e settled, if you plase, that I
go with you and the young masther. I've heard say that there are
Indians, rattlesnakes, and panthers, and all sorts of wild beasts out in
them parts, an' he'll be wantin' a steady man to be at hand to help him;
and sure Tim Flanagan's the right person to be following his masther's
son. So just say the word, capt'n dear, an' I'll be ready to march the
moment I get the route."

To my infinite satisfaction, my father answered, "If you wish it, Tim,
you shall accompany us. In case anything should happen to me, I should
be glad to think that Maurice had some one ready to stand by his side;
and there's no human being to whom I would so readily intrust him as to
you."

"It's mighty thankful I am to ye, capt'n; an' we'll be afther seeing
about the baggage, and getting all things ready for the march."

Molly came in after Tim, and frequently applied her apron to her eyes,
as my father went on to describe his plans. She was distressed at
hearing of the illness of Master Nicholas, as she called my uncle, and
at the thought of our going away.

"It's your honour and Mr. Maurice going off that grieves me," she said.
"Sure, if you must go, you must. I'll not let the house go to ruin for
want of dusting and cleaning, and looking afther the poultry and the
pigs, and Dan Rafferty and the boys!"

Molly was much comforted when my father assured her that he could
intrust the place to her care with perfect confidence.

In pretty good spirits she set to work to overhaul our wardrobe, and
prepare everything for packing. There was little sleep for any of us
that night; and the next morning, as soon as my father had made certain
necessary arrangements with Mr. Nolan, the attorney, his agent, we
started for Dublin by Bianconi's car, which passed our gate. Having
settled some money matters, we visited Councillor Roacharty, who, with a
bland smile, assured me that he would not forget my wishes during my
absence. We then went on to Belfast, whence we crossed to Liverpool.
Here, on our arrival, we immediately called on various shipping agents,
and, much to our satisfaction, found that a vessel which was to sail
that evening for Savannah had cabin accommodation for two or three
additional passengers. A few hours after, we found ourselves again
afloat on board the good ship _Liberty_, of four hundred tons, belonging
to Liverpool, gliding down the Mersey with a fair breeze, which, we
hoped, would carry us