ents round to our stores."

Captain O'Connor was now lifted into the hammock, and six sailors
carried him down to the water. They managed it excellently, easing him
down with the greatest care over the rocks, and succeeded in getting
him down to the sea without a single jerk. Lieutenant Desmond and the
wounded soldiers were then taken down in the same way, while the men
carried down the dead bodies of their three comrades and of the
peasants who had fallen.

"I will take charge of the wounded," Lieutenant Adcock said, "and see
them comfortably housed and cared for. I suppose Dr. Doran will go
with us."

"Certainly," the doctor said, stepping into the boat. I shall not give
up charge of them until I see them all safely in bed."

"I shall come over and see you O'Connor," Ralph said, "as soon as I
get the company back to the village. Shall I write a report of this
business, or do you feel equal to doing so?"

"I will manage it, Conway. I can dictate it if I don't feel up to
writing it. But you had better not come over to-day. There will be a
good deal of excitement over this capture, and no doubt several of the
killed and prisoners belong to Ballyporrit; so it wouldn't do for you
to leave the detachment without an officer. Be sure you have a strict
guard put over the prisoners, and keep an eye upon them yourself. You
can send over to inquire about us, but till you have got them off your
hands you had better not leave the village. If a party are wanted for
still-hunting send Sergeant Morris with them. I shall dispatch my
report to-night, and no doubt the colonel will send an officer out to
help you as soon as he gets it."

The boat now pushed off. A corporal and four men were told off to
occupy the cave until relieved by the revenue men, and then, with the
prisoners in their center, the party climbed the cliff, and again,
having been joined at the top by the rest of the company, marched to
Ballyporrit. They found the village in a state of excitement. The
soldier who had gone to fetch the doctor had brought the news that a
fight had take place down on the face of the cliff, but he could not
say whether any had been killed. As soon as the detachment returned
with the prisoners in their midst many women flocked round with cries
and lamentations, and exchanged greetings with the prisoners.

Ralph at once took possession of the stables at the inn, and saw that
the prisoners were all handcuffed, the Red ruffian's legs bei