Indians. How pleasant it was to see him ❘ talking with those-Lipans did you call them?" "Oh, yes; and they knew him and they fear him; and so far as it is in savage nature they love him. Far and wide you will hear them tell these stories of the Captain of the Longknives that is what they call him; for they have seen him twenty times oftener than they have seen any other officer-Spanish, French, or American. Twenty times ? They have seen him a hundred times as often." "For he has done good service to the Spanish crown," said Eunice, joining again in the conversation. "Though these Spanish gentlemen choose to be suspicious, the Captain has been their loyal friend. The Baron Carondelet trusted him implicitly, and Governor Gayoso either feared him or loved him. This is certain that the Captain has done for them all that he ever said he would do, and much more." "You say 'Spanish and American," said Inez, laughing. "And now that he is the confidential agent of General Bonaparte, you must say ' French' as well." "You remind me," said William Harrod, "to ask what I am to say if our Spanish friends at the fort yonder should wish to parlez-vous a little. The Captain would give them as good as they sent or better. But poor I-when I have said, 'Bon jour! comment vous portez vous?' and 'Je n'entends pas'-I have come to the end of my vocabulary. What in the world shall I do?" "You must have a toothache," said Inez, laughing, as usual. "Oh, no," said Eunice. "The confidential agent is a diplomatist; and this, for a diplomatist is a very large stock in trade. Let me try. "I will be Captain Alfonso Almonte, Acting Major Commandant of His Most Catholic Majesty's Presidio and Fort of Our Lady of the Bleeding Heart on the Green River of the West. One of my pickets brings in, in honorable captivity, the Señora all to feast from silver and gold, then I turn to you, Monsieur Philippe, and I say: ""When did you leave Paris, Monsieur?'" Harrod entered into the joke, and replied bravely: "I say, Bon jour!"" "Do you? Well, then, I say 'Good-day. I hope I see you very well, and may Heaven preserve your life for many years!'" "What do you say now?" "If you would say that in nice homespun English," said Harrod, "I would say, 'The same to you. Long life and many years to you. Suppose we have something to drink." "No; you must not say that to a Major Commandant. It is not etiquette. Besides, he does not speak in English. He speaks in French. What do you say?" "I think the best thing I could say would be, 'Je n'entends pas.' See. I would put up my hand, so, as if I did not quite catch His Excellency's meaning, and then, very cautiously, and a little as if I would deprecate his anger, I would say, "Je n'entends pas." "But this is mere cowardice. You only postpone the irrevocable moment. I should speak a great deal louder. I should scream and say: 'Bonjour! Dieu te benisse! Quel heureux hasard vous a conduit dans ce pays?' I should say this with the last scream of my lungs and you?" "Why, I think I would then say, 'Comment vous portez vous, Monsieur?' Perhaps it would be better to say that at the beginning." "Well, we shall soon find out," said Eunice. "For here is the picket, and here is the challenge." Sure enough, as they approached the adobe buildings of the Fort, a trooper rode out, sufficiently well equipped to show that he was in the Royal service, and asked, "Who goes there?" Ransom was ready for him, and had learned this time that civility was the best policy. The corporal of the Spanish escort Eunice Perry, of Orleans, with the Señorita | rode forward, and exchanged a word or two and with the stone she ground it into an impalpable paste. Had the ladies staid long enough to watch this new form of household duties, they would have seen her form with her hands and bake the tortilla, with which they were destined to be better acquainted. As it was, they paused but a moment, as the cortege filed by. But they had seen enough to know that they were indeed in a foreign country, and that now they were to begin to see the customs and hear the language of the subjects of their King. Inez Perry, of the same city, and a mixed company of black, white, and gray, including three men in buckskin, and M. Philippe, the confidential officer of First Consul Bonaparte, Major-General commanding. "Well, all the others prove to be just what they should be-amiable, charming travelers, and only too loyal in their enthusiasm for His Most Catholic Majesty King Charles the Fourth. After I have sent them with the sentry of the garrison, who threw up his lance in salute, and they all filed by. A Mexican woman at work making cakes looked up and smiled a pretty welcome. She was "grinding in a mill." That means that she had two stones, one somewhat concave, and the other, so to speak, a gigantic pestle, which filled or fitted into the cavity. Into the cavity she dipped in corn, which had been already hulled by the use of lye, Orleans, after all, was a pure French city, ❘ and till now none of this party, excepting Harrod, had any real experience of Mexican life. Nacogdoches was not even a town, though the rudiments of a civil settlement were beginning to appear around the garrison. The party were halted until their different passes could be examined, but the news of the arrival of such a cortege had, of course, run like wild-fire through the post. In a very few minutes, Don Sebastian Rod- | riguez, the Commandant, had come forward in person, bare-headed, to tender his respects to the ladies, and to beg them to leave the saddle. He introduced Colonel Troviño, the officer of the day, who said his wife begged them to honor her by accepting her poor hospitality, and trusted that they would feel at home in her quarters. The uniform of the "officer of the day" was quite different from the uniform of any Spanish officers whom Inez had ever seen before. For Nacogdoches, like the rest of Mexico, was under the rule of the Council for the Indies, while Orleans was governed directly by the Crown. This gentleman had such a coat and waistcoat as the ladies had seen in pictures of a generation before. He had on boots which resembled a little an Indian's leggings gartered up, so soft and pliable was the leather. His coat and vest were blue and red, so that the costume did not lack for brilliancy, but the whole aspect, to the man, was of efficiency. His costume certainly met the old definition of a gentleman's dress, for there was no question but he could "mount and ride for his life." He sent a negro back to call his wife, and stepped forward eagerly to lift Inez from her saddle, while Don Sebastian rendered the same service to Eunice. The lady sent for came forward shyly, but with great courtesy, to meet the ladies, and was evidently immensely relieved when Eunice, with cordiality, addressed her in Spanish. For the word had been through the station that a party of Americans had arrived, and there was some terror, mixed with much curiosity, as one and another of the natives met the strangers. When Eunice spoke to the Donna Maria Troviño in Spanish rather better than her own, the shadow of this terror passed from her face, and, indeed, Colonel Troviño's face took on a different expression. In far less time than people who call in carriages and keep lists of visitors can conceive, the three women were perfectly at home with one another. In less than five minutes appeared a little collation consisting of chocolate and wine and fruit, and, as the Señora Troviño with some pride pointed out, a cup of tea. Neither Eunice nor Inez implied, by look or tone, that this luxury was not an extreme rarity to them. To have said that tea had been served by Ransom morning and night at every resting-place, and at every bivouac, since they left Orleans, would have done no good, and certainly would not have been kind. Meanwhile, in the outer room, which served the purpose of an office for Colonel Troviño, this functionary and Harrod were passing through an examination, none the less severe that it was couched with all the forms of courtesy. But with the Colonel, as with his lady, the Castilian language worked a spell to which even the wax and red tape of the Governor Casa Calvo were not equal. Nor was any curiosity expressed because M. Philippe did not speak in French. And when, after this interview, the Colonel and Harrod joined the ladies, as they did, Ransom, having respectfully withdrawn under the pretext of seeing personally to the horses of the party, Inez was greatly amused to see the diplomatic agent, Monsieur Philippe, and the Colonel commanding, Don Francesco Troviño, talking Spanish together with the ease and regard of old companions in arms. Harrod said afterward that a common danger made ever rabbits and wolves to be friends. "And my friend the Colonel was so much afraid of this redoubtable filibuster 'Nolano,' with his hundreds of giant 'Kentuckians,' that when he found a meek little Frenchman like me, with never a smack of English on my tongue, he was eager to kiss and be friends." The conversation, indeed, had not been very unlike that which they had but just now rehearsed in jest. Ransom, with perfect civility this time, had explained that these were Spanish ladies, with their servants, traveling to San Antonio, on a visit to their relations. The name of Barelo, his ❘ conversation in his own tongue. In this language Harrod had for many years been quite at home. brother officer, was enough to command the respect of Colonel Troviño, who was only too voluble in expressing the hope that his pickets and sentries had been civil. "In truth," he said, "we have been cautious, perhaps too cautious; but no, a servant of the King is never too cautious; a soldier is never too cautious. But we have received now one, two, three alarms that the Americans are to attack us. We do not know if there is peace; we do not know if there is war. But we do not love republics, we soldiers of the King. And if my men had taken you for the party of Nolano, well, well-it is well-that there were ladies was itself your protection. The filibusters do not bring with them ladies." * Harrod was troubled to find that Nolan's reputation on the frontier was so bad, and felt at once that his chief had not rated at the full the perils of his position, when he ascribed them merely to a difference between Orleans Spaniards and Spaniards of Texas. Of course, the young man let no sign escape him which should show that he was inter ested in Nolan or his filibusters. He was only hoping that Blackburn and the other men outside might be as prudent. In a moment more the Colonel said, with some embarrassment: "I beg your pardon that I addressed you in the Castilian. I see from Major Morales's pass that you are a French gentleman. We forget that our friends in Orleans yonder do not all use our language." Harrod laughed good-naturedly, and, speaking in the Castilian, as before, said: "It is indeed a pleasure to me to speak in the Spanish when I am permitted. As the language is more convenient to the ladies, let us retain it, if you please." The Colonel had been about to say that he would call a lieutenant upon his staff, who spoke the French more freely than he did. But the readiness of the French gentleman saved him from this necessity, and, with relief only next to that which he had shown when he found he was not talking to the dreaded Nolan, he entered into free * This word "filibusters"-originally the English word "freebooters," as familiarly on the coast of Mexico and the Spanish main-had degenerated on Spanish tongues into the word " filibustier." It was familiarly used for an invader who came for plunder, whether he crossed the frontier by land or by sea. It has passed back into our language without regaining its original spelling and pronunciation. The Colonel finished his examination of the elaborate pass furnished by Casa Calvo; intimated that he would prepare a more formal document than that given in the saddle by Major Morales, and then, having made himself sure that the little collation was prepared, proposed that they should join the ladies. The ladies felt as Harrod had done, that a single word even of English might prejudice the cordiality of their reception. Even old Ransom had made this out, by that divine instinct or tact which was an essential part of his make-up. And when he came for orders, so-called, from the ladies, even if he whispered to them and they to him, it was always in the Spanish language. Indeed, Inez said afterward, that when he chose to swear at the muleteers, it was in oaths of the purest Castilian. As he left the room for the first time, Harrod called him back, and whispered to him also. This was to bid him tell Blackburn and the others of his immediate command that, as they loved Captain Nolan, they were not to speak in English, either to Harrod or to one another, while they were in Nacogdoches. They were to remember that they were all French hunters, and if they did not speak French, they must speak Choctaw-an alternative which all three accepted. "Let me present to you, my dear wife, Monsieur Philippe, the gentleman who accompanies these ladies, a French gentleman, my dear." Harrod bowed with all the elegance of Paris and Kentucky united. "I have been explaining, ladies, to your friends, the causes of these preparations of war; the oversight of passports, and the challenge of travelers, so unusual and so foreign to hospitality in the time of peaceif indeed this be peace. May God bless us. Only He knows, and the blessed Virgin." " Is it then a time of war?" asked Eunice, "and with whom?" "The good God knows, Señora; if only I were equally fortunate. Whether our gracious master, the good King Charles IV., is not at this moment in war with this great general, Bonaparte," and he bowed with a droll and sad effort at civility toward "Monsieur Philippe," as if that gentleman were himself the young Corsican adventurer; "or, whether these wild republicans of the American States have not made war upon | us; the good God-may He bless us all!and the Holy Mother know, but I do not." "Surely, I can relieve your anxiety, Colonel," said Eunice, in her most confiding manner. "We are not yet a fortnight from Orleans, and we had then news only nine weeks from Europe. So far from war, the First Consul was cementing peace with our august King. I shall have pleasure in showing you a French gazette which makes us certain of that happy intelligence. Then, from our neighbors of the American States there were no news, but such as were most peaceful." "But your Ladyship does not understand," said Colonel Troviño, not allowing her to see how much he was relieved by the intelligence-"your Ladyship does not-cannot understand the anxieties of a command like ours. It is not the published war, it is not the campaigns which can be told in gazettes and proclaimed by heralds which we soldiers dread." Again, with an approving glance at Monsieur Philippe, as if he were Bonaparte in person: "It is the secret plots, the war in disguise! This Nolano will not send word in advance that he is coming." Inez started in spite of herself, as she heard the name. And then she could have punished herself by whatever torture, for her lack of self-control. She need not have been distressed. The Colonel Troviño did not suspect a girl of seventeen of caring any more for what he said, than the cat who was purring in the Donna Troviño's arms. "This Nolano will not send word in advance that he is coming. He will swoop down on us with his giants, as a troop of buffalo swoops down upon a drinking pond in yonder prairie. And he must return; yes, may the Holy Lady grant it! God be blessed! he must return, as a flock of antelopes return, when they have caught a glimpse of the hunters." The Colonel was well pleased with this bit of rhetoric. Eunice, meanwhile, had not changed glance nor color. "Who is this Nolano, of whom you speak? Is he an officer of General Bonaparte?" "Grace of God! No, Madam! He is one of these Americans of the North, who propose to march from their cold, wintry recesses to capture the city of Mexico, to take the silver mines of our King, and divide them for their spoil. Our advices, Madam, are not so distinct as I could wish, but we know enough to be sure that this man has recruited an army in the East, and, if the way opens, will attack us." "Impossible!" said Eunice, bravely, "that he should have recruited an army, and the Marquis of Casa Calvo know nothing of it! Impossible that the Marquis should permit me and this lady to travel in a country so soon to be the scene of war." "A thousand pardons, Señora," persisted the other. "We speak under the rose here. Let it be confessed that the Marquis of Casa Calvo is not so young as he was forty years ago, nor so sharp-sighted. Our Sovereign places him, perhaps, at Orleans; let us say,-yes,-may the Holy Mother preserve us!-because that is not the place of action and of arms. For us-why, we have seen Philippo Nolano and that within two years!" Poor Inez! She did not dare to glance at Harrod, but she longed to strike an attitude rivaling the Colonel's, and to say: "And we have seen Philippo Nolano, and that within two days!" But the position, though it had its ludicrous side, was, of course, sufficiently critical to keep them all seriously watchful of word and glance alike. "Indeed," said Eunice, seriously, "how was this, and what manner of man is he? What do you say his name is ?" "His name is Nolano, my Lady; his baptismal name, if these heretics have any baptism, is Philippo; may the Saint Philippo pardon me and preserve us! Do we know him? Why, he made his home in this very presidio of Nacogdoches, and that not two years ago. My Lady, he has sat in that chair, he has drunk from this cup. think that such treason should lurk in these walls, and study out in advance our defenses." To At this point the little lady of the group took courage. "My dear husband," said the Señora Troviño, "let us admit that we were very glad to see him. Indeed, ladies, he is a most agreeable person, though he be an American of the North and a filibuster. He was here for some time, and he knew the language of the Americans so well, that in all business he served my husband and the other officers here, as an interpreter. There were some Americans arrested for illicit trade-silver, you know," and she dropped her voice; "two men with a hard name, but, I learned it, so often did I hear it. There was a process about these men; Eastridge was their name; oh, it lasted for months, and often was your namesake, Don Philippo, in the chair you sat in, Monsieur Philippo; he was discussing their business with my husband" "And playing chess with my wife," said the Colonel, interrupting her. "Ah, he was a very cunning soldier, was your Don! There is no secret of our defenses but is known to him, and now he comes with an army!" "Surely," said Eunice, as bravely as before, "you do not speak of the Captain Nolan who was so near a friend of the Baron Carondelet? Why, he was presented to me by the Baron himself at a ball." Colonel Troviño confessed that Nolan brought him letters at one time from the Baron. "And my brother has dined with him at General Gayoso's palace. Oh, it is impossible that this person can lead an American army." "Ladies!" said the Colonel, clasping his hands, " a soldier must believe nothing, and he must believe everything also. May all the Saints preserve us!" And Eunice felt that she had pressed the defense of her friend as far as was safe, or to his advantage. (To be continued.) A PIECE OF SECRET HISTORY. THE Pennsylvania campaign was over. The reverberations of the thunders of Gettysburg had ceased. The blood of the gallant dead who so sternly wrestled for its possession no longer stained the bosom of Cemetery Hill. Nothing save the scars and wreck of battle gave physical token of one of the most decisive engagements of the Civil War. Near Falling Waters the swollen Potomac had been successfully crossed by the retiring Confederates in the face of General Meade's army, which, although far outnumbering, had been so stunned by the recent conflict that it hesitated to dispute the dangerous passage. Having conducted his troops safely into Virginia, General Lee re-occupied his old encampment on the banks of the Opequan, where his wearied and depleted legions might, for a season, enjoy at least partial relief from their arduous labors, and await the return of numerous stragglers whom fatigue and wounds had caused to falter during the retreat. Oppressed by the responsibilities of his high station and the numerous wants of his army, well nigh overborne by the weight of extraordinary anxieties and the effect of protracted privations-the lingering traces of a severe indisposition encountered the previous spring still exerting their depressing influences the great Confederate chieftain was forced to admit that his splendid physical constitution was being taxed almost, if not quite, beyond endurance. As he lay in General Meade's path, awaiting and anticipating the development of his plan of operations, General Lee was enjoying a degree of rest and freedom from care surpassing such as generally fell to his lot. This brief period of comparative repose was dedicated to earnest thought, to a careful survey of the situation, to making the best provision for the future, and to an honest appreciation of the part he was sustaining in this vast conflict. No one comprehended more thoroughly the issues at stake, the inequalities of the contest, or the qualifications which were essential to encourage the hope of success in the breast of a Confederate commander. Intelligently estimating all resources upon which reliance might be placed, fathoming the abilities of his prominent subalterns, re-organizing his army and supplying its needs, he was quietly and energetically maturing such plans as appeared most conducive to the maintenance of a cause which enlisted his every sympathy. It was a time of profound solicitude, in which the victories and reverses of the past were commingled with conflicting hopes and fears for the future. Supreme was his desire to perform his whole duty, and to omit nothing which might further the best interests of the Confederate struggle for independence. Personal advancement and the influence of commanding rank he valued only as they afforded the best opportunity for promoting the general welfare. The failure of the grand charge at Gettysburg, in which, amid the smoke and carnage of more than two hundred pieces of artillery, Pickett heroically yet vainly attempted to |