urged us not to make
the attempt: perhaps the enemy had retired with the object in view of
drawing us out from our fortifications, and then turning round and
attacking us with overwhelming numbers.

"I believe you are right, Terence," answered my father; "though I should
have liked much to give them a parting salute."

The design was accordingly abandoned. Our first care was to strengthen
the door the enemy had battered in; for should they return, we must
depend rather on our fortifications than on our power of annoying them.
To make some amends for our want of ammunition, a party of men were told
off to carry up a supply of stones and brickbats to the roof, to hurl
down on our assailants. By using these, we might at all events destroy
a good many, and annoy them while attempting to effect an entrance at
any particular part. Should they succeed in again breaking open a door,
we agreed to fight desperately at the breach till not a man of us
remained alive.

As may be supposed, the enemy were anxiously watched from the
battlements. To our infinite satisfaction, in a few minutes they
continued their march; and in a short time not a man of them was to be
seen. Their wounded they carried off, but the dead were left where they
fell. It was a dreadful sight. Upwards of eighty lay stretched on the
ground, in various attitudes, round the house; the greater number on the
west side, in the courtyard. Some of these had fallen into the burning
buildings, and were hideously charred. If left where they were, besides
the annoyance which the fearful spectacle caused, they would render the
house uninhabitable. My uncle therefore ordered down ten of the men--
promising them a reward--to bury the bodies; and a huge grave being dug
in the valley, they were dragged down and thrown in. This task occupied
nearly the remainder of the day.

I had been so much engaged, that I had been unable to go up and see my
mother and sisters. I now found Norah and my mother assisting the
doctor in attending to his patients; while the rest were in the kitchen
superintending the cooking of various viands. I had tasted nothing
since the morning, and the odour made me excessively hungry. I was
thankful, therefore, when the meal was ready; and we all sat down to it
with right good appetites. Had it not been for our poor fellows killed
and wounded, we should have been a very merry party. It was my first
battle, and I could not get over the sigh