sincerity, they advised Major
Scott no longer to delay his departure from the town, and some of them
volunteered to accompany him as a guard to his country-seat.

"You have saved my life," said Captain Percy, as he shook hands with Mr.
Sinclair at parting.

"And you have preserved for me all, except my duties, for which I can
now desire to live," answered Mr. Sinclair with emotion: then turning to
Major Scott, he added, "as soon as you consider it safe, you will, I
hope, bring Captain Percy to visit us. In the mean time, Captain Percy,
remember that the stranger and the prisoner are a clergyman's especial
care, and suffer yourself to want nothing which I can do for you. By-the
by," and he took Major Scott aside and whispered him.

"Give yourself no concern about that, my dear sir," said Major Scott in
reply, "I will attend to it."

He did attend to it, and Captain Percy's drafts on his captor were
promptly met, till he was able to open a communication with the British
commander.

In as quiet a manner as possible Major Scott and Captain Percy moved off
from the hotel, and were met in the suburbs by their volunteer guard,
while another party of the men whom he had thus saved from a great
crime, attended Mr. Sinclair to his home. As he entered the area of the
smouldering ruins his eye sought the object lately viewed with so much
horror. He had scarcely glanced at it, when one of his companions
stepped up and disengaged a dark cloak from the noose already prepared
for its expected victim--"I knew no one would steal it from the
gallows," said the man, as he threw it over his shoulders. Mr. Sinclair
smiled to think how easily imagination had transformed that harmless
object into the fair proportions of a man.

Nothing more was heard of Captain Percy for weeks--dreary weeks to many
in Havre de Grace--melancholy weeks to the inmates of the parsonage, who
missed at every turn the familiar step and voice which had been life's
sweetest music to their hearts. At length Mr. Sinclair received a note
from Major Scott, announcing his own approaching departure to the army
on our northern frontier, and requesting permission for Captain Percy
and himself to call on Mr. and Miss Sinclair. Permission was given--the
call was made, and they who had met only in scenes of terror and dismay,
amidst flushing looks and fierce words, now greeted each other with
gentlest courtesy among sounds and sights of peace. The call was
succeeded by a v