haps, we were
able to land unobserved by the careless watchmen on the coast, who never
dreamed to look for a boat on such a night. Whereas, had they known
more of the McDonnell oarsmen, they would have doubled their guard
instead of going asleep.

I was glad to find that Ludar, having resolved on the journey, had
strength enough to go through with it. Indeed, his step grew firmer
every pace we took, and although his brow remained black, and he would,
I think, have felled me to the ground had I mentioned the maiden's name
in his ear, yet on other matters his spirits revived.

'Twas a difficult journey from the little bay where we landed to
Glenshesk; nor dare we make it in broad daylight. We took care to clad
ourselves like herdsmen; yet even so, it would have been a risk to
accost a stranger or enter a hut for shelter. For the O'Neills and the
English among them had overawed the peasants; and although it was
commonly believed the Turlogh would hold aloof in this quarrel, yet he
had his own grudge against the McDonnells, and was not lightly to be run
against. So we lay hid all day in the thick heather, and at night
crossed rapidly at the back of Benmore, and plunged into the woods on
the slopes of the dome-like Knocklayd. Ludar seemed to know his way by
instinct. The McDonnell had told us where we should meet with a
friendly clansman, who would take us to the chief, and had warned us
what paths specially to avoid in crossing the mountain. His
instructions served us well; and at daybreak we came upon the friendly
hut just where we had expected, a little below the summit on the seaward
side of the hill.

The man would by no means let us lie in his hut for fear of being seen,
but showed us a deep cave in the hill-side, where we (and a score of men
beside, had it been needful), might hide.

As we lay there, waiting for night, Ludar, for the first time, referred
to what had befallen at Castleroe.

"Humphrey," said he, "I am torn in two. How can I go out to take a
castle, while she lies in the wolf's clutches yonder? Yet how may I, a
loyal man, pursue my private quarrel while my brave father demands my
service for the clan in this great enterprise?"

"Maybe," said I, "in doing the latter you will achieve both ends. For,
assuredly, so soon as an alarm is raised for the safety of Dunluce, this
Merriman and every trooper he has must come thither; so, the maiden will
be left free of him. Besides," said I, "if wh