officer, whose thoughts had evidently no connection with
the duty he was performing, or the spot on which he stood.

When this customary inspection had been accomplished,--how
imperfectly, has been seen,--and the men dismissed from
their ranks, the same young officer was observed, by one
who followed his every movement with interest, to ascend
that part of the rampart which commanded an unbroken view
of the country westward, from the point where the encampment
of the Indians was supposed to lie, down to the bridge
on which the terrible tragedy of Halloway's death had
been so recently enacted. Unconscious of the presence of
two sentinels, who moved to and fro near their respective
posts, on either side of him, the young officer folded
his arms, and gazed in that direction for some minutes,
with his whole soul riveted on the scene. Then, as if
overcome by recollections called up by that on which he
gazed, he covered his eyes hurriedly with his hands, and
betrayed, by the convulsed movement of his slender form,
he was weeping bitterly. This paroxysm past, he uncovered
his face, sank with one knee upon the ground, and upraising
his clasped hands, as if in appeal to his God, seemed to
pray deeply and fervently. In this attitude he continued
for some moments, when he became sensible of the approach
of an intruder. He raised himself from his knee, turned,
and beheld one whose countenance was stamped with a
dejection scarcely inferior to his own. It was Captain
Blessington.

"Charles, my dear Charles!" exclaimed the latter hurriedly,