the secret of their country, and, as a result of this,
the falsehood of the character under which they appeared.
Long residence in the country had, it is true, rendered
the patois of that class of people whom they personated
familiar to one, but the other spoke only the pure and
native language of which it was a corruption. It might
have occurred to them at a cooler moment, and under less
critical circumstances, that, even if their disguise had
been penetrated, it was unlikely a female, manifesting
so much lively affection for her parent, would have done
aught to injure those with whom he had evidently connected
himself. But the importance attached to their entire
security from danger left them but little room for
reflections of a calming character, while a doubt of that
security remained.

One singularity struck them both. They had expected the
young woman, urged by a natural curiosity, would have
commenced a conversation, even if they did not; and he
who spoke the patois was prepared to sustain it as well
as his anxious and overcharged spirit would enable him;
and as he was aware the morning had furnished sufficient
incident of fearful interest, he had naturally looked
for a verbal re-enactment of the harrowing and dreadful
scene. To their surprise, however, they both remarked
that, far from evincing a desire to enter into conversation,
the young woman scarcely ever looked at them, but lingered
constantly near the table, and facing the window. Still,
to avoid an appearance of singularity on their own parts
as far as possible, the elder of the officers motioned