een. "No, no, Corny, nor any of
ye--not now--and mother and me to witness it--it shall not be, Corny,
hear me, as sure as blood's drawn, and we up to see it, so sure does
Corny O'Toole never touch this hand of mine." A pause, and whispering
followed, and again all appeared to be quiet. I unstrapped my
portmanteau, took out my pistols, which were loaded, re-primed them, and
remained quiet, determined to sell my life as dearly as possible.

It was more than half an hour before Kathleen returned; she looked pale
and agitated. "Keep quiet, and do not think of resistance," said she;
"it is useless. I have told my mother all, and she believes you, and
will risk her life to save him who has watched over the little girl whom
she nursed; but keep quiet, we shall soon have them all out of the
house. Corny dare not disobey me, and he will persuade the others."

She then went out again, and did not return for nearly an hour, when she
was accompanied by her mother. "Kathleen has told me all, young sir,"
said she, "and do what we can, we will; but we hardly know what to do.
To go to the castle would be madness."

"Yes," replied I: "but cannot you give me one of your horses to return
the way I came?"

"That was our intention; but I find that the O'Tooles have taken them
all out of the stable to prevent me; and the house is watched. They
will come at midnight and attack us, that I fully expect, and how to
conceal you puzzles my poor head."

"If they come, we can but persuade them that he has escaped," replied
Kathleen; "they will no longer watch the house, and he will then have
some chance."

"There is but one chance," replied the mother, who took Kathleen aside,
and whispered to her. Kathleen coloured to the forehead, and made no
reply. "If your mother bids you, Kathleen, there can be no harm."

"Yes; but if Corny was--"

"He dare not," replied the mother; "and now put this light out, and do
you get into bed, sir, with your clothes on." They led me to a small
bed-room, a miserable affair; but in that part of the country considered
respectable. "Lie down there," said the mother, "and wait till we call
you." They took the light away, and left me to myself and my own
reflections, which were anything but pleasant. I lay awake, it might be
for two hours, when I heard the sound of feet, and then a whispering
under the window, and shortly afterwards a loud knocking at the door,
which they were attempting to burst open.