“I cannot state with confidence, Charles,” replied his friend; “but if I might judge from the peculiar form and weight of the packet, I should be inclined to say not.  Have you seen the letters, then?”

“I have seen certain letters which, I have reason to believe, are the same,” returned De Haldimar.  “They were addressed to ‘Reginald;’ and Halloway, I think you have told me, was so called by his unhappy wife.”

“There can be little doubt they are the same,” said Captain Blessington; “but what were their contents, and by whom written, that you deem they prove a connection between the unhappy soldier and your family?”

De Haldimar felt the blood rise into his cheek, at this natural but unexpected demand.  “I am sure, Blessington,” he replied, after a pause, “you will not think me capable of unworthy mystery towards yourself but the contents of these letters are sacred, inasmuch as they relate only to circumstances connected with my father’s family.”

“This is singular indeed,” exclaimed Captain Blessington, in a tone that marked his utter and unqualified astonishment at what had now been disclosed to him; “but surely, Charles,” he pursued, “if the packet handed me by Halloway were the same you allude to, he would have caused the transfer to have been made before the period chosen by him for that purpose.”

“But the name,” pursued De Haldimar; “how are we to separate the identity of the packets, when we recur to that name of ‘Reginald?’”

“True,” rejoined the musing Blessington; “there is a mystery in this that baffles all my powers of penetration.  Were I in possession of the contents of the letters, I might find some clue to solve the enigma:  but—–­”

“You surely do not mean this as a reproach, Blessington?” fervently interrupted the youth.  “More I dare not, cannot say, for the secret is not my own; and feelings, which it would be dishonour to outrage, alone bind me to silence.  What little I have revealed to you even now, has been uttered in confidence.  I hope you have so understood it.”

“Perfectly, Charles.  What you have stated, goes no further; but we have been too long absent from our guard, and I confess I have no particular fancy for remaining in this chill night-air.  Let us return.”

De Haldimar made no opposition, and they both prepared to quit the rampart.  As they passed the sentinel stationed at that point where the Indian had been first seen, their attention was directed by him to a fire that now suddenly rose, apparently at a great distance, and rapidly increased in volume.  The singularity of this occurrence riveted the officers for a moment in. silent observation; until Captain Blessington at length ventured a remark, that, judging from the direction, and the deceptive nature of the element at night, he should incline to think it was the hut of the Canadian burning.

“Which is another additional proof, were any such wanting, that every thing is lost,” mournfully urged the ever apprehensive De Haldimar.  “Francois has been detected in rendering aid to our friends; and the Indians, in all probability, after having immolated their victim, are sacrificing his property to their rage.”