han all the world besides; but it's no
asy thing to say where you'd be safest. D'you know Aughacashel, Mr.
Thady?"

"I niver was there, but I know that's the name of the big mountain
over Loch Allen, to the north of Cash."

"Well, that's where the stills are mostly at work now, an' that's
where I was to be myself, to-morrow evening; but now we must both be
there before the sun's up, for no one must see us on the road. But,
Mr. Thady, how'll I do about taking you there, when you wouldn't come
to Mulready's to take the oath, which all must do afore they'll be
allowed among the boys that is together, or as will be together there
to-morrow evening?"

Thady then promised him, that when he reached their destination, he
would take any or every oath that might be proposed to him; that he
would join their society in every respect, whatever might be its
laws, and that if they would assist him in his present condition by
affording him whatever security might be in their power, he would
faithfully conform to all their rules and regulations. So far did
his fears and the agitated state of his mind overcome the great
repugnance which still he felt to break the solemn promise he had
given Father John, and which he had so faithfully intended to keep.

Reynolds reflected that though it was contrary to their regulations
to bring a stranger to the haunts where his companions carried on
their illegal trade, they could hardly be unwilling to give shelter
to the man who had killed the enemy whom they all so cordially hated,
and to murder whom they were all sworn; particularly when his present
necessity of concealment arose from the fact of his having done so.
Reynolds had an idea of justice in his composition: he knew that had
he murdered Ussher, his companions would have used every effort to
conceal him, and to baffle his pursuers; and he was determined that
they should do as much for Thady.

He went back to the cabin for Corney Dolan, and told him the story
which he had just heard; and at about midnight the party started for
the mountains.

Aughacashel is a mountain on the eastern side of Loch Allen, near the
borders of the County Cavan--uncultivated and rocky at the top, but
nevertheless inhabited, and studded with many miserably poor cabins,
till within about a quarter of a mile of the summit. The owners of
these cabins, with great labour, have contrived to obtain wretchedly
poor crops of potatoes from the barren soil immediately