other in rapid succession, accompanied by thunder and lightning, and when he reached the little hamlet to which he was destined, he was deluged with rain. It was a long time before he succeeded in his mission. The persons he wished to see were gone; their wives could not act without the sanction of their husbands. His mind was racked with anxiety; there was no remedy, however, he must wait, or his journey would be of no avail. The chain of communication was kept up between the exiles in Peru and the village of Plattsburgh; they received all the intelligence as fast as man and horse could carry it. Of course Dr. Stanley knew the enemy had pitched his tents about four miles from the village, and would probably wait there until pleasant weather. It was late in the evening before his business was completed, and he had just entered upon the dreary pine plains, when the last terrible storm came on. Such was his little history of mishaps. Their preparations for departure were soon made, and the wagon at the door, which was to convey them to their beloved children. Sad were the feelings of these parents as the doors of their much loved home closed upon them perhaps for ever. It had been the scene of affliction, it had also been the seat of domestic happiness; the birthplace of their children, it had witnessed their infant sports, and was endeared to them by many tender associations, its portals had now closed upon them, perhaps for the last time; the probability was, from its relative situation, it might take fire from the guns of our own fort. Mrs. Stanley brushed the tear from her eye, and quietly seated herself in the wagon.

CHAPTER VI.

THE house clock struck three, as Dr. Stanley and his wife, with Polly, rode out of the yard. At half past two, Dr. Stanley on his return from Peru had crossed the upper bridge as usual--their design now was to cross the lower one, in order to learn the countersign, and obtain from the general a passport through the line of sentinels stationed on their route. When they reached the bridge, they found it uncovered; two sentinels advanced, one on each side of the wagon, and each presenting his gun demanded the countersign. What was to be done? Dr. Stanley told the "plain unvarnished tale" of villagers unavoidably detained-and was informed there was no passing through camp that night, with or without the countersign; their orders were peremptory-neither could they enter camp in the morning without the magic word. "I am not a stranger," said Dr. Stanley, "you must know me; I have passed all hours of the night unmolested through your camp, during a succession of months before your army surgeons came on, and at all hours have I visited the fleet, having the professional charge of that also, and if I mistake not, young man, you have assisted me in handing dressings to bind up many an old wound received in battle, which had been neglected until dressed by me at yonder fort. Let us proceed, my good fellow!" "Can't help you, sir," was the laconic reply, "you pass here at your peril!" They rode on to the upper bridge, which Dr. Stanley had crossed without hindrance, when he returned from Peru a short hour before, when lo! that bridge was taken up also, a fence across the road, a breastwork erected, and the passage completely blocked up. A faintness--a sick

"Never!"

ness of the heart came over poor Mrs. Stanley-she wistfully turned her face to her husband with a look of inquiry: "We must go west!" said he. said the half distracted mother; "who is to protect our babes? should the enemy penetrate into the heart of our country, they may be torn from us for ever-"I cannot go west, I must go south!" "My dear Margaret," said the agonized husband, "quietly submit to this necessity, you see we cannot go south; in a few days the country will be quiet, and then we will rejoin the children. "Is it necessary, is it right, my husband, that we should separate ourselves from those helpless little ones? Oh! let us make one more effort, the cause is holy, God will aid us!" "My dear Margaret, resistance is vain; we only expose ourselves to insult, perhaps danger, by contending the pass with those sentinels." "Oh, Dr. Stanley!" exclaimed the half frantic mother, " I entreat you to make one more trial: let me in my own person make it; they will not refuse me. General Macomb is my personal friend, I will find some one who will procure me a sight of the general." "It is in vain, my dear Margaret, to resist the authority of these soldiers; be rational, I entreat you, and seek safety on the western road." "I implore, oh my husband, by all I have this night suffered, that you make one more effort to cross the lower bridge!" The husband gave up the point, and the head of his horse was again turned toward the village. When they arrived at the bridge, gray dawn was just breaking, and the scene which presented itself was truly imposing. The lights were not extinguished, lanterns were flying to and fro, in every direction, the string pieces of the bridge bare, every plank gone! the rapid motions of the soldiers engaged in their tasks; the glittering of firearms; the loud clear tones of the officers, giving direction, nodding plumes, and burnished swords, and "all the pomp and circumstance of war," so new to Mrs. Stanley, caused her heart to beat violently. She strained her eyes to

discover a boat, but no! there was no boat there. The moment the wagon arrived at the top of the hill above the bridge, two sentinels sprang forward and opposed their passage at the point of the bayonet. While Dr. Stanley was expostulating with the sentinel on one side, Mrs. Stanley, in tones that would have melted a heart of adamant, entreated the one on the other, that he would suffer them to proceed. With the gun pointed as close to her breast as it could be, without touching her, he refused. "Let me go," said she, "and obtain audience of the general! I can walk the string-pieces." "Pass at your peril," said the fellow, moving his weapon as if about to plunge it into her bosom; it did not touch her, and she feared it not. "I entreat you, my good fellow, call the officer of the night! I must see him," said the unhappy lady, raising her voice in agony; "I beseech you let me pass-I can walk the beams." "Pass at your peril!" repeated the angry sentinel. As the bright steel glanced before her eyes in the shadowy light reflected by the almost expiring lamps, mingling their fitful rays with the first faint streaks of morning, she shuddered; but again pleaded that he would call the officer of the night, -" Do, I entreat-if ye are men, ye will not persist in this refusal! call your officer, I implore you! or let me pass up on your own responsibility, to my helpless unprotected babes." Again the fellow, probably enjoying her distress, made a feint with his gun, presenting it so close that its point pressed against her mantle. Although trembling she shrunk not, but raising her voice in the excitement of the moment exclaimed, "I must, I will join my children; sheath your bayonet," said she, her voice still rising; " if ye have wives, or children of your own, for their sakes let me pass!" Still the bright bayonet flourished at her breast, while Dr. Stanley in deep altercation with the soldier on the other side, had not observed the close contact of the shining weapon with the person of his beloved wife: "You pass not here with

your lives," said the sentinel, again menacing the defenceless woman. "Let me get out," she shrieked, half rising, "let me make my way to General Macomb; he will send me on without delay." At that moment, an officer came running up the hill-" Who have we here? what is this? down with that weapon, sirrah! What lady is this? what Doctor?" "Lieut. M!" exclaimed Mrs. Stanley, every feature irradiated with sudden joy, "do you not know me?" "Not know you; my dear madam! and is this Dr. Stanley? I am thankful I am stationed here this night; -pardon, dear madam the vigilance of my soldiers; but I fear I cannot readily pardon them myself the fright they have given you-but how is this? why are you here? explain!" A few words led him to understand the position of the fugitives. "Have patience, Mrs. Stanley," said he, "you shall cross the bridge in a few moments." He then sprang with the speed of lightning down the hill, and in a short time the Doctor and Mrs. Stanley saw as many soldiers as could work to advantage laying planks across the string-pieces. In a few minutes Lieut. M returned, and bidding Mrs. Stanley not to be alarmed at the narrow bridge, (the passage was only wide enough for the wagon to cross,) he volunteered to lead the horse himself. Polly and Dr. Stanley alighted, and the two gentlemen led the horse across the narrow pass, Mrs. Stanley keeping her seat in the wagon. It was a critical operation, but the horse was kind and well trained; the noble animal stepped as carefully and as proudly as if he knew he was performing an important service for his master. Arrived at the extremity of the bridge, Lieut. M— said, "You are now, my friends, beyond the two most important lines of sentinels; wait a few moments, I will go to General Macomb and get you a pass through camp. Had our General been aware of Mrs. Stanley's situation, she would not have been subjected to such fatigue and alarm." He returned directly, bringing with him a passport. Then their way was plain,