of his agitation was too faithfully and too painfully
explained.

What had at first the dusky and dingy hue of a half-naked
Indian, was now perceived, by the bright beams of light
just gathering in the east, to be the gay and striking
uniform of a British officer. Doubt as to who that officer
was there could be none, for the white sword-belt suspended
over the right shoulder, and thrown into strong relief
by the field of scarlet on which it reposed, denoted the
wearer of this distinguishing badge of duty to be one of
the guard.

To comprehend effectually the feelings of the officers,
it would be necessary that one should have been not merely
a soldier, but a soldier under the same circumstances.
Surrounded on every hand by a fierce and cruel
enemy--prepared at every moment to witness scenes of
barbarity and bloodshed in their most appalling
shapes--isolated from all society beyond the gates of
their own fortress, and by consequence reposing on and
regarding each other as vital links in the chain of their
wild and adventurous existence,--it can easily be understood
with what sincere and unaffected grief they lamented the
sudden cutting off even of those who least assimilated
in spirit and character with themselves. Such, in a great
degree, had been the case in the instance of the officer
over whose grave they were now met to render the last
offices of companionship, if not of friendship. Indeed
Murphy--a rude, vulgar, and illiterate, though brave