my course was clear; only I wished I had a light, for I knocked first my
head, then my knees, then my elbows, and finally had to complete the
journey in humble fashion on my hands and knees.

It surprised me greatly, when after long groping I supposed myself close
to my destination, to perceive the glimmer of a light at the end of the
passage, still more to hear the sound of voices. Were they ghosts or
smugglers, or what?

If ghosts, I was disposed to venture on. That they were smugglers I
could hardly believe, for there had been no sight of a ship anywhere
near, nor of a boat in the cave. Whoever they were, they must have
entered the place by the ordinary way above ground, and if so were
probably unaware of the secret passage. At any rate, I had come so far,
and would not turn back till I saw good reason. I had a pistol in my
pocket and a tolerably handy knife, with which, even if surprised, I
could give a good account of myself. So I crawled on, and presently
came to a place where I could stand upright, and crept close under the
corner of the upright stones that flanked the great hearth.

The mystery of the light and voices was soon explained. About a dozen
men were assembled in the kitchen, lit up by the glare of a common
candle, engaged in earnest consultation. Among the few faces which the
light revealed to me I recognised some of my old foes of the secret
society, and in the voices of others whose faces were hidden I
recognised more.

The subject under discussion was twofold, and as its meaning gradually
dawned on me I felt no compunction in listening.

The first matter was a letter, which had evidently been read before I
arrived, from the leaders of the United Irishmen in Dublin, calling for
a return of the members and officers and arms in each district. From
what I could gather, Donegal was not a hopeful region. It numbered,
indeed, a few branches of the society scattered up and down the county
like that now in session, and was supposed to possess a few arms, and to
be able when called upon to put into the field a few drilled men; but
compared with other districts it was ineffective, and more given over to
smuggling and unorganised raids than to disciplined work for the cause
of Irish liberty.

This, as far as I could gather, was the subject of the somewhat
upbraiding letter which had arrived from headquarters.

"Arrah, thin, and it's the truth they're spakin'," said one voice, "and
we'll need