threatened danger, when his eye suddenly rested upon a sight which thrilled him with horror. Upon one of the lower branches of a large oak, which towered far above the surrounding growth of the plain, was suspended the body of a man, completely defined against the bright blue sky. "My God," he involuntarily exclaimed, "who could have done that? What miserable villains could have thus immolated a human being, and left his bones to wither in the blast?" "I had a hand in the business, Sir," meekly replied the sergeant; "that fellow there, over whom you are pouring such strains of grief, deserved a fate far more wretched and dishonorable than that which he met. Who but he," exclaimed the trooper, with rapidly excited feeling, "led on the band that burnt the cottage, which you saw behind, and slaughtered the miserable inmates? Who but he, has watched the movements, and transmitted intelligence of all our operations to Cornwallis, for the last year? And who but that damned villain guided the party that butchered the poor boy who was the bugler of our troop? A child so young, that he could not wear a sword. Poor little fellow! he was a much fitter subject to have been dandled on his parent's knee, than to have been hewed to pieces by broad-swords. I saw him shortly after he had been cut down in the road; life had not departed from his body, but his eye was glazed, and his lip convulsively quivered, as I raised him in my arms. I wiped the blood from his brow, and bound up the deep gashes in his head; but he lived only a few moments, and we had not time even to bury him.”

As the sergeant related the fate of his young friend, his voice sunk, his bosom heaved, and in spite of his efforts to restrain them, the tears burst from his eyes. "Mount your horse," he rapidly and loudly exclaimed, as a body of fifteen or twenty horsemen, apparently in pursuit, advanced in full gallop from the thicket behind them. Jarvis vaulted into his saddle, gave his horse the spur, and for a few moments kept pace with the fleetness of his comrade's steed. But, he soon discovered that his horse was too much exhausted to proceed. He faultered, and lagged behind; to every effort of Jarvis, he seemed insensible, and at last was upon the point of falling down. "Save yourself, sergeant," said he, as his comrade reined in, and drew his carbine to his shoulder to shoot down the first who approached. ""Tis madness," said Jarvis, "to contend against such a number. Take this packet to Colonel Lee; it is vitally important that he should get it. Go for your life, as the enemy are upon us." The sergeant for a moment stood irresolute; already those in pursuit were within a few paces, and the rattling of their steel scabbards and stirrups rung loud upon the ear. "If they don't hang you," said the sergeant, "you may look out for rescue before to-morrow morning."So saying, he grasped the packet and dashed off with the swiftness of the wind; his large red cloak waved for a moment like a cloud in the moon-beam, and then disappeared in the forest. A volley of pistol shots were discharged after him by those in pursuit, as with loud shouts they surrounded Templeton. A few passed on in pursuit of the sergeant,

while the rest dismounting, dragged Jarvis from his horse. He was placed in the centre of the party, while a large raw-boned, ferocious looking personage apparently the leader, proceeded to examine him. "Who and what are you?" said he to Jarvis. "I am a commissioned Virginia officer, and my name is Templeton," was the reply. "Where are you from?" "The East." "Where are you going?" "South." "Your replies are short and sweet, my son of a Tuckahoe," replied the leader. "We'll find a plan to loosen your tongue. Sergeant, bring that hempen cravat which you have in your pocket always ready." As he spoke, Templeton threw off those by whom he was immediately surrounded, and rapidly drawing his sabre, struck the steel cap of the leader with a violence that broke the weapon in splinters, and sent him reeling for several paces. "Secure him, you damned scoundrels," said the ruffian as he again advanced, foaming with rage. In a moment Templeton lay prostrate upon the earth, and his hands and arms were pinioned by numberless folds of strong cord. He was stripped of his pistols, dagger, sword-belt and purse, and having fastened a strong noose around his neck, the party were proceeding to give him the coup de grace, when the leader interfered." "Stop," said he, “I had forgotten my orders. Colonel Pyle gave me positive injunctions to bring all my prisoners to the rendezvous, where he meets us to night. He wishes to join Tarleton to-morrow, and information is necessary. Perhaps he may be able to get more out of this young rebel than I can. Mount

him on his horse and let us proceed." This was immediately done, and with a guard on each side, Jarvis was placed in the centre of the troop, which formed in line, and swept rapidly across the plain. They rode in silence, and Jarvis had full leisure to reflect upon the consummation of his worst fears. The party who had taken him, were evidently of that irregular partizan band of Tories, who had so long ravaged the country, and whose cruelty to prisoners was proverbial. He dreaded the meeting with the Colonel of the troop, as it would depend upon his disclosure of important secrets, whether or not he would be allowed to live till his comrade should have time to comply with his promise. He determined, however, to persevere in his determination of secrecy, let the consequences be what they might. They had rode for some time through the thickets, and over the barrens which by turns chequered their route, till they were at length obstructed by a fence; one of the party dismounted, and having made an opening, the rest past through into a small orchard. In a moment afterwards, the barking of a dog, and immediately succeeding, the flash of a light through a window, showed that they had arrived at a house. They rode to the door and the leader giving a loud halloo, it was responded by a deep, guttural voice within. The door opened, and a man made his appearance, whose haggard, sunburnt features, upon sight of the leader, contracted into a grin truly demoniac. "Ah, lieutenant Thornton," said he, "is that you? Come, dismount and walk in. But who have we here? A rebel by our

sovereign. Oh! you villain!" "Silence and be damned to you," said the lieutenant; "where's Col. Pyle?" "He's within, Sir; he has been looking out for you some time; he calculates to make a final muster in the morning, and join Colonel Tarleton, who we understand is coming on down the road in the morning, from Hillsborough. Col. Pyle wishes very much to see you, as he is going back again tonight to Edwards's, for the purpose of giving notice to those who are there." As this conversation lasted, the party had dismounted, and Jarvis, with a man at each elbow, was escorted into the house. A large log fire blazing in the hearth, with the smoky gleam of a pine knot upon the stone jam, exposed to view upon entrance, a figure sitting by the fire, who by the quality of his dress, the richly ornamented collar, the epaulettes of gold and the silver mounted sabre, was evidently the commander, of whom his captors had been speaking. A scattered group of half-armed, savage-looking troops were lazily stretched out upon blankets at the extremity of the room, and save the glistening of a bayonet or musket barrel in parts of the room, nothing could be seen to relieve the nakedness of its walls. personage sitting by the fire, glanced upon the party a look of recognition, and discovered to the curious view of our hero, a dark, lowering visage, which, by long exposure to the southern sun, had become almost as swarthy as an Indjan.. “A prisoner, Sir," said the officer, with a tone of deep respect, as Jarvis was placed in front of the commander. Pyle gazed upon the handsome form and

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