ep
till you came back; but where, in the name of all that's wonderful, was
she?"

Donnel sat down in silence, and the crone saw that he was in no mood
for answering questions, or entering into conversation; she accordingly
clapped herself on her hunkers, and commenced sucking her dudeen,
without at all seeming to expect a reply.

We, however, shall avail ourselves of the historian's privilege, in
order to acquaint our readers, very briefly, with that, of which
we presume, so far as Sarah is concerned, they can scarcely plead
ignorance. Having heard the conversation between Rody Duncan and her
father, which satisfied her that the plot for taking away Mave Sullivan
was to be executed that very night, Sarah, with her usual energy and
disregard for herself, resolved to make an effort to save her generous
rival, for we must here acquaint our readers, that during the progress
of her convalescence, she had been able to bring to her recollection the
presence of Mave Sullivan in the shed on more than one occasion. She did
not, however, depend upon her own memory or impressions for this,
but made inquiries from her nurse, who, in common with the whole
neighborhood, had heard of Mave's humanity and attention towards her,
to which it was well known, she owed her life. The generous girl,
therefore, filled with remorse at having, for one moment, contemplated
any act of injury towards Mave, now determined to save her from the
impending danger, or lose her life in the attempt. How she won her way
in such an enfeebled state of health, and on such a night, cannot now be
known; it is sufficient here to say, that she arrived only a few minutes
before the attack was made upon Sullivan's house, and just in time to
have Mave and her cousin each concealed under a bed. Knowing, however,
that a strict search would have rendered light of some kind necessary,
and enable the ruffians to discover Mave besides, she, at once, threw
herself in their way, under a feigned attempt to escape, and the next
moment three or four voices exclaimed, exultingly, "we have her--the
cropped head--here she is--all's right--come away; you darlin', you'll
be a happy girl before this day week!"

"I hope so," she replied; "oh, I hope so--bring me away!"

The Prophet's own adventure was not less disastrous. Rody Duncan's
sudden withdrawal from the robbery surprised him very much. On seriously
and closely reconsidering the circumstances, it looked suspicious, and
ere