none was more urgent than he to run
down the miscreants. Indeed, he went to more than empty words; for
once, when a rumour spread that a cargo of powder and shot was expected
off Malin, he himself led the party which for three days lay in wait to
intercept it. And no one knew except himself and me that during those
very three days, while he kicked his loyal heels on Malin Head, the
_Cigale_ ran quietly into Lough Swilly, and after resting a few hours,
ran as quietly out, with a good deal less ballast in her than she came
with.

I remember that well, for it was a day when I was secretly plotting to
take advantage of my master's absence to steal up to Kilgorman. I had
indeed got not far from the place when, to my disgust, Martin and
another man overtook me on horseback, and ordered me to return at once
to Knockowen at my mistress's bidding.

I durst not disobey, or betray my purpose, so turned back sulkily,
leaving them to canter on; and, to add to my chagrin, as I looked round
presently from the hill-top, I recognised the flaunting sails of the
_Cigale_ standing in for the shore. This sight filled me with a new
longing to see Tim, on whom for two years now I had only once, for an
hour, set eyes. Come what would, I must steal away and hail him as soon
as ever I could escape for an hour or so. Alas! it was easy to promise.

The reason of my mistress's summons was for me to take an officer, who
had just ridden over in hot haste from Carndonagh, by boat to
Rathmullan. He was to rejoin his regiment that night, and being a
distant kinsman of my lady had presumed on his relationship to beg a
passage across the lough by the shortest way.

You may guess if I cast loose the boat with a merry heart, and bade
farewell to my chance of seeing Tim, let alone of obeying my mother's
call to Kilgorman.

More than that, this voyage to Rathmullan reminded me of another time
when my crew was more to my taste than this lumbering trooper; and, as
if to complete my trouble, Miss Kit came down gaily to the jetty to
speed the parting guest.

"It's a pity we could not keep you, Captain Lestrange, till my father
returned. You must come again when times are quieter."

"That'll not be this year or next," said the young officer; "but
whenever it is, I could hardly find you looking prettier than you are
now, Miss Gorman."

"Wait till you see," said she, with a saucy laugh, waving her hand as we
pushed off.

I had it in my heart to