in the other
affair."

"Donnel, you're a great headpiece--the divil's not so deep as you are;
but as the most of them all is strangers, an' they say there's two girls
in Sullivan's instead o' one, how will the strange boys know the right
one?"

"If it goes to that," said the Prophet, "you'll know her by the clipped
head. The minute they seize upon the girl with the clipped head, let
them make sure of her. Poor foolish Tom Dalton, who knows nothing about
our scheme, thinks the visit is merely to frighten the Sullivans;
but when you get the girl, let her be brought to the crossroads of
Tulnavert, where Masther Dick will have a chaise waitin' for her, an'
wanst she's with him your care's over. In the meantime, while he's
waitin' there, I an' the others will see what can be done at the
Grange."

"But tell me, Donnel; you don't intend, surely, to leave poor Sarah
behind us?"

"Eh? Sarah?" returned the Prophet.

"Ay; bekaise you said so awhile a-gone."

"I know I said so awhile ago; but regardin' Sarah, Rody, she's the only
livin' thing on this earth that I care about. I have hardened my heart,
thank God, against all the world but herself; an' although I have never
much showed it to her, an' although I have neglected her, an' sometimes
thought I hated her for her mother's sake--well, no matther--she's
the only thing I love or care about for all that. Oh! no--go wid-out
Sarah--come weal come woe--we must not."

"Bekaise," continued Rody, "when we're all safe, an' out o' the raich o'
danger, I have a thing to say to you about Sarah."

"Very well, Rody," said the Prophet, with a grim but bitter smile,
"it'll be time enough then. Now, go and manage these fellows, an' see
you do things as they ought to be done."

"She's fond o' Charley Hanlon, to my own knowledge."

"Who is?"

"Sarah, an' between you an' me, it's not a Brinoge like him that's fit
for her. She's a, hasty and an uncertain kind of a girl--:a good dale
wild or so--an' it isn't, as I said, the! likes o' that chap that 'id
answer her, but a steady, experienced, sober--"

"Honest man, Rody. Well, I'm not in a laughin' humor, now; be off, an'
see that you do yourself an' us all credit."

When he was gone, the Prophet drew a long breath--one, however, from its
depth, evidently indicative of anything but ease of mind. He then rose,
and was preparing to go out, when Sarah, who had only laid herself on
the bed, without undressing, got up, and approaching hi