act. I think it was the sight of your
bare back, Neal, and that blackguard brandishing his belt over you that
played up with my nerves."

"Let's be getting on," said Moylin, "my house is ashes now, the house I
built with my own hands, the room my wife died in, the bed my girl was
born in. She's safe out of this, thank God. I want to be getting on. I
want to be in Antrim to-morrow with a pike in my hand and a regiment of
dragoons in front of me."

Under Moylin's guidance they travelled across country through the night.
About three in the morning, when the east was beginning to grow bright
with the coming dawn, they reached a substantial farmhouse and climbed
into the haggard.

"We're within twenty yards of the main road now," said Moylin, "about
a mile and a half outside the town of Antrim. We can lie here till
morning. It's a safe place. The man that owns it won't betray us if he
does find us here."

At six o'clock Donald Ward awoke. The rest of the party lay stretched
around him, sleeping as men do after severe physical exertion and mental
strain. He sat still for a while, and then crept out of the barn where
they slept, and reconnoitered the farmhouse. He was surprised to find no
sign of life about it. Doors and windows were fast shut. No dog barked
at him. No cattle lowed. Not even a hen pecked or cackled in the yard.
He returned to the barn and roused the rest of the party.

"I've been looking round," he said, "to see what chance we have of
getting breakfast. As far as I can make out the place is deserted."

"I wouldn't wonder," said Moylin, "if the man that owns it has cleared
out. He's a bit of a coward, and he's not much liked in the country
because he tries to please both parties."

"I thought you said last night," said Donald, "that he wouldn't betray
us."

"No more he would," said Moylin, "he'd be afraid of what might happen
him after, but I never said he'd help us. It's my belief he's gone off
out of this in dread of what may happen in Antrim to-day. He'll be at
his brother's farm away down the Six Mile Water."

"Well," said Donald, "it doesn't matter about him. The question is, how
are we to get something to eat?"

A long consultation followed. There were serious difficulties. The
amount of food required for seven hungry men was considerable, and
Donald Ward insisted strongly on the necessity of having a good meal. It
was decided at last that two of the party should venture into Antrim to
buy br