have been ready to welcome
them, hold back. The whole country round is become suddenly craven; of
the hundreds that rallied round me a month since, seventeen appeared
this morning, and they were wretches more eager for pillage than the
field of honourable warfare. It is come then to this, you either come
forth, at once, to harangue the people, and recall them to their sworn
allegiance, or the expedition goes on without you--go on it shall."

Here he turned sharply round, and said a few words in French, to which
the person addressed replied--

"Certainly; the French Republic does not send a force like this for the
benefit of a sea voyage."

"Desert the cause, then," continued Mark, in a tone of denunciation;
"desert us, and by G--d, your fate will be worse than that of our more
open enemies. To-night the force will land; to-morrow we march all day,
aye and all night too: the blazing chapels shall light the way."

"Take care, rash boy, take care; the vengeance of outraged heaven is
more terrible than you think of. Whatever be the crime and guilt of
others, remember that you are an Irishman; that what the alien may do in
recklessness, is sacrilege in him who is the son of the soil."

"Save me, then, from this guilt--save me from myself," cried Mark, in
an accent of tender emotion. "I cannot desert this cause, and oh, do not
make it one of dishonour to me."

The old man seemed overcome by this sudden appeal to his affections, and
made no reply, and the deep breathing of Mark, as his chest heaved in
strong emotion, was the only sound in the stillness. Herbert, who
had hitherto listened with that vague half consciousness of reality
excessive fatigue inflicts, became suddenly aware that the eventful
moment was come, when, should the priest falter or hesitate, Mark might
succeed in his request, and all hope of rescuing him be lost for ever.
With the energy of a desperate resolve he sprang forward, and entered
the room just as the priest was about to reply.

"No, Father, no," cried he, wildly; "be firm, be resolute; if this
unhappy land is to be the scene of bloodshed, let not her sons be found
in opposing ranks."

"This from you, Herbert!" said Mark, reproachfully, as he fixed a cold,
stern gaze upon his brother.

"And why not from him," said the priest, hastily. "Is he not an Irishman
in heart and spirit? Is not the land as dear to him as to us?"

"I give you joy upon the alliance, Father," said Mark, with a scornfu