uck at the tidings. It is more than
probable that he never entertained any grave fears of our ultimate
success; still he saw that in the struggle, brief as it might be,
rapine, murder, and pillage would spread over the country, and that
crime of every sort would be certain to prevail during the short
interval of anarchy.

As our drums were beating the 'rally,' he entered the garden, and
with hurried steps came forward to where Colonel Charost was standing
delivering his orders.

'Good-day, Mons. l'Eveque,' said the colonel, removing his hat, and
bowing low. You see us in a moment of haste. The campaign has opened,
and we are about to march.'

'Have you made any provision for the garrison of this town, colonel?'
said the bishop, in terror. 'Your presence alone here restrained the
population hitherto. If you leave us-----'

'We shall leave you a strong force of our faithful allies, sir,' said
Charost; 'Irishmen could scarcely desire better defenders than their
countrymen.'

'You forget, colonel, that some of us here are averse to this cause,
but, as non-combatants, lay claim to protection.'

'You shall have it, too, Mons. l'Eveque; we leave an officer and twenty
men.'

'An officer and twenty men!' echoed the bishop, in dismay.

'Quite sufficient, I assure you,' said Charost coldly; 'and if a hair
of one of their heads be injured by the populace, trust me, sir, that we
shall take a terrible vengeance.'

'You do not know these people, sir, as I know them,' said the bishop
eagerly. 'The same hour that you march out, will the town of Killala be
given up to pillage. As for your retributive justice, I may be pardoned
for not feeling any consolation in the pledge, for certes neither I nor
mine will live to witness it.'

As the bishop was speaking, a crowd of volunteers, some in uniform and
all armed, drew nearer and nearer to the place of colloquy; and although
understanding nothing of what went forward in the foreign language,
seemed to watch the expressions of the speakers' faces with a most keen
interest. To look at the countenances of these fellows, truly one would
not have called the bishop's fears exaggerated; their expression was
that of demoniac passion and hatred.

'Look, sir,' said the bishop, turning round, and facing the mob, 'look
at the men to whose safeguard you propose to leave us.'

Charost made no reply; but making a sign for the bishop to remain where
he was, re-entered the pavilion hastily. I