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The long line of sleighs moved along at a great pace, considering the difficult and broken nature of the road, and the twenty miles to Colchester was accomplished by 10 p.m. At that place Colonel Maitland determined to halt to refresh both men and horses, before getting on the ice en route for Pelée Island, another twenty miles, and to his surprise and delight he found that the inhabitants of that little village had made the most ample and hospitable provision for treating the men to something better than the rations they had brought with them. Cheered with the good meat and drink and warmth, as well as by the feeling that their fellow-countrymen really appreciated their services, and cared for their little comforts, the soldiers mounted their sleighs again at half-past one in the morning; the horses were turned on to the ice of the lake; and the road, if such a term may be used to describe a mere ice-track, for Pelée pursued in absolute silence, the bells having been removed from the harness for the purpose; neither was any light allowed, and the Colchester man who headed the column as a guide grumbled no little at being forbidden to take his lantern, alleging that at any minute the sky might become overcast, and the route be lost. Before they had proceeded very many miles, Colonel Maitland became painfully aware of the

truth of the man's prognostications. A low moaning wind commenced to blow, bearing with it great masses. of black snow-laden clouds; the brilliant moon was rapidly overcast; a pitchy darkness took the place of the bright light they had previously enjoyed; and, to crown all, the guide blundered-once-twicethrice-and at last came to a dead halt, and declared that he had completely lost his way, and dared not go further lest he should lead the troops into the unfrozen water on the eastern side of the island.

"The unfrozen water!" ejaculated Colonel Maitland: "Do you mean to say there is any part of the lake not frozen?"

"Yes, sir," was the answer : "At the north-east of the island-and we may be facing that way now for all I know-it never freezes. The redskins say there is a hot spring there."

One of the Indians corroborated the man's statement, declaring that for miles in the direction of the place the ice was so rotten that the whole force might be suddenly submerged when once well on it.

"Good gracious!" cried the Colonel, in dismay; "what can we do? I shall have to halt here till daylight."

The snow now began to fall very fast, and the darkness was intense.

"If you please, sir," said Blunt coming forward and saluting, "if you will allow me, I think I could find the back-track to Colchester, and fetch out a couple of lanterns."

The guide and the Indians shook their heads. They said no man could do that now; he would be sure to go wrong, and never be heard of more. But Blunt was obstinate; he knew he possessed that strange faculty (not given to one man in a million, though bountifully bestowed on horses and some of the lower animals) of being able to retrace his steps instinctively without any landmark whatever to guide him, and he implored the Colonel to give him the desired permission.

"But it's certain death, man!" answered the Colonel, one of the most humane men in every action of life: "These Indians know that for certain, and you told me you had not been in the country more than a few months."

But still Blunt persisted; he pointed out that one man's life was nothing to the risk the whole force ran; that if he was lost it would not affect one single soul; and that he was perfectly certain he could find the track. At last Colonel Maitland consented, though with immense reluctance, and Blunt started on his perilous journey. He had not over-estimated his powers, but to the intense astonishment of all, re

joined the column in little over the time it would have taken him to traverse the distance in broad daylight, bearing with him two huge and well-trimmed lanterns. The guide, after some little fumbling about, found the track to the island again, and the column once more resumed its march. The delay, however, frustrated Colonel Maitland's intention of attacking the rebels before daybreak, and there was a little light when he arrived within musket-shot of the beach of Pelée. However, he managed to conceal his force behind the hummocks of ice, just out of range in case of discovery, before the enemy were aware of his presence, and detached two companies of the 32nd regiment, with 25 men of the volunteer cavalry, to proceed, by the western side of the island to the south or American end, so as to place the enemy between two fires, and force them to fight. With this detachment went Strangways and Blunt, as knowing best the geography of the island; and by reason of keeping about two miles from the shore, they managed to creep round and take up a strong position behind. some ice-banks on the south, before they were observed. It was then broad daylight. The men were ordered to pile arms and take off their great-coats; while they hastily swallowed the breakfast ration each soldier carried with him.

“I

CHAPTER III.

BETWEEN FIRE AND WATER.

SAY, Eustace, we have done these blackguards nicely, haven't we? Got them in a regular trap from which there's no escape."

"H'm; I'm not so sure of that." Eustace was not a soldier, and he failed to see the state of affairs in the same sanguine light as did his friend, who was in high spirits as he seemed to scent an approaching battle. Eustace had been dull and gloomy ever since they left Colchester—a gloom, or despondency rather, that he could not shake off, try how he might: "I'm not so sure of that. My own opinion is we, here, are in the trap."

"Pooh, nonsense!

Haven't we got them between two fires? They must fight, and they are sure to be jolly well licked."

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'Again I say, I'm not so sure of that. I'm no coward, but I confess I think our position the worst of the two. The Yankee has, as he said, two men to every one of ours; he has splendid rifles to oppose to our old blunderboxes of muskets; he has a strong position in the woods and swamps; he has

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