tongue where she
list.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

HOW SORLEY BOY MCDONNELL CAME HOME TO HIS OWN.

I was not left for long to a solitary watch at the maiden's tower. For,
just as dawn began to break, and my head, after the labours of the
night, began to nod, I was roused with a thwack betwixt my jaw and my
ear which sent me backwards to the ground. When I picked myself up, I
found it was the English fellow whom Ludar had put snugly to roost on
the parapet an hour or two since. He had come to in no very merry frame
of mind; and, finding the castle in the hands of the besiegers, and his
own life not worth an hour's purchase, was minded to hit out a bit for
his Queen before giving up the ghost.

More than that, I suspect, he was a little jealous to find me on guard
at the maiden's tower, where, till now, he had stood sentinel. Anyhow
he caught me a crack which I have scarce forgotten yet, and which might
have left me lying on my back to this day, but for the blow which Ludar
had dealt him first.

He was unarmed, so that I could not make an end of him as shortly as I
was minded. Nor had I sword to offer him to cross with mine; so I had
him by the leg and the collar and walked him to the cliff's edge.

"You will do less harm down there," said I, "than here. So say your
prayers."

"As you please, comrade," said he. "I should have sooner have had
breakfast first. As for the blow I gave you, I thought you saw me come
at you, else I would have woke you up first, and knocked you down next."

I set him down at that.

"If that be so," said I, "you are not the cur I took you for; for I had
no business to be nodding. Stay here, and I will fetch you a sword, and
you shall die like an Englishman."

"I ask nothing better," said he, "even if it be at the hands of an
Englishman turned traitor."

That took the spirit clean out of me. Was it not true? Was not this
fellow a truer servant of her Majesty than I, who for months had done
naught but break her laws, assault her mayors, fire on her flag, and
slay her soldiers? Yet, how could I help it?

The fellow's gibe made me so miserable that instead of fetching him a
sword, I gave him mine, and bade him do to me as I deserved.

He laughed.

"By my soul, no!" said he. "If you be a servant of her Majesty, 'tis
not for me to touch you. If you be not, the sword belongs to you, and I
call it no shame to die by it. Yet, if you are minded to fetch me a
weapon, I warrant