am; a general in the American army, who
organized the forces at Cambridge before the battle of
Bunker Hill.]

[Footnote 109: Alexander Hamilton, aide-de-camp to
Washington.]

"Surely, surely, Peyton; his solemn, deliberate promise, knowing all
the circumstances."

"Rest easy," cried Dunwoodie, holding her to his bosom for a moment,
"rest easy, for Henry is safe."

He waited not to explain, but darting from the room, he left the
family in amazement. They continued in silent wonder until they heard
the feet of his charger as he dashed from the door with the speed of
an arrow.

A long time was spent after this abrupt departure of the youth, by the
anxious friends he had left, in discussing the probability of his
success. The confidence of his manner had, however, communicated to
his auditors something of his own spirit. Each felt the prospects of
Henry were again brightening, and with their reviving hopes they
experienced a renewal of spirits, which in all but Henry himself
amounted to pleasure. Frances reposed in security on the assurance of
Dunwoodie; believing her lover able to accomplish everything that man
could do and retaining a vivid recollection of the manner and
benevolent appearance of Harper, she abandoned herself to all the
felicity of renovated hope.

From the window where she stood, the pass that they had travelled
through the Highlands was easily to be seen; and the mountain which
held on its summit the mysterious hut was directly before her. Its
sides were rugged and barren; huge and apparently impassable barriers
of rocks presenting themselves through the stunted oaks, which,
stripped of their foliage, were scattered over its surface. The
base of the hill was not half a mile from the house, and the object
which attracted the notice of Frances was the figure of a man
emerging from behind a rock of remarkable formation, and as suddenly
disappearing. The manoeuvre was several times repeated, as if it were
the intention of the fugitive (for such by his air he seemed to be) to
reconnoitre the proceedings of the soldiery, and assure himself of the
position of things on the plain. Notwithstanding the distance, Frances
instantly imbibed the opinion that it was Birch, who had so connected
himself with the mysterious deportment of Harper, within her
imagination, that under circumstances of less agitation than those in
which she had labored since her arrival, she would have kept her
sus