party who now traversed the
rampart to the right; "but confound me if I would not
rather be a barber's apprentice in London, upon nothing,
and find myself, than continue a life of this kind much
longer. It positively quite knocks me up; for what with
early risings, and watchings (I had almost added prayings),
I am but the shadow of my former self."

"Hist, Valletort, hist! speak lower," said Captain
Blessington, the senior officer present, "or our search
must be in vain. Poor fellow!" he pursued, laughing low
and good humouredly at the picture of miseries thus
solemnly enumerated by his subaltern;--"how much, in
truth, are you to be pitied, who have so recently basked
in all the sunshine of enjoyment at home. For our parts,