of my best old Jamaica before they sleep,--and such stuff
is not to be met with every day in this wilderness of a
country. But, confound my stupid head! where are Charles
de Haldimar and Sir Everard Valletort?"

"Poor Charles is in a high fever, and confined to his
bed," remarked Captain Blessington, who now came up adding
his congratulations in a low tone, that marked the
despondency of his heart; "and Sir Everard I have just
left on the rampart with the company, looking, as he well
may, the very image of despair."

"Run to them, Sumners, my dear boy," said Erskine, hastily
addressing himself to a young ensign who stood near him;
"run quickly, and relieve them of their error. Say it is
not De Haldimar who has been killed, therefore they need
not make themselves any longer uneasy on that score."

The officers gave a start of surprise. Sumners, however,
hastened to acquit himself of the pleasing task assigned
him, without waiting to hear the explanation of the
singular declaration.

"Not De Haldimar!" eagerly and anxiously exclaimed Captain
Blessington; "who then have you brought to us in his
uniform, which I clearly distinguished from the rampart
as you passed? Surely you would not tamper with us at
such a moment, Erskine?"

"Who it is, I know not more than Adam," rejoined the