"
"Ah, Herbert, I thank you, most faithful of friends, but I doubt
whether you can assist me in any other manner than in being kind to
my poor mother and my dear Clara when I am gone--for ah, old
playmate, the act can be too surely proved upon me, and the penalty
is certain--and it is death!" said the poor boy, deeply sighing.
Herbert groaned, and said:
"But tell me, at least, the history of the four days preceding your
arrest."
"I will. Let me see--this is Friday. Well, until this morning's
fatal sleep, I had not slept since Sunday night. Monday was passed
in the usual routine of military duty. Monday evening I was sent on
a reconnoitering expedition to the old castellated Spanish fort of
the Casa de Mata, that occupied the whole night. On Tuesday morning
I was selected to attend the messenger who went with the flag of
truce into the city to carry our General's letter of expostulation
to Santa Anna, which employed the whole day. On Tuesday night,
without having had an hour's rest in the interval, I was put on
guard. Wednesday morning I was sent with a party to escort an
emigrant caravan across the marsh to the village of Churubusco.
Wednesday afternoon you saw me on guard and I told you that I had
not slept one hour for three days and nights."
"Yes, you looked ill enough to be ordered on the sick list."
"Yet, listen.
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