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the manly countenance of Templeton, with an air, in which curiosity, respect and dislike, were strangely blended. It was encountered by an unabashed look of proud contempt and indignation, which in spite of his desperate situation and involuntary feelings of dread, Jarvis could not restrain. "Are you

a rebel officer?" at last slowly escaped the lips of the commander, in a harsh, unpleasant tone. "I am a regular commissioned officer in the Virginia Continental line," Jarvis firmly replied. "Young man," rejoined the loyalist, "your air of effrontery, and your assumed tone of composure, will at this time, afford you but little service. Your life is in the hands of a foe, who are as willing to be lenient in case of submission, as to be severe if you are refractory. My officer tells me, that you were seen to give a packet into the hands of an American trooper, doubtless one of Lee's legion, who has been sent as a scout into this country. Now, Sir, I require of you a full and true account of the nature of that packet; if you do not afford it, you may tremble for the consequences." "Sir," replied Jarvis, "I am well apprized of the situation in which I am placed; and although death may encounter me as soon as my determination and sentiments are expressed, yet I cannot but feel my sensations of abhorrence to your cause increased by the insidious and treacherous manner by which you are willing to entrap me. Think you, Sir, that I am so stupid and so blind as not to understand the plan and see through the meaning, which you would so ingeniously disguise by smooth language and seeming can

dour? Think you, Sir, that I am to be made a traitor by the fears of any death which you can inflict? Where is the solitary instance of lenity and forbearance, which you and your employers have ever extended to an American, to be found? You would first force from me secrets, the revealing of which would be ruinous to my cause, and then condemn me to the halter, with the double sin of treachery and perjury upon my head? No, villain," said he, (his feelings almost phrenzied with passion,) " sooner than I would communicate to you any farther than I have done, I would endure all the torments which you and your employers, which the vindictive malice of a Tory, or the blood-thirsty hatred of a Briton, could inflict.".

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At the commencement of Templeton's reply, the Tory Colonel gazed upon him with an air of incredulous surprize; but, as he proceeded into the strain of bitter invective, his swarthy cheek blackened with a still deeper hue, his lips quivered, and his eye gleamed with the most deadly rage. He slowly arose from his seat, placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword, and seemed awaiting the conclusion of his remarks, to thrust the insolent speaker through the heart. Templeton saw the movement, and cautiously eluded a desperate lunge at his body, by an active inclination to one side. "Hold, Sir," he exclaimed, "for the honor of your cause, if it possesses any, release my hands from these bonds, and give me a weapon: let me at least die with the satisfaction of knowing, that I made one blow for my country's cause, at the carcase of a villain and a Tory.”

As the rash youth thus vented his rage, the whole troop standing around, with a yell of fury, and with uplifted weapons, rushed towards him; at the same moment the door of the stair-case flew open, and a female, with a loud scream, threw herself between the body of Jarvis and those who were preparing to slaughter him. She fell upon her knees before the Colonel, and in an attitude of earnest supplication, with tones of the most melting sorrow, besought him to forbear. "Colonel Pyle," she exclaimed, "if there is a spark of honour in your bosom, if there is one feeling of humanity yet existing in your frame, do not stain the walls of this miserable dwelling with the blood of that youth. My father, my brothers and uncle have perished in your cause, and for the respect due to their memories, if not for the sake of my poor widowed mother, whose heart is broken, and who is now pouring forth her last sigh in the room above, refrain from your bloody purpose. My God!" she exclaimed, while a flood of tears burst from her eyes, "when will these horrible scenes terminate? When will persons who are of the same blood, and connected by all the ties of nature, cease butchering each other, in all the fury of revenge and hatred ?" Here her voice was suppressed by a tide of emotions; her face drooped upon her clasped hands, and her whole appearance was a picture of piteous entreaty, mingled with the most heart-rending grief. Pyle gazed on her for a moment, and slowly returned his sword into the scabbard, whilst his countenance, from the demoniac rage by which it had been distorted, subsided into a calm

though severe expression. His party, who seemed mechanically to imitate his movements, resumed their former positions, with the most perfect air of nonchalance. The base manner in which the attack upon his life had just been made, excited an indignation in the bosom of Jarvis, which for a moment usurped the place of gratitude towards the maiden who had so opportunely interposed between him and destruction. But, when her fair form slowly arose from its supplicating position, when the pallid cheek, and tear-suffused eye, revealed to him the anguish encountered for his sake, his bosom was at once surcharged with a tide of grateful emotions. "Kind lady," said he, "you have saved my life, and in doing so, have only protracted the hour of my fate. But, for the humanity which impelled you in this hour of trial, be assured that you shall to the end of my existence, be remembered in the grateful prayers of a Virginian." "Cease your prating, sir,” said Pyle, "and do you, Miss Woodville, retire. The respect which I entertain for the memory of your father, prevents my inflicting at this time upon that youth the punishment due to his insolence and rebellion. But to-morrow morning, by the first light of day, he dies. No power on earth shall save him, as I am a loyalist, and true to my cause." The young lady retired, and by the faint light which gleamed through the apartment, Jarvis could perceive that her frame tottered, and appeared ready to sink from exhaustion of feeling, beneath the weight of misery and woe.

The harsh voice of Pyle again startled him. "Lieutenant Thornton," said he, "I must go and as

semble Edwards's force; to-morrow we join Tarleton; release that man from his bonds, and if he needs any refreshment, give it to him: after he has finished his meal, confine him in that room at the end of the house; leave him alone till morning, but let two men keep guard throughout the night at the door, and in the morning 99 "Yes, Sir," said the lieutenant, "I understand you: all your commands shall be strictly attended to." "Silence, Sir," said Pyle, "and attend to my words: in the morning, by the first dawn of light, hang him to the first tree you can find." Having uttered these last words in a deep, harsh tone, he left the apartment, and in a few moments Jarvis heard the sound of his horse's hoofs, rapidly moving in a direction from the house. "Well, my youth," said the lieutenant, "we will ease you of your bracelets, and if you will eat any thing, here is a corn pone and some middling; strong and wholesome fare. You choose nothing? We'll conduct you, then, to your apartments." "Take me where you please," said Jarvis, "so I can be left to myself, and rid of the rascally crew by whom I am surrounded." "Very well, Sir," said the lieutenant, 66 you can have your sport to-night, but if I don't mistake, you will exhibit in the morning, the cheering sight of a Tuckahoe beating time upon the air, to the tune of 'Rogue's march."" So saying, he took up a pine light, and led the way; Jarvis followed him, with a guard at each side, armed with a drawn sword. At the extremity of the room, was a door fastened by a large padlock; the lieutenant having applied a key, opened it, and the party entered

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