rt at the mildness of his
manner, "I did no more than your honour would have done in my shoes; I
defended the women. And as for Larry Dugan, it was a mischance he was
hit."

A hurried consultation took place among the chief of the confederates,
during which I was left standing in suspense.

It was against me that I had been present and overheard all this
business of the oath. That, it was evident, weighed more against me
than the part I had taken in the defence of the Knockowen women. Were
they to let me go now, the society would be at the mercy of my tongue.
It would be simpler, as some advised, to put me out of harm's way then
and there with an ounce of lead in my head.

Presently the consultation ended.

"Give him the oath," said the leader; and the book was held out to me,
while a couple of guns were pointed at my head.

It was an ugly choice, I confess. Little as I understood the nature of
the work in hand, I had gathered enough to know that the oath sold me
body and soul to men who would stick at nothing to gain their end, and
that in taking it I became not only a traitor to the king, but an
accomplice of murder and outrage.

Yet what could I do? Young life is sweet, and hope is not to be thrown
away like a burned-out match. Besides, I longed to see Tim once more
before I died, and--I blushed in the midst of my terror--my little
mistress.

"Loose my hands," said I, "and give me the book."

The muzzles of the guns laid their cold touch on my cheeks as the cord
was unfastened.

Then in a sort of dream I held the book and began to repeat the words.
I know not how far I had gone, or to what I had pledged myself, when a
sudden shout from one of the sentries brought everything to an end.

"Whisht--soldiers!" was the shout.

In a moment the hollow was almost empty. Men scuttled away right and
left like sheep at the alarm of the dog. Those who guarded me let me go
and raced for the gap. The clerk left paper and pen and lantern on the
ground and slunk towards the rocks. I was left standing, book in hand,
with but one of the party, and that one the leader, beside me.

"Kiss the book," said he in a menacing tone.

I looked at him. He was not armed, and I was as free a man as he.
Quick as thought I seized the list which the clerk had dropped on the
ground.

"Your secret is safe," said I, flourishing it in his face, "so long as
the women at Knockowen are unhurt. But my soul and my hand are my own.