t the onset would be made by men
so well armed and in such prodigious multitudes.

Such was the state of society at that period, that scarcely any one
individual could place confidence in another. The Purcels, knowing that
they were looked upon by the people in a hostile spirit, and aware of
the disguises which those secret confederacies, that are so peculiar
to our unfortunate country, often take for treacherous and vindictive
purposes, came to the resolution of putting every servant in the house,
male and female, from off the premises. This they did on discovering
Mogue Moylan's treachery with respect to the fire-arms; for, in point of
fact, they knew not on whom to depend. M'Carthy's disappearance was also
a mystery which occasioned them considerable anxiety and doubt. That
he should have abandoned them in the very moment of danger, was a
circumstance quite out of their calculation. On the other hand, it was
obvious that he had done so, and that from whatever motive his conduct
proceeded, he distinctly separated himself from them, at the very crisis
when his presence and assistance might have been of service.

In the meantime they began to make preparations for their defence.
Purcel's dwelling-house was a long, two-storied building, deeply
thatched. He himself and his eldest son carried up a large supply of
arms and ammunition to the top room, where they took their station so as
to command the large gate of the recently-built fortress wall, by which
the house and adjoining premises were surrounded. Alick, his mother and
sisters, remained below, in such a position that they could command
the gate also, without exposing themselves to danger. The mother and
daughters had been well trained to load and even to discharge fire-arms;
and now they were both competent and willing to take an important part
in defense of their own lives, as well as those who were so dear to
them.

"Well," said John Purcel, when every necessary preparation had been
made, "I never could, have dreamt that Frank M'Carthy was either a
coward or a traitor."

"I very much fear," replied his brother, "that he is either the one
or the other, if not both. If he has got a hint--ha!--do you hear that
again?--they are firing still as they come along--if he has got a hint
of this attack and abandoned us, I have not words to express my contempt
for him. What a bravo lover you have got, Julia!" he exclaimed, turning
to his sister, "thus to desert you in the