his cap cocked aslant on his curly head, his green
jacket unbuttoned, a tumbler aloft in his unsteady clutch.

"Whurroo!" he yelled. "_Gu ma slan a chi mi!--fear a' Bhata!_" And he
laid a reckless hand on Skeel's cloaked shoulder. But the latter never
stirred; and Soane, winking at the company, flourished his tumbler
aloft and broke into "The Risin' o' the Moon":

"Oh, then tell me, Shawn O'Ferrall,
Phwere the gatherin' is to be!
In th' ould shpot be the river;--
Sure it's known to you an' me!"

And the others began to shout the words:

"_Death to every foe and traitor!
Forward! Strike the marchin' tune,
And hurrah, me lads, for freedom!
'Tis the risin' of the moon!_

"At the risin' of the moon,
At the risin' of the moon,
And a thousand blades are flashin'
At the risin' of the moon!"

"Here's to Murtagh Skeel!" roared Soane, "_An gille dubh ciardubh!_
Whurroo!"

Skeel lifted his haggard visage, slowly looked around, got up from his
stool.

"In God's name," he said hoarsely, "if you're not utterly shameless,
take your rifles and follow me. Look at the sun! Have you lads gone
stark mad? What will McDermott think? What will Kelly Walsh say? It's
too late to weigh anchor now; but it isn't too late to go aboard and
sober up, and wait for dark.

"If you've a rag of patriotism left you'll quit your drinking and come
with me!"

"Ah, sure, then, Captain dear," cried Soane, "is there anny harrm in a
bite an' a sup f'r dyin' lads befoor they go whizzin' up to glory?"

"I tell you we should be aboard! _Now!_"

Another said:

"Aw, the cap's right. To hell with the booze. Come on, youse!" And he
began to button his green jacket. Another got up on unsteady legs:

"Sure," he said, "there do be time f'r to up anchor an' shquare away
for Point Dalhousie. Phwat's interferin', I dunno."

"A Canadian cruiser," said Skeel with dry bitterness. "Get aboard,
anyway. We'll have to wait for dark."

There was a reluctant shuffle of feet, a careless adjusting of green
jackets and caps, a reaching for rifles.

"Come on," whispered Barres, "we've got to get to the landing before
they do."

They turned and moved off swiftly among the trees. Renoux saw them
coming, understood, turned and hurried southward to warn Alost and
Souchez. Barres and Westmore caught glimpses of them ahead, striding
along the trodden path under the trees, and ran to overtake them.

"They're going aboard," said Barres