painfully interesting by the peculiarity of their position,
and the wildness of the hour at which they thus found
themselves assembled together. The prisoner himself was
unmoved: he stood proud, calm, and fearless amid the
guard, of whom he had so recently formed one; and though
his countenance was pale, as much, perhaps, from a sense
of the ignominious character in which he appeared as from
more private considerations, still there was nothing to
denote either the abjectness of fear or the consciousness
of merited disgrace. Once or twice a low sobbing, that
proceeded at intervals from one of the barrack windows,
caught his ear, and he turned his glance in that direction
with a restless anxiety, which he exerted himself in the
instant afterwards to repress; but this was the only mark
of emotion he betrayed.

The above dispositions having been hastily made, the
adjutant and his assistants once more retired. After the
lapse of a minute, a tall martial-looking man, habited
in a blue military frock, and of handsome, though stern,
haughty, and inflexible features, entered the area. He
was followed by Major Blackwater, the captain of artillery,
and Adjutant Lawson.

"Are the garrison all present, Mr. Lawson? are the officers
all present? "

"All except those of the guard, sir," replied the Adjutant,
touching his hat with a submission that was scrupulously
exacted on all occasions of duty by his superior.