There was something so painfully wild--so solemnly
prophetic--in these sounds of sorrow as they fell faintly
upon the ear, and especially under the extraordinary
circumstances of the night, that they might have been
taken for the warnings of some supernatural agency. During
their utterance, not even the breathing of human life
was to be heard in the ranks. In the next instant, however,
Sergeant-major Bletson was seen repairing, with long and
hasty strides, to the barrack whence the voice proceeded,
and the interruption was heard no more.

Meanwhile the officers, who had been summoned from the
ranks for the purpose of forming the court-martial, still
lingered in the centre of the square, apparently waiting
for the order of their superior, before they should resume
their respective stations. As the quick and comprehensive
glance of Colonel de Haldimar now embraced the group, he
at once became sensible of the absence of one of the
seniors, all of whom he had desired should be selected
for the court-martial.

"Mr. Lawson," he remarked, somewhat sternly, as the
Adjutant now returned from delivering over his prisoner
to Ensign Fortescue, "I thought I understood from your
report the officers were all present!"

"I believe, sir, my report will be found perfectly
correct," returned the Adjutant, in a tone which, without
being disrespectful, marked his offended sense of the