me evil has befallen Ramsay. Scatter
and search the wood."

It was with confused and melancholy earnestness that they all now
continued the quest. After a painful suspense, one of the men was heard
to shout to the rest that their lost comrade was found. The summons soon
brought the party together. Ramsay, pale and faint, was stretched upon
the grass of the forest, his bosom streaming forth a current of blood.
In an instant Butler was seen stooping over him.

"Oh, this is a heavy ransom, for my deliverance!" he said with the
deepest anguish, as he raised the trooper's head and laid it on his lap,
whilst the blood flowed from the wound. "Speak, dear friend, speak!
Great God, I fear this blow is mortal! Some water, if it can be
found--look for it, Winter; he has fainted from loss of blood."

Whilst Harry Winter went in search of the necessary refreshment, Butler
tore his cravat from his neck and applied it to staunch the wound. The
administration of a slight draught of water, after a short interval,
sufficiently revived the disabled soldier to enable him to speak. He
turned his sickly and almost quenched eye to Butler, as he said:

"I was foolish to follow so far. I have it here--here," he added in a
feeble voice, as he put his hand upon his breast, "and it has done my
work. I fought for you, major, because I was proud to fight for a
friend; and because"--here his voice failed him, as for a moment he
closed his eyes and faintly uttered--"it is all over--I am dying."

"Nay, good John," said Butler, whilst the tears ran down his cheeks; "it
is not so bad as that--you are weak from bleeding--you will be better
presently. Oh God! oh God!" he muttered to himself, "I would not have
had this to save my own life, much less as the price of my liberty!"

"I fought for you," said the wounded man, again reviving, "because Mary
wished it. This will kill Mary," he added after a pause. "She warned me
not to be rash, but I could not help it. Be kind to her, Major Butler,
and take care of her. Tell her I did not fear to die; but for her sake,
and for the sake of my poor mother. Go to my parents; let them know I
thought of them in my last thoughts."

"John! John!" exclaimed Butler, unable to give further utterance to his
feelings.

The dying trooper lay for some moments silent, and his comrades stood
around him in mute grief, and hung their heads to conceal their emotions
from each other.

"In my pocket," said Ramsay, "is a Testam