al, appealing to the officer by his side, with an interest that
obviously spoke the contest in his own mind in regard to the justice of
the daily executions which he had sanctioned: "who can blame us for
hanging up these recreants for their violated faith, with such thick
perfidy before our eyes? This Santee district, to a man, had given their
paroles and taken my protection: and, now, the first chance they have to
play me a trick, they are up and at work, attacking our feeble escorts
that should, in their sickly state, have rather looked to them for aid.
I will carry out the work; by my sword, it shall go on sternly. Enough,
Ensign, back to your company," he said, bowing to the young officer, who
at once left the room.

"What is your lordship's pleasure regarding this Adam Cusack?" inquired
M'Arthur.

"Oh, aye! I had well nigh forgotten that man. He was taken, I think, in
the act of firing on a ferry-boat at Cheraw?"

"The ball passed through the hat of my Lord Dunglas," said M'Arthur.

"The lurking hound! A liege subject turning truant to his duty; e'en let
him bide the fate of his brethren."

M'Arthur merely nodded his head, and Cornwallis, rising from his chair,
strode a few paces backwards and forwards through the room. "I would
tune my bosom to mercy," he said, at length, "and win these dog-headed
rebels back to their duty to their king by kindness; but good-will and
charity towards them fall upon their breasts like water on a heated
stone, which is thrown back in hisses. No, no, that day is past, and
they shall feel the rod. We walk in danger whilst we leave these
serpents in the grass. Order the gentlemen to horse, Major M'Arthur; we
must be stirring. Let this fellow, Cusack, be dealt with like the rest.
Gentlemen," added the chief, as he appeared at the door amidst the group
who awaited his coming, "to your several commands!"

Captain Brodrick, the principal aide, at this moment arrested the
preparations to depart, by placing in Cornwallis's hand a letter which
had just been brought by a dragoon to head-quarters.

The general broke the seal, and, running his eye over the contents,
said, as he handed the letter to the aide, "This is something out of the
course of the campaign; a letter from a lady, now at the picquet-guard,
and it seems she desires to speak with me. Who brought the billet,
captain?"

"This dragoon, one of a special escort from the legion. They have in
charge a party of travellers, who h