d mist for the last
six or eight hours, without the slightest knowledge of whereabout we
were."

"Well, well, Mr. Francis, sure it's one comfort that we're safe at all
events," said Mogue; "only I'm frettin' myself about the onaisiness
they'll all feel at home, I mane in Mr. Purcel's, about you. Do you know
now, that a thought strikes me, sir; I'm fresher than you are a good.
deal. Now what if I'd run home and make their minds aisy in the first
place, and get Jerry Joyce to bring the car up for you as far as the
mountain road? You can rest yourself here in the manetime, and Frank
Finnerty will see you safe that far. I'll carry the gun and things with
me too--so that you'll have a lighter tramp down the hills."

This arrangement was precisely what M'Carthy could have wished.

"Thank you, Mogue, for thinking of this--you are a considerate kind
fellow, and I cordially admit that I owe my life to you this day.
Had you not been with me I must have lost my way and perished in the
mountains."

Mogue and Finnerty exchanged glances, which, however, did not escape
the observation of the wife, who thoroughly understood those changes of
expression, which reflected her husband's darker and sterner purposes.

"Why, then, Misther Frank, that I may be happy but I am glad I was with
you, so I am, for indeed only for me I don't think, sure enough, that
ever you'd see this house to-night. There's some spirits left here
still, and as I'm for another stretch, I don't think a glass of it will
do me, or for that matther, Frank Finnerty here, any harm. You can see
me down the hills a piece, Frank; and you, Mr. Francis, might throw
yourself on the bed a while, and get an hour's sleep or so."

This too was agreed to--Mogue and Finnerty took each a glass of whiskey,
as did Mrs. Finnerty, by permission of her husband, and in a few minutes
she and M'Carthy were left by themselves.

After the two worthies had been gone a few minutes, she proceeded to the
door, and as the night had now become tolerably light, she looked out,
but with a great deal of caution. At first she saw no person, but in
walking in the shadow of the house, along! the sidewall to the left, she
was able to observe five or six persons coming towards her husband
and Moylan in a body; she saw that they stopped and were in close
conversation, pointing frequently towards the house as they spoke. She
returned to M'Carthy with the same caution, and, approaching him, was
about to