help, we shall reach Limerick
without a hair hurt. My only condition is, that when you strike Oliver,
you strike home, and again and again, until he is FINISHED; and I trust
to your honour to remember me when we reach the town.'

I cannot say whether I resolved right or wrong, but I thought my
situation, and the conduct of Captain Oliver, warranted me in acceding
to the conditions propounded by my visitant, and with alacrity I told
him so, and desired him to give me the power, as he had promised to do,
of executing them.

With speed and promptitude he drew a small key from his pocket, and in
an instant the manacles were removed from my hands.

How my heart bounded within me as my wrists were released from the
iron gripe of the shackles! The first step toward freedom was made--my
self-reliance returned, and I felt assured of success.

'Now for the weapon,' said I.

'I fear me, you will find it rather clumsy,' said he; 'but if well
handled, it will do as well as the best Toledo. It is the only thing I
could get, but I sharpened it myself; it has an edge like a skean.'

He placed in my hand the steel head of a halberd. Grasping it firmly, I
found that it made by no means a bad weapon in point of convenience; for
it felt in the hand like a heavy dagger, the portion which formed the
blade or point being crossed nearly at the lower extremity by a small
bar of metal, at one side shaped into the form of an axe, and at the
other into that of a hook. These two transverse appendages being muffled
by the folds of my cravat, which I removed for the purpose, formed a
perfect guard or hilt, and the lower extremity formed like a tube, in
which the pike-handle had been inserted, afforded ample space for the
grasp of my hand; the point had been made as sharp as a needle, and the
metal he assured me was good.

Thus equipped he left me, having observed, 'The captain sent me to
bring you to your senses, and give you some water that he might find you
proper for his visit. Here is the pitcher; I think I have revived you
sufficiently for the captain's purpose.'

With a low savage laugh he left me to my reflections.

Having examined and adjusted the weapon, I carefully bound the ends of
the cravat, with which I had secured the cross part of the spear-head,
firmly round my wrist, so that in case of a struggle it might not
easily be forced from my hand; and having made these precautionary
dispositions, I sat down upon the ground with m