he Irish, and, in an energetic tone, addressed them in
their own dialect. What she had said was unknown to the English party,
but the effect which her language produced was immediate. Their weapons
were thrown aside, and they hung down their heads in confusion. They
made an attempt to walk away, but a few words from her induced them to
remain.

The fair equestrian was now joined by two more, whose pace had not been
so rapid; and the boatswain, who had been contemplating her with
astonishment, as she was addressing the Irish, now that she was about to
turn towards him, recollected that some of his men were not exactly in a
costume to meet a lady's eye. He raised his call to his mouth, and,
with a sonorous whistle, cried out, "All you without trousers behind
shealing, hoy!" an order immediately obeyed by the men who had been
deprived of their habiliments.

Conolly, who had understood the conversation which had taken place,
called out in Irish, at the same time as he walked round behind the
walls, "I think ye'll be after giving us our duds now, ye dirty
spalpeens, so bring 'um wid you quick;" a request which was immediately
complied with, the clothes being collected by two of the Irish, and
taken to the men who had retired behind the walls of the shealing.

Mr Hardsett was not long in replying to her interrogations, and in
giving her an outline of the tragical events which had occurred, while
the ladies, trembling with pity and emotion, listened to the painful
narrative.

"Are you the only officer then of the frigate that is left?"

"No, madam," replied the boatswain, "the third-lieutenant is here; but
there he lies, poor fellow, desperately wounded by these men, from whom
we expected to have had relief."

"What was the name of your frigate?"

"The _Aspasia_, Captain M---."

"O heaven!" cried the girl, catching at the collar of the boatswain's
coat in her trepidation.

"And the wounded officer's name?"

"Seymour."

A cry of anguish and horror escaped from all the party as the beautiful
interrogatress tottered in her seat, and then fell off into the arms of
the boatswain.

In a few seconds, recovering herself, she regained her feet. "Quick,
quick--lead me to him."

Supported by Hardsett, she tottered to the spot where Seymour lay, with
his eyes closed, faint and exhausted with loss of blood, attended by
Robinson and Debriseau.

She knelt down by his side, and taking his hand, which she pressed
betwe