interchanging courtesies with the newly-arrived
guest, the O'Donoghue, by dint of reiterated pulling at the bell, had
succeeded in inducing Kerry O'Leary to quit his sanctuary, and venture
to the door of the apartment, which he did with a caution only to be
acquired by long practice.

"Is he here, sir?" whispered he, as his eyes took a rapid but searching
survey of the apartment. "Blessed virgin, but he's in a dreadful temper
to-night."

"Bring some supper here directly," cried O'Donoghue, striking the ground
angrily with his heavy cane; "if I have to tell you again, I hope he'll
break every bone in your skin."

"I request you will not order any refreshment for me, sir," said Talbot,
bowing; "we partook of a very excellent supper at a little cabin in the
glen, where, among other advantages, I had the pleasure of making your
son's acquaintance."

"Ah, indeed, at Mary's," said the old man. "There are worse places than
that little 'shebeen;' but you must permit me to offer you a glass of
claret, which never tastes the worse in company with a grouse pie.

"You must hae found the travelling somewhat rude in these parts," said
M'Nab, who thus endeavoured to draw from the stranger some hint either
as to the object or the road of his journey.

"We were not over particular on that score," said Talbot, laughing. "A
few young college men seeking some days' amusement in the wild mountains
of this picturesque district, could well afford to rough it for the
enjoyment of the ramble."

"You should visit us in the autumn," said O'Donoghue, "when our heaths
and arbutus blossoms are in beauty; then, they who have travelled far,
tell me that there is nothing to be seen in Switzerland finer than this
valley. Draw your chair over here, and let me have the pleasure of a
glass of wine with you."

The party had scarcely taken their places at the table, when Mark
re-entered the room, heated and excited with the chase of the fugitives.

"They're off," muttered he, angrily, "down the glen, and I only hope
they may lose their way in it, and spend the night upon the heather."

As he spoke, he turned his eyes to the corner of the room, where Kerry,
in a state of the most abject fear, was endeavouring to extract a cork
from a bottle by means of a very impracticable screw.

"Ah! you there," cried he, as his eyes flashed fire. "Hold the bottle
up--hold it steady, you old fool," and with a savage grin he drew a
pistol from his breast pocket