aged. We now went up in daylight, with a force which
no enemy was likely to attack. Mackey's Mills were reached soon after
noon, and when I had delivered the provisions I was ordered to remain to
assist in passing the troops across the river on their way to the attack
of Portsmouth. The embarkation was not to take place till midnight, so
I had ample time to go up the river to ascertain whether the house where
Madeline had been residing had been attacked. O'Driscoll was ready
enough to accompany me, to give me, as he observed, one chance more of
doing the proper thing; but, before I went, I was anxious to ascertain
whether Colonel Carlyon had indeed fallen into our hands. I had, at the
same time, no reason to fear that he would be treated harshly or with
want of courtesy. Only, if he was a prisoner, I naturally wished to see
him, that I might offer him all the assistance in my power. Going on
shore, after some difficulty I found out Colonel Simcoe's quarters at a
farm-house a mile away from the mills. I introduced myself to him, and
told him my errand--that I was acquainted with Colonel Carlyon's family,
and that I wished to be of service to him. He replied that the officer
he had taken had refused to give his name and rank to the party who had
captured him.

"I understood that he and his men were surprised," I remarked.

"Not at all," was the answer. "He was apparently covering the retreat
of another party who appeared to have some women and other encumbrances
among them. To do the rebel gentleman justice, he fought very bravely,
and did not yield till he was completely overpowered."

I begged that I might see the prisoner, and, after some little
hesitation on the part of the colonel, he handed me the necessary order.
Thanking him for his courtesy, I set off for the cottage used as a
prison. It was situated a quarter of a mile nearer the mills. A strong
guard was posted in the neighbourhood, and a couple of sentries paced up
and down before it. I showed my order to the lieutenant in charge of
the party and was at once admitted. I looked round the chamber. Near a
casement window, seated on a rough stool, with a cask serving as a
table, I beheld Colonel Carlyon. He turned his head when I entered, and
I thought that his countenance brightened when he saw me. He rose and
held out his hand.

"I regret, sir, to see you here as a prisoner," said I. "Hearing that
an officer had been captured, I hastened, s