n hour or so now, you may,
an' I'll take care of Sarah till you come back; only don't be longer."

"Long life to you, Donnel; throth an' I want to go, if it was only to
set the little matthers right for them poor orphans, my grandchildre."

"Well, then, go," he replied; "but don't be more than an hour away,
mind. I'll take care of Sarah for you till you come back."

At this moment a tap came to the door, and Donnel, on hearing it, went
out, and in a minute or two returned again, saying--

"Hurry, Biddy; make haste, if you wish to go at all; but remember not to
be more than an hour away."

The old creature accordingly threw her cloak about her, and made the
best of her way to see her grandchildren, both of whose parents had been
swept away by the first deadly ravages of the typhus fever.

She had not been long gone, when another tap was given, and Donnel, on
opening the door, said--

"You may come in now; she's off to Shanco. I didn't think it safe that
she should see us together on this night, at all events. Sit down. This
girl's illness has nearly spoiled all; however, we must only do the best
we can. Thank God the night's dark, that's one comfort."

"If we could a' had Dalton found guilty," replied Body, "all would be
well over this night, an' we might be on our way out o' this to America;
but what 'ud you do wid Sarah if we had? Sure she wouldn't be able to
travel, nor she won't, I doubt, as it is."

"Sarah," replied the Prophet, who suspected the object of the question,
"is well fit to take care of herself. We must only go without her, if
she's not able to come the day afther to-morrow. Where are the boys _for
the Grange?_"

"Undher shelter of the Grey Stone, waitin' to start."

"Well, then, as it it," said Donnel, "they know their business, at any
rate. The Grange folk don't expect them this week to come, you think?"

Rody looked at the Prophet very keenly, as he thought of the
conversation that took place between himself and Charley Hanlon, and
which, upon an explanation with Donnel, he had detailed. The fellow,
however, as we said, was both cowardly and suspicious, and took it into
his head that his friend might feel disposed to play him a trick, by
sending him to conduct the burglary, of which Hanlon had spoken with
such startling confidence--a piece of cowardice which, indeed, was
completely gratuitous and unfounded on his part; the truth being, that
it was the Prophet's interest, above all things,