me to ask a magistrate to protect you!"

"I am flying from the agents of persecution, sir, and know not where to
hide my head in order to avoid them."

The hard-pressed but amiable priest--for such he was--adopted this
language of truth, because he knew the squire's character, and felt that
it would serve him more effectually than if he had attempted to conceal
his profession. "I am a Catholic priest, sir, and felt from bitter
experience that this disguise was necessary to the preservation of my
life. I throw myself upon your honor and generosity, for although hasty,
sir, you are reported to have a good and kind heart."

"You are disposed to place confidence in me, then?"

"I am, sir; my being before you now, and putting myself in your power,
is a proof of it."

"Who are pursuing you? Sir Robert Whitecraft--eh?"

"No, sir, Captain Smellpriest and his gang."

"Ay, out of the frying pan into the fire; although I don't know that,
either. They say Smellpriest can do a generous thing sometimes--but the
other, when priest-hunting, never. What's your name?"

"I'll tell you, without hesitation, sir--Macguire; I'm of the Macguires
of Fermanagh."

"Ay! ay! why, then, you have good blood in your veins. But what offence
were you guilty of that you--but I need not ask; it is enough, in
the present state of the laws, that you are a Catholic priest. In the
meantime, are you aware that I myself transported a Catholic priest, and
that he would have swung only for my daughter, who went to the viceroy,
and, with much difficulty, got his sentence commuted to transportation
for life? I myself had already tried it, and failed; but she succeeded,
God bless her!"

"Yes, God bless her!" replied the priest, "she succeeded, and her fame
has gone far and near, in consequence; yes, may God of his mercy bless
and guard her from all evil!" and as the poor hunted priest spoke, the
tears came to his eyes. This symptom of respect and affection, prompted
by the generous and heroic conduct of the far-famed Cooleen Bawn,
touched her father, and saved the priest.

"Well," said he, after musing for a while, "so you say Smellpriest is
after you?"

"He is, sir; they saw me at a distance, across the country, scrambling
over the park wall, and indeed I was near falling into their hands by
the difficulty I had in getting over it."

"Well, come," replied the squire, "since you have had the courage
to place confidence in me, I won't abuse it; come a