"Egad," said Raymond, wiping the yet lingering dews from his red forehead, as he advanced from the card room where he had been detained, talking over his adventure with one or two of the anxious townspeople; "I have, within the last twenty four hours, had so much running and fighting for my country, that strength is scarcely left me to fight my own battles. But what is it, Miss D'Egville?" as he saluted Julia and her sister, "what battle am I to fight now--some fresh quizzing of these wags, I suppose-- ah, Middlemore, how do you do; Molineux, St. Clair, Henry Grantham, how do you all do?" "Ah, Raymond, my dear fellow, how do you do?" greeted Captain Molineux, with the air of one who really rejoices in the reappearance of a long absent friend. "Raymond, I am delighted to see you," exclaimed St. Clair. "Your bivouac has done you good," joined Middlemore, following the example of the others, and extending his hand, "I never saw you looking to greater advantage." "Pretty well, pretty well thank you," returned the good humoured, but not too acute subaltern, as he passed his hand over his Falstaffian stomach; "only a little fatigued with the last six hours, retreating. Egad! I began to think I never should get away, the fellows pursued us so hotly." "And hotly you fled, it would appear," returned Middlemore. "I dare be sworn, there was not a six foot Kentuckian of the whole American army active enough to come within a mile of him," added Molineux. "And yet, considering the speed he made, he seems to have lost but little of his flesh," said St. Clair. "Of course," chuckled Middlemore, "these long fellows come from Troy county in Ohio." "Egad, I don't know; why do you ask?" "Because you know it is not for the men of TROY to reduce the men of GREASE--hence your escape." "Are the enemy then so near, Mr. Raymond?" inquired Julia D'Egville, anxious to turn the conversation. "I should think not very far, Miss D'Egville, since, as you see they have not given me time to change my dress." At that moment the noise of horses' bells were heard without; and they were soon distinguished to be those of Colonel D'Egville's berlin. A few moments afterwards, that officer entered the room now wholly deserted save by the little coterie near the fire place. Like Lieutenant Raymond's, his dress was more suited to the bivouac than the ball room, and his countenance otherwise bore traces of fatigue.