ThearmyofthePrinceofOrangewassaidtoberapidlyapproachingthetown，inordertocommencethesiege。
　　Onhearingthis，andbeingmadeascertainasthevaguenessandunsatisfactorynatureofmyinformation，whichcamenotfromanyauthenticsource，wouldpermit；
　　atleast，beingsureofthemainpoint，whichallallowed——namely，thatLimerickwasheldfortheking——andbeingalsonaturallyfondofenterprise，andimpatientofidleness，Itooktheresolutiontotravelthither，and，ifpossible，tothrowmyselfintothecity，inordertolendwhatassistanceImighttomyformercompanionsinarms，wellknowingthatanymanofstrongconstitutionandofsomeexperiencemighteasilymakehimselfusefultoagarrisonintheirstraitenedsituation。
　　WhenIhadtakenthisresolution，Iwasnotlonginputtingitintoexecution；and，asthefirststepinthematter，Iturnedhalfofthemoneywhichremainedwithme，inallaboutseventeenpounds，intosmallwaresandmerchandisesuchastravellingtradersusedtodealin；andtherest，exceptingsomeshillingswhichIcarriedhomeformyimmediateexpenses，Isewedcarefullyintheliningofmybreecheswaistband，hopingthatthesaleofmycommoditiesmighteasilysupplymewithsubsistenceupontheroad。
　　IleftDublinuponaFridaymorninginthemonthofSeptember，withatolerablyheavypackuponmyback。
　　Iwasastrongmanandagoodwalker，andonedaywithanothertravelledeasilyattherateoftwentymilesineachday，muchtimebeinglostinthetownsofanynoteontheway，where，toavoidsuspicion，Iwasobligedtomakesomestay，asiftosellmywares。
　　IdidnottraveldirectlytoLimerick，butturnedfarintoTipperary，goingneartothebordersofCork。
　　UponthesixthdayaftermydeparturefromDublinIlearned，CERTAINLY，fromsomefellowswhowerereturningfromtraffickingwiththesoldiers，thatthearmyoftheprincewasactuallyencampedbeforeLimerick，uponthesouthsideoftheShannon。
　　Inorder，then，toenterthecitywithoutinterruption，Imustneedscrosstheriver，andIwasmuchindoubtwhethertodosobyboatfromKerry，whichImighthaveeasilydone，intotheEarlofClare’sland，andthusintothebeleagueredcity，ortotakewhatseemedtheeasierway，one，however，aboutwhichIhadcertainmisgivings——which，bytheway，afterwardsturnedouttobejustenough。ThiswaywastocrosstheShannonatO’Brien’sBridge，oratKillaloe，intothecountyofClare。
　　Ifeared，however，thatboththesepasseswereguardedbytheprince’sforces，andresolved，ifsuchwerethecase，nottoessaytocross，forIwasnotfittedtosustainascrutiny，havingaboutme，thoughprettysafelysecured，mycommissionfromKingJames——which，thoughadangerouscompanion，Iwouldnothavepartedfrombutwithmylife。
　　Isettled，then，inmyownmind，thatifthebridgeswereguardedIwouldwalkasfarasPortumna，whereImightcross，thoughataconsiderablesacrificeoftime；
　　and，havingdetermineduponthiscourse，I
　　turneddirectlytowardsKillaloe。
　　Ireachedthefootofthemountain，orratherhighhill，calledKeeper——whichhadbeenpointedouttomeasalandmark——
　　lyingdirectlybetweenmeandKillaloe，intheevening，and，havingascendedsomeway，thedarknessandfogovertookme。
　　Theeveningwasverychilly，andmyselfweary，hungry，andmuchinneedofsleep，sothatIpreferredseekingtocrossthehill，thoughatsomerisk，toremaininguponitthroughoutthenight。Stumblingoverrocksandsinkingintobog-mire，asthenatureofthegroundvaried，Islowlyandlaboriouslyploddedon，makingverylittlewayinproportiontothetoilitcostme。
　　Afterhalfanhour’sslowwalking，orratherrambling，for，owingtothedark，I
　　verysoonlostmydirection，Iatlastheardthesoundofrunningwater，andwithsomelittletroublereachedtheedgeofabrook，whichraninthebottomofadeepgully。
　　ThisIknewwouldfurnishasureguidetothelowgrounds，whereImightpromisemyselfthatIshouldspeedilymeetwithsomehouseorcabinwhereImightfindshelterforthenight。
　　ThestreamwhichIfollowedflowedatthebottomofaroughandswampyglen，verysteepandmakingmanyabruptturns，andsodark，owingmoretothefogthantothewantofthemoonfor，thoughnothigh，Ibelieveithadrisenatthetime，thatI
　　continuallyfelloverfragmentsofrockandstumbleduptomymiddleintotherivulet，whichIsoughttofollow。
　　Inthisway，drenched，weary，andwithmypatiencealmostexhausted，Iwastoilingonward，when，turningasharpangleinthewindingglen，Ifoundmyselfwithinsometwentyyardsofagroupofwild-lookingmen，gatheredinvariousattitudesroundaglowingturffire。
　　IwassosurprisedatthisrencontrethatIstoppedshort，andforatimewasindoubtwhethertoturnbackortoaccostthem。
　　Aminute’sthoughtsatisfiedmethatI
　　oughttomakeuptothefellows，andtrusttotheirgoodfaithforwhateverassistancetheycouldgiveme。
　　Idetermined，then，todothis，havinggreatfaithintheimpulsesofmymind，which，wheneverIhavebeeninjeopardy，asinmylifeIoftenhave，alwayspromptedmearight。
　　Thestrongredlightofthefireshowedmeplainlyenoughthatthegroupconsisted，notofsoldiers，butofIrishkernes，orcountrymen，mostofthemwrappedinheavymantles，andwithnoothercoveringfortheirheadsthanthataffordedbytheirlong，roughhair。
　　TherewasnothingaboutthemwhichI
　　couldseetointimatewhethertheirobjectwerepeacefulorwarlike；butIafterwardsfoundthattheyhadweaponsenough，thoughoftheirownrudefashion。
　　Therewereinallabouttwentypersonsassembledaroundthefire，somesittinguponsuchblocksofstoneashappenedtolieintheway；othersstretchedattheirlengthupontheground。
　　’Godsaveyou，boys!’saidI，advancingtowardstheparty。
　　Themenwhohadbeentalkingandlaughingtogetherinstantlypaused，andtwoofthem——tallandpowerfulfellows——
　　snatchedupeachaweapon，somethinglikeashorthalberdwithamassiveironhead，aninstrumentwhichtheycalledamongthemselvesarapp，andwithtwoorthreelongstridestheycameupwithme，andlayingholduponmyarms，drewme，not，youmayeasilybelieve，makingmuchresistance，towardsthefire。
　　WhenIreachedtheplacewherethefigureswereseated，thetwomenstillheldmefirmly，andsomeothersthrewsomehandfulsofdryfuelupontheredembers，which，blazingup，castastronglightuponme。
　　Whentheyhadsatisfiedthemselvesastomyappearance，theybegantoquestionmeverycloselyastomypurposeinbeinguponthehillatsuchanunseasonablehour，askingmewhatwasmyoccupation，whereIhadbeen，andwhitherIwasgoing。
　　ThesequestionswereputtomeinEnglishbyanoldhalf-militarylookingman，whotranslatedintothatlanguagethesuggestionswhichhiscompanionsforthemostpartthrewoutinIrish。
　　Ididnotchoosetocommitmyselftothesefellowsbytellingthemmyrealcharacterandpurpose，andthereforeI
　　representedmyselfasapoortravellingchapmanwhohadbeenatCork，andwasseekinghiswaytoKillaloe，inordertocrossoverintoClareandthencetothecityofGalway。
　　Myaccountdidnotseemfullytosatisfythemen。
　　IheardonefellowsayinIrish，whichlanguageIunderstood，’Maybeheisaspy。’
　　Theythenwhisperedtogetherforatime，andthelittlemanwhowastheirspokesmancameovertomeandsaid：
　　’Doyouknowwhatwedowithspies？
　　weknocktheirbrainsout，myfriend。’
　　Hethenturnedbacktothemwithwhomhehadbeenwhispering，andtalkedinalowtoneagainwiththemforaconsiderabletime。
　　Inowfeltveryuncomfortable，notknowingwhatthesesavages——fortheyappearednothingbetter——mightdesignagainstme。
　　TwiceorthriceIhadseriousthoughtsofbreakingfromthem，butthetwoguardswhowereplaceduponmeheldmefastbythearms；andevenhadIsucceededinshakingthemoff，Ishouldsoonhavebeenovertaken，encumberedasIwaswithaheavypack，andwhollyignorantofthelieoftheground；orelse，ifIweresoexceedinglyluckyastoescapeoutoftheirhands，Istillhadthechanceoffallingintothoseofsomeotherpartyofthesamekind。
　　Ithereforepatientlyawaitedtheissueoftheirdeliberations，whichImadenodoubtaffectedmenearly。
　　Iturnedtothemenwhoheldme，andoneaftertheotheraskedthem，intheirownlanguage，’Whytheyheldme？’adding，’Iambutapoorpedlar，asyousee。
　　Ihaveneithermoneynormoney’sworth，forthesakeofwhichyoushoulddomehurt。Youmayhavemypackandallthatitcontains，ifyoudesireit——butdonotinjureme。’
　　Toallthistheygavenoanswer，butsavagelydesiredmetoholdmytongue。
　　Iaccordinglyremainedsilent，determined，iftheworstcame，todeclaretothewholeparty，who，Idoubtednot，werefriendly，aswerealltheIrishpeasantryinthesouth，totheRoyalcause，myrealcharacteranddesign；andifthisavowalfailedme，Iwasresolvedtomakeadesperateefforttoescape，oratleasttogivemylifeatthedearestpriceIcould。
　　Iwasnotkeptlonginsuspense，forthelittleveteranwhohadspokentomeatfirstcameover，anddesiringthetwomentobringmeafterhim，ledthewayalongabrokenpath，whichwoundbythesideofthesteepglen。
　　Iwasobligedwillynillytogowiththem，and，half-draggingandhalf-carryingme，theybroughtmebythepath，whichnowbecameverysteep，forsomehundredyardswithoutstopping，whensuddenlycomingtoastand，Ifoundmyselfclosebeforethedoorofsomehouseorhut，Icouldnotseewhich，throughtheplanksofwhichastronglightwasstreaming。
　　Atthisdoormyconductorstopped，andtappinggentlyatit，itwasopenedbyastoutfellow，withbuff-coatandjack-boots，andpistolsstuckinhisbelt，asalsoalongcavalryswordbyhisside。
　　Hespokewithmyguide，andtomynosmallsatisfaction，inFrench，whichconvincedmethathewasoneofthesoldierswhomLouishadsenttosupportourking，andwhoweresaidtohavearrivedinLimerick，though，asIobservedabove，notwithtruth。
　　Iwasmuchassuredbythiscircumstance，andmadenodoubtbutthatIhadfalleninwithoneofthosemaraudingpartiesofnativeIrish，who，placingthemselvesundertheguidanceofmenofcourageandexperience，haddonemuchbraveandessentialservicetothecauseoftheking。
　　Thesoldierenteredaninnerdoorintheapartment，whichopeningdisclosedarude，dreary，anddilapidatedroom，withalowplankceiling，muchdiscolouredbythesmokewhichhungsuspendedinheavymasses，descendingwithinafewfeetoftheground，andcompletelyobscuringtheupperregionsofthechamber。
　　Alargefireofturfandheathwasburningunderakindofrudechimney，shapedlikealargefunnel，butbynomeansdischargingthefunctionsforwhichitwasintended。IntothisinauspiciousapartmentwasIconductedbymystrangecompanions。
　　InthenextroomIheardvoicesemployed，asitseemed，inbriefquestioningandanswer；andinaminutethesoldierre-
　　enteredtheroom，andhavingsaid，’Votreprisonnier——legeneralveutlevoir，’heledthewayintotheinnerroom，whichinpointofcomfortandcleanlinesswasnotawhitbetterthanthefirst。
　　Seatedataclumsyplanktable，placedaboutthemiddleofthefloor，wasapowerfullybuiltman，ofalmostcolossalstature——
　　hismilitaryaccoutrements，cuirassandrichregimentalclothes，soiled，deranged，andspatteredwithrecenthardtravel；theflowingwig，surmountedbythecockedhatandplume，stillresteduponhishead。Onthetablelayhissword-beltwithitsappendage，andapairoflongholsterpistols，somepapers，andpenandink；alsoastonejug，andthefragmentsofahastymeal。Hisattitudebetokenedthelanguoroffatigue。Hislefthandwasburiedbeyondthelaceruffleinthebreastofhiscassock，andtheelbowofhisrightresteduponthetable，soastosupporthishead。Fromhismouthprotrudedatobacco-pipe，whichasIenteredheslowlywithdrew。
　　Asingleglanceatthehonest，good-
　　humoured，comelyfaceofthesoldiersatisfiedmeofhisidentity，andremovingmyhatfrommyheadIsaid，’GodsaveGeneralSarsfield!’
　　Thegeneralnodded’Iamaprisonerhereunderstrangecircumstances，’Icontinued’Iappearbeforeyouinastrangedisguise。YoudonotrecogniseCaptainHardressFitzgerald!’
　　’Eh，how’sthis？’saidhe，approachingmewiththelight。
　　’IamthatHardressFitzgerald，’I
　　repeated，’whoservedunderyouattheBoyne，anduponthedayoftheactionhadthehonourtoprotectyourpersonattheexpenseofhisown。’AtthesametimeI
　　turnedasidethehairwhichcoveredthescarwhichyouwellknowuponmyforehead，andwhichwasthenmuchmoreremarkablethanitisnow。
　　Thegeneralonseeingthisatoncerecognisedme，andembracingmecordially，mademesitdown，andwhileIunstrappedmypack，atediousjob，myfingersbeingnearlynumbedwithcold，sentthemenforthtoprocuremesomeprovision。
　　Thegeneral’shorsewasstabledinacornerofthechamberwherewesat，andhiswar-saddlelayuponthefloor。Atthefarendoftheroomwasaseconddoor，whichstoodhalfopen；abogwoodfireburnedonahearthsomewhatlessrudethantheonewhichIhadfirstseen，butstillverylittlebetterappointedwithachimney，forthickwreathsofsmokewereeddying，witheveryfitfulgust，abouttheroom。Closebythefirewasstrewedabedofheath，intended，Isupposed，forthestalwartlimbsofthegeneral。
　　’HardressFitzgerald，’saidhe，fixinghiseyesgravelyuponme，whileheslowlyremovedthetobacco-pipefromhismouth，’Irememberyou，strong，boldandcunninginyourwarliketrade；themoredesperateanenterprise，themorereadyforit，you。
　　Iwouldgladlyengageyou，forIknowyoutrustworthy，toperformapieceofdutyrequiring，itmaybe，noextraordinaryqualitytofulfil；andyetperhaps，asaccidentsmayhappen，demandingeveryattributeofdaringanddexteritywhichbelongstoyou。’
　　Herehepausedforsomemoments。
　　IownIfeltsomewhatflatteredbythetermsinwhichhespokeofme，knowinghimtobebutlittlegiventocompliments；
　　andnothavinganyplaninmyhead，fartherthantherenderingwhatserviceI
　　mighttothecauseoftheking，caringverylittleastotheroadinwhichmydutymightlie，Ifranklyreplied：