eutenant was conscious that this
mischance had exposed him to the risk of heavy censure, and as was
natural to a man who could not entirely acquit himself of some neglect
in the performance of his duty, his first measures were taken in a
spirit of peevish and angry severity. Small parties were sent out to
explore the neighborhood, with a view to gain intelligence of the
direction taken by the fugitive, with orders to bring him in dead or
alive. The sentinels who were on duty during the night were arrested,
and subjected to a rigid examination on the events of their watch; the
several members of Musgrove's family were also interrogated as to
matters touching their own connexion with the prisoner. Nothing,
however, was gathered from these investigations that was calculated to
cast a suspicion of connivance in Butler's liberation, upon any
individual either of the garrison or of the family. It was only apparent
that the prisoner had availed himself of the remissness of the guard and
the darkness of the night, to make a bold descent from the window; and
had succeeded by one of those lucky accidents which sometimes baffle the
most cautious foresight. The nature of the attempt did not necessarily
suppose the aid of an accomplice, and a faint hope was, therefore,
entertained that Butler would be found still lurking in the vicinity of
the post.

In the course of a few hours, the first parties that had been dispatched
in the morning, returned. They could give no account of the prisoner;
nor was there any light thrown upon the escape until about the dinner
hour, when a portion of the detachment which had intercepted Butler and
his comrades in the morning, arrived at the mill, under the conduct of
the soldier whose suspicions had led to the pursuit and skirmish which
we have already described. The report of these men left Macdonald no
room to doubt the identity of Butler with the person described. A
further examination, at the suggestion of the soldier, showed that
Wall-Eye, the wagon-horse, was missing; and it now became certain that
Butler had been aided by a party of the enemy with whom he must have
been in correspondence. The conclusion was, that with his means of
flight there could be little doubt of his being, long before the present
period of the day, out of the reach of successful pursuit. The scheme
was laid to the account of Horse Shoe Robinson, whose name and
adventures were already famous in this district; and it was c