used to a beating each day
that I wondered wouldn't he be lonesome when the beatings ceased and
there was no enemy to follow him.

Father Donovan had not yet appeared, and the fire was just lit in the
kitchen to prepare breakfast, so I took Jem and Paddy with me to the
eating shop of the town, and there a sleepy-looking shop-keeper let us
in, mightily resenting this early intrusion, but changed his demeanour
when he understood the size of the order I was giving him, and the
fact that I was going to pay good gold; for it would be a fine joke on
The O'Ruddy if the Earl surrounded the house with his men and starved
him out. So it was no less than three cartloads of provisions I
ordered, though one of them was a cartload of drink, for I thought the
company I had hired would have a continuous thirst on them, being
seafaring men and smugglers, and I knew that strong, sound ale was
brewed in Rye.

The business being finished, we three went back to the "Anchor," and
found an excellent breakfast and an excellent man waiting for me, the
latter being Father Donovan, although slightly impatient for closer
acquaintance with the former.

When breakfast was done with, I ordered the three horses saddled, and
presently out in the courtyard Paddy was seated on his nag with the
two sacks of pistols before him, and Jem in like manner with his two
bundles of swords. The stableman held my horse, so I turned to Father
Donovan and grasped him warmly by the hand.

"A safe journey across the Channel to you, Father Donovan, and a
peaceful voyage from there to Rome, whichever road you take. If you
write to me in the care of the landlord of this inn I'll be sending
and sending till I get your letter, and when you return I'll be
standing and watching the sea, at whatever point you land in England,
if you'll but let me know in time. And so good-bye to you, Father
Donovan, and God bless you, and I humbly beseech your own blessing in
return."

The old man's eyes grew wider and wider as I went on talking and
talking and shaking him by the hand.

"What's come over you, O'Ruddy?" he said, "and where are you going?"

"I am taking a long journey to the west and must have an early start."

"Nonsense," cried Father Donovan, "it's two or three days before I can
leave this shore, so I'll accompany you a bit of the way."

"You mustn't think of it, Father, because you had a long day's ride
yesterday, and I want you to take care of yourself and take tho