matters which may be supposed to have occupied the thoughts of the leaders as they were together on the broad rock to a subject which was at this moment brought to their notice by the unexpected appearance of two females on horseback on the road a full half mile in the rear of the army and who were now approaching at a steady pace they were attended by a man who even thus far off showed the of age and a short space behind them rode a few of in military array it was with mingled feelings of surprise and admiration at the courage which could have prompted her at such a time to visit the army that the party recognised and be i shoe s attendants in the approaching these emotions were expressed by them in the rough and hearty phrase of their habitual and familiar intercourse let me beg gentlemen said interrupting them that yon speak kindly and of yonder lady by my honor i hare never seen man or woman with a more devoted or heart poor girl � she has nobly followed butler through his and taken her share of suffering with a spirit thai should bring us all to shame horse shoe robinson who has her to our camp even from her father s house speaks of a secret between her and our captive friend that tells plainly enough to my mind of sworn faith and long tried love as men and soldiers we should reverence it look carefully to her comfort and safety go man at once and meet her on the road god grant that this day may bring an end to her grief j departed on his mission and when he met the lady her brother and the were already in her train explained the cause of this for the party in obedience to s urgent wish and scarcely less to the content of all the others had quitted their secluded position at town on the preceding morning and learning in the course of the day from persons on the road that had moved the miller had taken a direction across the country which enabled him to the army at its present post with little more than half the travel which the route of the march had required they had passed the night under a friendly roof some ten or twelve miles distant and had overtaken their companions at the critical moment at which they have been introduced to view at s request she was conducted into the presence of who still retained his station on the a thoughtful and amiable deference was manifested towards her by the assembled soldiers who received her with many kind and encouraging greetings that air of and timidity which in spite of all efforts at self control the novelty of her position and the consciousness of the dreadful scene at hand had thrown over her gradually began to give way before the assurances and sympathy of her friends and at length she became � self possessed to look around her and mark tlie events that were in progress the important moment of battle drew nigh and the several leaders took their leave of her with an to be of good cheer and to remain at her present post under the charge of her companion the miller who was fully instructed by as to the course he should take for the lady s safety in whatever emergency might arise here we leave her for a moment whilst we cast a glance at the preparations for battle it was three o clock before these arrangements were completed i have informed my reader that the mountain terminated immediately in front of the outlet from the narrow in which s army had halted its breast into the plain only some few hundred paces from the head of the column whilst the valley that forced both right and left afforded an easy passage along the base on either side occupied the very summit and now frowned upon his foe from the midst of a host confident in the strength of their position and exasperated by the pursuit which had driven them into this resolved to this post by a spirited attack at the same moment in front and on the two with this intent his army was divided into three equal parts the centre was reserved to himself and the right was assigned to and m the left to and these two latter parties were to repair to their respective sides of the mountain and the whole were to make the by the heights as nearly as possible at the same instant the men before they marched out of the had dismounted and their horses under the winding shelter of the hills and being now separated into detached columns formed in solid order they were put in motion to reach their allotted posts the were retained on horseback for such duty as might require speed and were stationed close in the rear of s own division which now merely marched from behind the shelter of the and halted in the view of the until sufficient delay should be afforded to the divisions to attain their ground attended by and his daughter still maintained her position on the and from this height surveyed the preparations for combat with a beating heart the scene within her view was one of intense occupation the air of stern resolve that sat upon every brow the silent but onward movement of the masses of men advancing to conflict the few brief and quick words of command that fell from the distance upon her ear the sullen beat of the upon the sod as an occasional sped to and fro between the more remote bodies and the centre division which yet stood in compact immediately below her at the foot of the hill then the breathless anxiety of her companions near at hand and the short note 