Again the governor interposed:—­“What possible connexion can there be between this man’s life, and the crime with which he stands charged?  Captain Blessington, this is trifling with the court, who are assembled to try the prisoner for his treason, and not to waste their time in listening to a history utterly foreign to the subject.”

“The history of my past life—­Colonel de Haldimar,” proudly returned the prisoner, “although tedious and uninteresting to you, is of the utmost importance to myself; for on that do I ground the most essential part of my defence.  There is nothing but circumstantial evidence against me on the two first charges; and as those alone can reflect dishonour on my memory, it is for the wisdom of this court to determine whether that evidence is to be credited in opposition to the solemn declaration of him, who, in admitting one charge, equally affecting his life with the others, repudiates as foul those only which would attaint his honour.  Gentlemen,” he pursued, addressing the court, “it is for you to determine whether my defence is to be continued or not; yet, whatever be my fate, I would fain remove all injurious impression from the minds of my judges; and this can only be done by a simple detail of circumstances, which may, by the unprejudiced, be as simply believed.”

Here the prisoner paused:  when, after some low and earnest conversation among the members of the court, two or three slips of written paper were passed to the President.  He glanced his eye hurriedly over them, and then directed Halloway to proceed with his defence.

“I have stated,” pursued the interesting soldier, “that the officer who led the band of Indians was a man of gigantic stature, and of apparently great strength.  My attention was particularly directed to him from this circumstance, and as I was on the extreme flank of the grenadiers, and close to Captain de Haldimar, had every opportunity of observing his movements principally pointed at that officer.  He first discharged a carbine, the ball of which killed a man of the company at his (Captain de Haldimar’s) side; and then, with evident rage at having been defeated in his aim, he took a pistol from his belt, and advancing with rapid strides to within a few paces of his intended victim, presented it in the most deliberate manner.  At that moment, gentlemen, (and it was but the work of a moment,) a thousand confused and almost inexplicable feelings rose to my heart.  The occasion I had long sought was at length within my reach; but even the personal considerations, which had hitherto influenced my mind, were sunk in the anxious desire I entertained to preserve the life of an officer so universally beloved, and so every way worthy of the sacrifice.  While yet the pistol remained levelled, I sprang before Captain de Haldimar, received the ball in my breast, and had just strength sufficient to fire my musket at this formidable enemy when I sank senseless to the earth.