ns immediately gave chase, firing at the
brave lad, and calling out to surrender; but the gallant youth
paid no attention either to their voices or their bullets.
Launching his little bark, he put to sea with a single paddle,
and, regardless of the showers of balls which fell about him,
returned alone and unhurt to the ship. Whilst one party was thus
employed, the other hastened to the house in full expectation of
capturing the British officers. But their host kept his word
with great fidelity, and, having directed his countrymen towards
another farm-house at some distance from his own, and in an
opposite quarter from the spot where his guests lay, he waited
till they were out of sight, and then joined his new friends in
their lurking-place. Bringing with him such provisions as he
could muster, he advised them to keep quiet till dark, when,
their pursuers having departed, he conducted them to the river,
supplied them with a large canoe, and sent them off in perfect
safety to the fleet.

On reaching their ship, they found the 85th regiment under arms,
and preparing to land, for the purpose of either releasing their
comrades from captivity, or inflicting exemplary punishment upon
the farmer by whose treachery it was supposed that they had
suffered. But when the particulars of his behaviour were
related, the latter alternative was at once abandoned; and it was
determined to force a dismissal of the captives, by advancing up
the country, and laying waste every thing with fire and sword.
The whole of the light brigade was accordingly carried on shore,
and halted on the beach, whilst a messenger was sent forward to
demand back the prisoners. Such, however, was the effect of his
threatening, that the demand was at once complied with, and they
returned on board without having committed any ravages, or
marched above two miles from the boats.

THE POTOMAC

Besides this trifling debarkation, another little excursion was
made by the second and third brigades, the light troops being
left most unaccountably on board of ship, Colonel Brook, having
heard that an encampment was formed a few miles from the left
bank of the Potomac, determined, if possible, to come up with and
engage the force there stationed. With this view, two brigades
were landed on the night of the 4th of October, and pushed
forward at a brisk pace; but the enemy, being on the alert, had
timely notice of the movement, and retired; by which means our
peop