the banditti disappoint us."

"I cannot quite agree with you," I answered. "Remember that they are
not likely to come here till they have paid our house a visit; and if
they go there, they are sure to burn it, in revenge at finding us gone,
and nothing within which they greatly value."

As I was speaking, I observed a bright light in the direction of our
house, and pointed it out to Gerald. "What do you think that means?" I
asked.

"I don't know," he said. "Perhaps some native with a torch going
through the woods."

"I fear very much that it will increase," I answered. "See! it is
already doing so! Gerald, I am afraid Aqualonga and his party have
really come, and finding that we have escaped, have in revenge set fire
to our house. I trust that they will not treat the whole village in the
same way. It is bad enough for those who have friends to go to, but it
will be sad indeed for the poor people to be burned out of their homes."

"You take things very coolly, Barry," exclaimed Gerald. "The villains!
Can they have dared to burn our house? I hope that they will come here;
and we'll give them a tremendous thrashing!"

"Depend on it, they'll not disappoint us," I observed. "See! see how
the flames are ascending! I have no longer any doubt of what has
happened."

As we were speaking we were joined by my father and Uncle Denis, whose
opinion confirmed our worst fears. The burning of our house was the
signal for us to prepare for an immediate attack, as the enemy would not
take long in traversing the distance between the two places; and unless
they should take it into their heads to destroy the village, they would
very soon appear before Castle Concannan. Those of the garrison who had
lain down to sleep were aroused, and all the men were ordered to their
posts. I hurried to mine; while my father remained on the roof to give
us notice of the approach of the enemy. I opened the port through which
my gun was to be fired, and looked out. The shades of night were fast
floating away, and I could see down the slope to a thick wood which
covered the opposite side of the valley. My gun was loaded with
langrage, which was likely to prove far more effective than a single
shot; for, though that could reach to a distance, it would not, like the
pieces of iron, scatter death and destruction around. With a slow match
in my hand, I stood ready for action. A few men only were stationed
near me, all of whom seemed r