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20 fortune—a change the more afflicting as it was wholly unforeseen.

Gratifying to the General as was the consciousness of having made friends in all around him—ever receiving protestations to such effect—he but little dreamt of a secret enemy, who, like a midnight robber, was working in the dark, plotting to undermine his welfare: credulous and unsuspicious, the trust and confidence he had reposed in his employers unfortunately favoured the designs of the insidious General Haughton, who commenced his hostile operations under pretence of loyalty and devotion to the public service.

At this critical juncture the health of their eldest daughter began visibly to decline; and conformably to the advice of her physician, they decided that unless she were timely removed from so bleak a situation as the Fort to an inland climate, the most fatal consequences might be the result. In fact, her native air was to be preferred, as that likely to prove more congenial towards effecting the renovation of her health, and to this natural remedy they resolved to have recourse. But could the General have penetrated into the concealed machinations of his enemies, that, like some hidden mine ready to explode beneath his feet, awaited but an occasion, rather than have entertained ideas of