t moments, might wish to have performed.

Butler thanked him for his solicitude, and then said, "I asked
permission to write to a friend; that has been denied. I feel reluctant
to expose myself to another refusal. You have taken a slight interest in
my sufferings, and I will, therefore, confide to you a simple wish,
which it will not cost my persecutors much to gratify. It is that I may
be taken to my grave, dressed as you see me now. I would not have my
person stripped or plundered."

"If you have valuables about you, sir, trust them to my keeping; I
promise you they shall be faithfully delivered according to your wish."

"What money there is about my person," replied Butler, "may be given to
the soldiers who are compelled to execute this harsh and unjust sentence
on my person; but I have a trinket," he said, drawing from his bosom a
miniature, which was suspended by a ribbon, "it is the gift of
one,"--here, for the first time, a tear started into Butler's eye, and
his power of utterance failed him.

"I understand, sir," said St. Jermyn, eagerly reaching out his hand to
take the picture, "I will seek the lady, at whatever hazard"--

"No," answered the unfortunate officer, "it must be buried with me. It
has dwelt here," he added with emotion, as he placed his hand upon his
heart, "and here it must sleep in death."

"On the honor of a soldier," said St. Jermyn, "I promise you its rest
shall not be violated."

"You will attend me?"

"I will."

"Lead on," said the prisoner, stepping to the place assigned him in the
ranks. "I seek no further delay."

"March down the river, half a mile below the camp," said Innis, who now
came up, as the escort had begun its progress towards the place of
execution. And the soldiers moved slowly, with the customary funeral
observances, in a direction that led across the whole extent of the
plain.

When this little detachment had disappeared on the further side of the
field, a sudden commotion arose at head-quarters by the hasty arrival of
a mounted patrol--

"We are followed!" cried the leading horseman, in great perturbation.
"They will be here in an instant! We have been pressed by them for the
last two miles."

"Of whom do you speak?" inquired Innis, eagerly.

"The enemy! the enemy!" vociferated several voices.

At the same moment a cloud of dust was seen rising above the trees, in
the direction of the road leading up the Ennoree.

"To arms--to arms!" ejaculated the co