from the place, but belonging to peasants or labourers who had retired early to rest, that with the morning sun they might rise to their useful occupations. Captain Graham had escaped unhurt;--having recovered his recollection, and accustomed to witness more direful mishaps than he trusted his friend’s disaster would prove, he laid him carefully on the grass, while he himself, by the clear twilight of a July night, set forwards in quest of some friendly habitation, where his comrade might repose until he could be safely removed. Following the track, he in a quarter of an hour arrived at a solitary cottage, which from its first appearance he feared was uninhabited, till the barking of a dog made him hope that this was a faithful centinel guarding, though humble, the dwelling of man. On his approach the gallant watch, though not very strong, raised a loud alarm, more vehement and furious as Graham approached the door of his master. The traveller hallooed with all his vociferation. A rough voice from the hovel, in a northern accent, demanded, who is there? and what is wanted? the other briefly mentioned the mishap. The master of the house soon came forth, and the moon, having now begun to shine, presented an elderly man, tall, straight, and muscular, who, in a style of language somewhat better than his habitation denoted, declared his willingness to assist a fellow creature in distress. He however requested the gentleman to speak softly, as there was, he said, a detachment of marauders in the rear of his house, who if they knew that the commander was out of the garrison might carry away his stores and equipage. “It is a fair stratagem, please your honour, however, to fire your minute-guns when you are shifting your camp. If we go ourselves we shall make the vollies of the picquet guard amuse the enemy.” He accordingly bound his dog to a post, well knowing that “in the absence of the commander the artillery would be incessantly discharged.” This figurative language convinced Graham, that his attendant was a brother soldier. But hurrying to the scene of disaster, he took no time to ask any questions, except such as pertained to the case of his friend, and learned to his great satisfaction, that there was a skilful surgeon at a town within a few miles. When they arrived they found Major Hamilton, though in great pain, very quiet; and the postillion had, in his agreeable bed, relapsed into a tranquil repose. The new acquaintance proposed that the gentleman should be carried easily on their arms to his cottage, where he should have his poor accommodation until better could be provided. But, the moon being now under a cloud, Graham said, they should stop a little until her light should enable them to find their steps with more ease to the patient. The cottager, foreseeing this difficulty, had brought a lanthern, which, from an œconomy necessary in his very limited finances, he had forborne kindling till necessary: