What a scene! Volumes of smoke, as from an enormous volcano, were disgorged in massive clouds, and settled like a black canopy over the doomed city. The President's palace and the Treasury building, swathed in their shrouds of fire, illumined all the scene with terrific splendour. Even at the distance of several hundred yards off, her eyes ached with the insufferable light and scorching heat. At the distance of a mile, the Capitol, wrapped in its mantle of flame, sent forth a hailstorm of sparks and burning brands.

In strange and awful contrast to this appalling progress of destruction was the dread silence that reigned over the falling city. All the terror, consternation, hurry, and distraction were left without. Here, upon the very scene of action, all was comparatively quiet. The houses were shut up; and if they contained any inmates, they were hiding in obscurity. The streets seemed forsaken by the conquerors, as by the conquered. There was no shout of soldiery, no martial music, no sign or expression of a grand military triumph anywhere-no sound to be heard from the powerful enemy in possession, except a distant, dull, heavy, monotonous tramp, as of many retreating hoofs. The flames were doing their work of destruction in silence, only broken by the occasional crash of some falling roof, cupola, or pillar, or some reverberating explosion. Catherine passed under the blinding glare and scathing heat of the burning Treasury building, and, turning the elbow of the avenue, came upon a sentinel, who instantly levelled his musket and challenged her with "Who goes there?"

"Pass on,

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"The Admiral," said Catherine, drawing rein. The sentinel lowered his musket with a surly followed by a low, insulting comment. Catherine had merely intended to express her errand, and had chanced upon the countersign.

"Where shall I find your commander ?" she next said. "The General ?"

No-Admiral Cockburn."

"Corporal," said the soldier, in a low, distinct voice. The corporal of the guard advanced.

"What did you want, mum ?"

"To be conducted to the presence of the swered Catherine, with an imploring glance.

Admiral," an-
Perhaps some-

thing in her countenance moved the pity of the officer-per

haps he thought her a sufferer from the devastation of the city; at least he volunteered to be her guide, and, requesting her to accompany him, led the way down the avenue towards the Capitol.

"Did you know, mum, that a curfew had been proclaimed, and the citizens forbidden to appear in the streets after eight o'clock in the evening ?"

"No; and if I had, I should have been still obliged to disregard it, for a matter of more than life and death hangs upon my interview with the Admiral," replied Catherine, speaking out of the fulness of her heart.

The distance between the Treasury building and the Capitol was about one mile; and the glare of the conflagration at each end revealed a line of sentinels, posted at regular intervals the whole length of the avenue.

A ride of ten minutes brought them to the encampment of the enemy on the Capitol Hill, east of the burning edifice. Here, indeed, prevailed much of the noise and disorder consequent upon the relaxation of discipline after a day of severe action. Nearly four thousand men were resting, some leaning upon their muskets, some seated upon the grass, and some flat upon the ground, in the death-like sleep of drunkenness or exhaustion.

A group of officers, with their gorgeous scarlet and goldlaced dresses resplendent in the glare, stood watching the progress of the fire. Towards these the corporal conducted Catherine. One from among them advanced, laughing coarsely, as he exclaimed, "Who have we got here, corporal? A woman, by George! and a young and pretty one, too, to judge by the pretty figure. You're welcome, madam. What, afraid? Well, I suppose you have formed a terrible opinion of me from the newspapers, which delight to represent us all as devils. Never fear me. Satan is not half so black as the saints paint him! You shall be far safer under my government than under Madison's. Ross says he makes no war upon letters or ladies. Ho, ho, ho! Ross-he's sentimental, you know! Well! d- letters; but I make no war upon ladies either, except with Cupid's weaponsho, ho, ho! What, afraid still? Come, let's see your face; never saw a shy woman yet that had not a face worth seeing.' Abashed at this manner of address, Catherine hung her

head, until the corporal whispered, "Rear-Admiral Cockburn."

Then she stole a glance at the speaker, whose appearance was not calculated to re-assure poor Catherine.

"What, shy yet! By your leave, my dear!" said the Admiral, chucking his hand under Catherine's chin and raising her face. Poor Kate's face, as well as her hair and her dress, was stained with dust, and tears, and perspiration; and her features were pale and haggard with sorrow, anxiety, and extreme fatigue. The profligate dropped her chin with a start as if it had burnt him, exclaiming, "Whisht! Ugh! Brownies and kelpies, and witches on broomsticks! Oh ! ho, ho, ho! Ugh! what a face! Here, corporal, I pass her over to you; you seem to be kindly disposed. There is no accounting for tastes, so-ho, ho, ho, ho!-I make you a present of her. Oh-h! where can I find a dozen pretty girls to get the cross out of my eyes ?"

Mortified, repulsed, despairing, Catherine stood by her horse, with one arm thrown around his neck and her head resting upon it.

A low hum of voices around her, seemingly incident upon some one's arrival on the scene of action, and then a sweet, deep-toned voice near her, inquiring, "Can we be so happy as to serve you in any way, lady? I should be most grateful for the opportunity. To be able to render any service is always a most soothing amelioration to me of the harsh duties of war."

66

Major-General Ross," whispered the friendly corporal, stooping to her ear.

Catherine raised her head and saw bending towards her a very handsome man, in the early prime of life, of a grave, sweet, thoughtful, and somewhat melancholy expression of countenance, who, regarding her with respectful sympathy, repeated his offers of service, saying, "If I am so fortunate as to be able to assist you, lady, pray do not hesitate a moment to command me.'

"Thank you, thank you. I-wished to speak with the Admiral; but"

"With me! oh! ho, ho, ho! I beg your pardon! I beg to decline the honour! Talk to Ross-he's sentimental, and-responsible! the father of a family, &c.; a married

man myself, with several sweet children, and venerate the sanctity,' &c.* Eh, Ross? Oh! ho, ho, ho!"

Speak with me, lady. I shall be most happy to aid you. What is it? Have you or yours suffered, or received any injury by our soldiers that I can redress? Can I help you in any way ?" asked General Ross in gentle, earnest tones.

Yes, yes, I think you may have power to do me a vital service."

"Name it, lady. My word is pledged."

"His word is pledged! Oh! ho, ho, ho! pledged to a scarecrow! pledged to a kelpie! pledged to a witch on a broomstick! Oh! ho, ho, ho! Oh-h!" shouted the

coarse Admiral.

The eye of Ross flashed for an instant, but sheathed its fire as he turned to Catherine, and, taking her hand respectfully, drew her aside from the proximity of the brutal Cockburn, who, in addition to his other graces, was now doubly inflamed by drink and triumph.

"A tryste! a tryste with the Queen of the Kelpies! Oh, ho, ho, ho!" roared the Admiral, holding his sides and bending forward to shout his insulting laughter, and then stalking off.

Explain, lady. I shall be proud to serve you. Pray have confidence in me, madam, and believe in the sincerity of my words," said General Ross, still holding her hand, while she passed her other one slowly to and fro across her forehead, as was her habit when embarrassed, trying to clear her mind and arrange her thoughts.

But as soon as she was relieved from the presence of the coarse and insolent Cockburn, she recovered breath and selfpossession, and spoke clearly and to the point.

"I thank you, sir; I deeply thank you. I will tell you: I heard, in my distant mountain-home, that my husband, Major Clifton, of the regiment of Volunteers, had been dangerously wounded in the action at St. Leonard's; I did not hear that he had also been taken prisoner. Believing him to be still in the American camp, and fearing that he needed more constant attention than he could get, and feeling very anxious to hear directly from him, I sent his favourite servant to find him, directing the man to remain with him,

*Words used by the generous and unfortunate General Ross, while trying to soothe the fears of Mrs. E

and to write me of his state. He, this servant, was a poor, rustic negro, sir, totally ignorant of the usages of war. When he reached the American camp, he discovered that his master was a prisoner on board the British fleet. He proeured a boat and boarded the Albion. He was taken as a spy, of course, and, to end the miserable story, awaits only the orders of Admiral Cockburn to be executed. I heard that yesterday evening, and I instantly set off, and between that hour and this have ridden more than seventy miles, almost without stopping for food or rest, and entered the city to-night alone, when all were flying from it, to beg this man's life from the Admiral. Now you know, you know how vital is my request, my prayer."

"You could not have done more for your father, lady!" replied General Ross, with a gentle, earnest wonder on his fine countenance. You could not have done more for your father than you have done for this slave."

"Do not wonder, sir. He would have laid down his life for us. But, oh, sir! time presses-death threatens !"

"Be at peace, lady! The life or death of this slave, of such vital importance to you, is really a matter of so little moment to Admiral Cockburn, that I have not the slightest hesitation in promising to secure for you his pardon and liberation."

"Oh, may the Lord for ever bless you, sir! I never, never can tell you how grateful I am

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'Peace, peace, dear lady. It is absolutely nothing. I would to Heaven I could really do anything to merit your kind word and kind remembrance, when others are cursing me for what the stern duties of war force me to do!"

"I shall ever remember you, sir, with the deepest gratitude."

"And now, Mrs. Clifton, you must have rest and refreshment. My head-quarters are at Doctor E- -'s. His amiable family are at home. They will gladly afford you comfort and assistance. Permit me to conduct you thither."

He replaced her carefully in her saddle, and, taking the reins, led her horse until they reached the commodious mansion of Doctor E. Here he introduced Mrs. Clifton, who was received with respect and sympathy. Leaving her in the care of the kind and hospitable family, he then set out to seek Admiral Cockburn.