e was heard along the flagged hall. This ceased, and
she could recognize Kerry's step as he came up the corridor to the door
of the tower.

"Come in," cried she to his summons, but her utmost effort could not
make the words audible. "Come in," said she again.

Kerry heard it not, but opening the door cautiously, he entered.

"'Tis the Captain, Miss Kate, wants to know if he could see the master."

"Yes," said she, in a voice scarcely above a whisper. "Who is with him?
Is there a prisoner there?"

"Faix, there is then; but Captain Travers will tell you all himself."

"Captain Travers!" cried Kate, a deep flush covering her face.

"Yes, madam," said Frederick, as he entered at the same moment.

"I am but too happy to bear pleasant tidings, to think of my want of
courtesy in intruding unannounced."

"Leave the room--shut the door, Kerry," said Kate, as with eyes fixed on
Travers she waited for him to continue.

"Your cousin is safe, Miss O'Donoghue--he has reached the fleet, and is
already on his way to France."

"Thank God!" cried Kate fervently, as she fell upon her uncle's
shoulders, and whispered the tidings into his ear.

The old man looked up and stared wildly around him.

"Where's Mark, my love--where did you say he was?"

"He's safe, uncle--he's on board of a French ship, and bound for France,
beyond the reach of danger."

"For France! And has he left me--has he deserted his old father?"

"His life was in peril, sir," whispered Kate, who, stung by the old
man's selfishness, spoke almost angrily.

"My boy has abandoned me," muttered the O'Donoghue, the one idea,
absorbing all others, occupied his mind, and left him deaf to every
explanation or remonstrance.

"You are right, Miss O'Donoghue," said Travers, gently, "his danger was
most imminent--the evidence against him was conclusive and complete; and
although one of the principal witnesses could not have appeared, Lanty
Lawler----"

"And was he an informer?"

"He was, madam; but amid the mass of treachery he has met a just fate.
Barrington, determined to punish the fellow, has come forward, and given
himself up; but with such evidence of the horse-dealer's guilt, that his
conviction is certain; the sums he received from France are all proved
under his own hand, and now that Hemsworth is no more, and Lawler's
treachery has no patron, his case has little hope. He is at this moment
my prisoner; we took him on the mountain where he had gone with