rders which Neal speaks of came from Belfast," said Donald. "Who
has lately left this place and gone to Belfast?"

"I can tell you," said Neal. "James Finlay. And James Finlay had a
grudge against me. The others whom he denounced were United Irishmen,
perhaps, I was not. Why was I marked down, unless it was out of private
revenge? And there is nobody, nobody in the world, I believe, who has
cause to wish for vengeance on me but only James Finlay."

"I cannot believe it of him," said Micah. "He came to me himself and
asked to be sworn. He was a member of the committee."

"If you ask me," said Donald, "I think the case looks pretty black
against James Finlay. I think, if things are to go on as they ought to,
it will be better to cut the throat of James Finlay. I don't know him
myself. Perhaps you do, Neal."

"Yes," said Neal, "I know him."

"And he is in Belfast," said Donald. "Now, what was his reason for going
to Belfast?"

"He went to obtain employment there," said Micah. "He took letters from
me to some of our leaders. He went as my agent, properly accredited. My
God! If he is a traitor!"

"I think, Neal," said Donald, slowly, "that you and I will take a little
trip to Belfast. I should like to see Belfast. They tell me it's a
rising town. I should also very much like to see our friend, James
Finlay. I suppose we shall be able to get horses to-morrow. Oh, yes,
I've money to pay for them. I didn't come over here with an empty purse.
Anyway, I think Belfast would suit me better than this place. Your
people, Micah, don't seem very fond of fighting."

"You are wrong, brother. They will lay down their lives right willingly
when the hour comes."

Donald shrugged his shoulders. "Their meeting-house has been sacked,
their minister has been insulted, three of their members are to be
arrested, and they haven't offered to strike a blow. If they had the
courage of doe rabbits they'd have chopped up those yeomen into little
bits and then scattered them for dung over the fields. I reckon that
unless the Belfast people are better than these men of yours I'd be
better back in the States. We knew how to fight for our liberty there."

"You don't understand, Donald. Believe me, you do not understand. We
must wait for orders before we strike."

"Oh, orders. Waiting for orders. I know the meaning of that. It means
waiting till the English have picked off your leaders one by one. I
know, I know."

Donald knocked the ashes ou