e smooth water, Corporal," cried Billy; "let her go a
little free."

And, obedient to the advice, he ran the boat swiftly along till she
entered a small creek, so sheltered by the highlands that the water
within was still as a mountain tarn.

"You never made the passage on a worse night, I 'll be bound," said
Craggs, as he sprang on shore.

"Indeed and I did, then," replied Billy. "I remember--it was two days
before Christmas--we were blown out to say in a small boat, not more
than the half of this, and we only made the west side of Arran Island
after thirty-six hours' beating and tacking. I wrote an account of it
for the 'Tyrawly Regenerator,' commencing with--

"'The elemential conflict that with tremendious violence raged, ravaged,
and ruined the adamantine foundations of our western coast, on Tuesday,
the 23rd of December--'"

"Come along, come along," said Craggs; "we've something else to think
of."

And with this admonition, very curtly bestowed, he stepped out briskly
on the path towards Glencore.

CHAPTER II. GLENCORE CASTLE

When the Corporal, followed by Billy, entered the gloomy hall of the
Castle, they found two or three country people conversing in a low but
eager voice together, who speedily turned towards them, to learn if the
doctor had come.

"Here 's all I could get in the way of a doctor," said Craggs, pushing
Billy towards them as he spoke.

"Faix, and ye might have got worse," muttered a very old man; "Billy
Traynor has the lucky hand.'"

"How is my lord, now, Nelly?" asked the Corporal of a woman who,
with bare feet, and dressed in the humblest fashion of the peasantry,
appeared.

"He's getting weaker and weaker, sir; I believe he's sinking. I'm glad
it's Billy is come; I'd rather see him than all the doctors in the
country."

"Follow me," said Craggs, giving a signal to step lightly; and he led
the way up a narrow stone stair, with a wall on either hand. Traversing
a long, low corridor, they reached a door, at which having waited for a
second or two to listen, Craggs turned the handle and entered. The room
was very large and lofty, and, seen in the dim light of a small lamp
upon the hearthstone, seemed even more spacious than it was. The oaken
floor was uncarpeted, and a very few articles of furniture occupied the
walls. In one corner stood a large bed, the heavy curtains of which had
been gathered up on the roof, the better to admit air to the sick man.

As Billy drew nigh