the distant sounds of marching, all proved that the troops were efl'ecting 
some new movement, and I burned with  to learn what it was. 
My brother officers, however, came not as usual to my quarters ; and, 
although I waited with  while the hours rolled by, no one 
appeared. 

Long, low moaning gusts of wind swept along the earth, carrying the 
leaves as they tore them from the trees, and mingling their sad sounds 
with the noises of the retiring troops ; for I could perceive that gra- 
dually the sounds grew more and more remote, and only now and then 
could I trace their position as the roll of a distant drum swelled upon the 
breeze, or the more shrill cry of a pibroch broke upon my ear, a heavy 
downpour of rain followed soon after, and i^ its unceasing plash 
drowned all other sounds. 

As the little building shook beneath the peals of loud thunder, the 
lightning flashed in broad sheets upon the rapid river, which, swollen 
and foaming, dashed impetuously beside my window. By the uncertain 
but vivid glare of the flashes I endeavoured to ascertain where our 
force was posted; but in vain. Never did I witness such a night of 
storm : the deep booming of the thunder seeming never for a moment to 
cease, while the  of