in us?--what preparations for ourselves?--have you
a musket, have you a horse, or do you yourself, in your own person,
represent the alliance we seek for?"

Mark hung down his head abashed and ashamed: too well he knew how
treachery had sapped the foundation of the plot; that, betrayed and
abandoned by their chiefs, the people had become either apathetic
or terror-stricken, and that, if a blow were to be struck for Irish
independence, it must be by the arm of the stranger.

"It is needless to waste words, sir," said the French captain, for such
he was; "the admiral has twice made the signal to stand out to sea. The
French Republic will have suffered loss enough in some of the finest
ships of her navy, without hazarding fifteen thousand brave fellows upon
an exploit so hopeless."

"The Captain says truly," interposed another; "Ireland is not ripe for
such an enterprize; there may be courage enough among your countrymen,
but they know not how to act together. There's no slavery like
dissension."

"That boat will be swamped," said the officer of the watch, as he
pointed to the fishing-craft, which still held on to the leeward of the
ship; "if you are going back to shore, sir, let me advise you, for your
own sake, and your comrades', too, to lose no time about it."

"Far better to come with us," said a powerful looking man in the uniform
of an infantry regiment; "the young gentleman seems inclined to see
service. 'Ma foi,' we seldom lack an opportunity of showing it."

"I'll never go back," said Mark; "I have looked at my country for the
last time."

With many a welcome speech the officers pressed round and grasped his
hands, and for a moment all their misfortunes were forgotten in the joy
with which they received their new comrade.

"Who will be my banker for some gold," said Mark; "those brave fellows
have risked their lives for me, and I have nothing but thanks to give
them."

"Let this go to the expenses of the expedition,'' said the captain,
laughing, as he threw his purse to Mark. The young man leaned over the
bulwark, and hailed the boat, and, after a moment of great difficulty,
one of the fishermen reached the deck.

"I wish to bid you good-bye, Tom," said Mark, as he grasped the
rough hand in his; "you are the last thing I shall see of my country;
farewell, then; but remember, that however deeply wrongs may gall, and
injuries oppress you, the glory of resistance is too dearly bought at
the cost of comp