they will have a little fire kindled, and, as likely as not, they'll be cooking some of your mother's fowls."

"Yes, I understand," said the boy, eagerly.

"No, you don't," replied Horse Shoe; "but you will when you hear what I am going to say. If I get at them onawares, they'll be mighty apt to think they are surrounded, and will bellow, like fine fellows, for quarter. And thereupon, Andy, I'll cry out, 'Stand fast,' as if I was speaking to my own men; and when you hear that you must come up full tilt,because it will be a signal to you that the enemy has surrendered. Then it will be your business to run into the house and bring out the muskets as quick as a rat runs through a kitchen: and when you have done that,—why, all's done. But if you should hear any popping of firearms,—that is, more than one shot, which I may chance to let off-do you take that for a bad sign, and get away as fast as you can heel it. You comprehend?"

"Oh, yes," replied the lad, "and I'll do what you want, -and more too, may be, Mr. Robinson."

Captain Robinson, remember, Andy; you must call me captain, in the hearing of these Scotchmen."

"I'll not forget that neither," answered Andrew.

By the time these instructions were fully impressed upon the boy, our adventurous forlorn hope, as it may fitly be called, had arrived at the place which Horse Shoe had designated for the commencement of active operations. They had a clear view of the old field; and it afforded them a strong assurance that the enemy was exactly where they wished him to be, when they discovered smoke arising from the chimney of the hovel. Andrew was instantly posted behind a tree, and Robinson galloped across the intervening space, and, in a few seconds, abruptly reined up his steed in the very doorway of the hut. The party within was gathered around a fire at the further end; and, in the corner opposite the door, were four muskets thrown together against the wall. To spring from his saddle, thrust himself one pace inside of the door, and to level his rifle at the group beside the fire, was a movement which the sergeant executed in an instant, -shouting at the same time

"Surrender to Captain Robinson of the Free Will Volunteers, and to the Continental Congress, or you are all dead men! Halt," he vociferated in a voice of thunder, as if speaking to a corps under his command; "file off, cornet, right and left, to both sides of the house. The first man that budges a foot from that there fireplace, shall have fifty balls through his body."

"To arms!" cried the young officer who commanded the squad inside of the house. "Leap to your arms, men! Why do you stand, you villains?" he added, as he perceived his men hesitate to move toward the corner where the muskets were piled.

"I don't want your blood, young man," said Robinson, coolly, as he still leveled his rifle at the officer, "nor that of your people: -but, by my father's son, I'll not leave one of you to be put upon a muster-roll, if you move an inch !"

Both parties now stood for a brief space eyeing each other, in a fearful suspense, during which there was an expression of mixed doubt and anger visible on the countenances of the soldiers, as they surveyed the broad proportions, and met the stern glance of the sergeant; whilst the delay, also, began to raise an apprehension in the mind of Robinson that his stratagem would be discovered.

"Upon him, at the risk of your lives!" cried the officer: and, on the instant, one of the soldiers moved rapidly toward the farther wall; upon which the sergeant, apprehending the seizure of the weapons, sprang forward in such a manner as would have brought his body immediately before them, but a decayed plank in the floor caught his foot and he fell to his knee. It was a lucky accident,—for the discharge of a pistol, by the officer, planted a bullet in the log of the cabin, which would have been lodged full in the square breast of the gallant Horse Shoe, if he had retained his perpendicular position. His footing, however, was recovered almost as soon as it was lost, and the next moment found him bravely posted in front of the firearms, with his own weapon thrust almost into the face of the foremost assailant. The hurry, confusion, and peril of the crisis did not take away his self-possession; but he now found himself unexpectedly thrown into a

situation of infinite difficulty, where all the chances of the fight were against him.

"Back, men, and guard the door," he cried out, as if again addressing his troop. "Sir, I will not be answerable for consequences, if my troopers once come into this house. If you hope for quarter, give up on the spot."

"His men have retreated," cried one of the soldiers. "Upon him, boys!" and instantly two or three pressed upon the sergeant, who, seizing his rifle in both hands, bore them back by main force, until he had thrown them prostrate on the floor. He then leaped toward the door with the intention of making good his retreat.

"Shall I let loose upon them, captain?" said Andrew Ramsay, now appearing most unexpectedly to Robinson, at the door of the hut. "Come on, my brave boys!" he shouted as he turned his face toward the field.

"Keep them outside the door-stand fast," cried the doughty sergeant again, with admirable promptitude, in the new and sudden posture of his affairs caused by this opportune appearance of the boy. "Sir, you see that you are beaten: let me warn you once more to save the lives of your men-it's onpossible for me to keep my people off a minute longer. What signifies fighting five to one?"

During this appeal the sergeant was ably seconded by the lad outside, who was calling out first on one name and then on another, as if in the presence of a troop. The device succeeded, and the officer within at length said—

"Lower your rifle, sir. In the presence of a superior force, taken by surprise and without arms, it is my duty to save bloodshed. With the promise of fair usage and the rights of prisoners of war, I surrender this little foraging party under my command."

"I'll make the terms agreeable," replied the sergeant. "Never doubt me, sir. "Right hand file, advance, and receive the arms of the prisoners!"

"I'm here, captain," said Andrew, in a conceited tone, as if it were a mere occasion of merriment; and the lad quickly entered the house and secured the weapons, retreating with them some paces from the door.

"Now, sir," said Horse Shoe, to the ensign, "your sword, and whatever else you might have about you of the munitions of war!"

The officer delivered up his sword and pocket pistols. "Your name?—if I mought take the freedom."

"Ensign St. Jermyn, of his Majesty's seventy-first regiment of light infantry."

"Ensign, your sarvant," added Horse Shoe, aiming at an unusual exhibition of politeness, "you have defended your post like an old sodger, although you ha'n't much beard upon your chin; I'll certify for you. But, seeing you have given up, you shall be treated like a man who has done his duty. You will walk out now, and form yourselves in line at the door. I'll engage my men shall do you no harm:-they are of a merciful breed."

When the little squad of prisoners submitted to this command, and came to the door, they were stricken with the most profound astonishment to find, in place of the detachment of cavalry they expected to see, nothing but one horse, one man, and one boy. Their first emotions were expressed in curses, which were even succeeded by laughter from one or two of the number. There seemed to be a disposition, on the part of some, to resist the authority that now controlled them; and sundry glances were exchanged which indicated a purpose to turn upon their captors. The sergeant no sooner perceived this than he halted, raised his rifle to his breast, and, at the same instant, gave Andrew Ramsay an order to retire a few paces, and to fire one of the captured pieces at the first man who opened his lips.

"By my hand," he said, "if I find any trouble in taking you, all five, safe away from this here house, I will thin your numbers with your own muskets! And that's as good as if I had sworn to it."

"You have my word, sir," said the ensign. "Lead onwe'll follow."

"By your leave, my pretty gentlemen, you will lead, and I'll follow," replied Horse Shoe. "It may be a new piece of drill to you-but the custom is to give the prisoners the post of honor, and to walk them in front."

WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS.

EXCEPTING Cooper, no American author of his period was more voluminous and popular than William Gilmore Simms. Yet his novels are now regarded rather as literary curiosities than as of lasting value. He was born at Charleston, S. C., April 17, 1806, and made his literary debut in 1827 with a volume of poems. In the following year he became editor of a newspaper, but continued to write verse, of which he soon published two volumes. In 1833, on the failure of his paper, he issued still another volume of verse and his first romance-" Martin Faber." An abler story, "Guy Rivers," soon followed, and in 1835 appeared "The Yemassee," an Indian story, which is generally regarded as his best book. This was followed by many romances in rapid succession; they were evidently modeled upon those of Scott and Cooper, but the scenes and characters were all from Simms's native state. All displayed a pleasing combination of realism and imagination, and their descriptions and combinations of all classes of South Carolinians of a former period were accepted as historically true. Most of Simms's pages are spirited, few are sentimental, and all evince the vigor and heartiness for which their author was noted. He edited several magazines and reviews, in which he labored earnestly to promote the growth of Southern literature and to defend the institutions of the South. Simms wrote also several biographical and historical works, all with Southern subjects. His romances were collected in a uniform edition of seventeen volumes, and in 1867 he compiled a large volume entitled, "The War Poetry of the South." He died at Charleston, June 11, 1870.

THE MAIDEN AND THE RATTLESNAKE. (Bess Matthews, the heroine of "The Yemassee," had gone into the woods to await the coming of her lover.)

BEFORE the maiden rose a little clump of bushes-bright tangled leaves flaunting wide in the glossiest green, with vines trailing over them, thickly decked with blue and crim