throwbackyourhair，sir。’
　　Ifeltthatallchanceofescapewasatanend；andsteppingforwardasnearasthetablewouldallowmetohim，Iraisedmyhead，threwbackmyhair，andfixedmyeyessternlyandboldlyuponhisface。
　　Isawthatheknewmeinstantly，forhiscountenanceturnedaspaleasasheswithsurpriseandhatred。Hestartedup，placinghishandinstinctivelyuponhissword-hilt，andglaringatmewithalooksodeadly，thatIthoughteverymomenthewouldstrikehisswordintomyheart。
　　Hesaidinakindofwhisper：’HardressFitzgerald？’
　　’Yes；’saidI，boldly，fortheexcitementofthescenehadeffectuallystirredmyblood，’HardressFitzgeraldisbeforeyou。
　　Iknowyouwell，CaptainOliver。Iknowhowyouhateme。Iknowhowyouthirstformyblood；butinagoodcause，andinthehandsofGod，Idefyyou。’
　　’Youareadesperatevillain，sir，’saidCaptainOliver；’arebelandamurderer!
　　Holloa，there!guard，seizehim!’
　　Asthesoldiersentered，Ithrewmyeyeshastilyroundtheroom，andobservingaglowingfireuponthehearth，IsuddenlydrewGeneralSarsfield’spacketfrommybosom，andcastingitupontheembers，plantedmyfootuponit。
　　’Securethepapers!’shoutedthecaptain；
　　andalmostinstantlyIwaslaidprostrateandsenselessuponthefloor，byablowfromthebuttofacarbine。
　　IcannotsayhowlongIcontinuedinastateoftorpor；butatlength，havingslowlyrecoveredmysenses，Ifoundmyselflyingfirmlyhandcuffeduponthefloorofasmallchamber，throughanarrowloop-
　　holeinoneofwhosewallstheeveningsunwasshining。Iwaschilledwithcoldanddamp，anddrenchedinblood，whichhadflowedinlargequantitiesfromthewoundonmyhead。ByastrongeffortIshookoffthesickdrowsinesswhichstillhunguponme，and，weakandgiddy，Irosewithpainanddifficultytomyfeet。
　　Thechamber，orrathercell，inwhichIstoodwasabouteightfeetsquare，andofaheightverydisproportionedtoitsotherdimensions；itsaltitudefromthefloortotheceilingbeingnotlessthantwelveorfourteenfeet。Anarrowslitplacedhighinthewalladmittedascantylight，butsufficienttoassuremethatmyprisoncontainednothingtorenderthesojournofitstenantawhitlesscomfortlessthanmyworstenemycouldhavewished。
　　Myfirstimpulsewasnaturallytoexaminethesecurityofthedoor，theloop-holewhichIhavementionedbeingtoohighandtoonarrowtoaffordachanceofescape。Ilistenedattentivelytoascer-
　　tainifpossiblewhetherornotaguardhadbeenplacedupontheoutside。
　　Notasoundwastobeheard。Inowplacedmyshouldertothedoor，andsoughtwithallmycombinedstrengthandweighttoforceitopen。It，however，resistedallmyefforts，andthusbaffledinmyappealtomereanimalpower，exhaustedanddisheartened，Ithrewmyselfontheground。
　　Itwasnotinmynature，however，longtosubmittotheapathyofdespair，andinafewminutesIwasonmyfeetagain。
　　WithpatientscrutinyIendeavouredtoascertainthenatureofthefasteningswhichsecuredthedoor。
　　Theplanks，fortunately，havingbeennailedtogetherfresh，hadshrunkconsiderably，soastoleavewidechinksbetweeneachanditsneighbour。
　　BymeansoftheseaperturesIsawthatmydungeonwassecured，notbyalock，asIhadfeared，butbyastrongwoodenbar，runninghorizontallyacrossthedoor，aboutmidwayupontheoutside。
　　’Now，’thoughtI，’ifIcanbutslipmyfingersthroughtheopeningoftheplanks，Icaneasilyremovethebar，andthen——’
　　Myattempts，however，wereallfrustratedbythemannerinwhichmyhandswerefastenedtogether，eachembarrassingtheother，andrenderingmyeffortssohopelesslyclumsy，thatIwasobligedtogivethemoverindespair。
　　Iturnedwithasighfrommylasthope，andbegantopacemynarrowprisonfloor，whenmyeyesuddenlyencounteredanoldrustynailorholdfaststickinginthewall。
　　AllthegoldofPlutuswouldnothavebeensowelcomeasthatrustypieceofiron。
　　Iinstantlywrungitfromthewall，andinsertingthepointbetweentheplanksofthedoorintothebolt，andworkingitbackwardsandforwards，Ihadatlengththeunspeakablesatisfactiontoperceivethatthebeamwasactuallyyieldingtomyefforts，andgraduallyslidingintoitsberthinthewall。
　　Ihaveoftenbeenengagedinstruggleswheregreatbodilystrengthwasrequired，andeverythewandsinewinthesystemtaxedtotheuttermost；but，strangeasitmayappear，Ineverwassocompletelyexhaustedandovercomebyanylabourasbythiscomparativelytriflingtask。
　　AgainandagainwasIobligedtodesist，untilmycrampedfinger-jointsrecoveredtheirpower；butatlengthmyperseverancewasrewarded，for，littlebylittle，I
　　succeededinremovingtheboltsofarastoallowthedoortoopensufficientlytopermitmetopass。
　　WithsomesqueezingIsucceededinforcingmywayintoasmallpassage，uponwhichmyprison-dooropened。
　　Thisledintoachambersomewhatmorespaciousthanmycell，butstillcontainingnofurniture，andaffordingnomeansofescapetoonesocrippledwithbondsasI
　　was。
　　Atthefarextremityofthisroomwasadoorwhichstoodajar，and，stealthilypassingthroughit，Ifoundmyselfinaroomcontainingnothingbutafewrawhides，whichrenderedtheatmospherenearlyintolerable。
　　HereIcheckedmyself，forIheardvoicesinbusyconversationinthenextroom。
　　IstolesoftlytothedoorwhichseparatedthechamberinwhichIstoodfromthatfromwhichthevoicesproceeded。
　　Amomentservedtoconvincemethatanyattemptuponitwouldbeworsethanfruitless，foritwassecuredupontheoutsidebyastronglock，besidestwobars，allwhichIwasenabledtoascertainbymeansofthesamedefectinthejoiningoftheplankswhichIhavementionedasbelongingtotheinnerdoor。
　　Ihadapproachedthisdoorverysoftly，sothat，myproximitybeingwhollyunsuspectedbythespeakerswithin，theconversationcontinuedwithoutinterruption。
　　Plantingmyselfclosetothedoor，I
　　appliedmyeyetooneofthechinkswhichseparatedtheboards，andthusobtainedafullviewofthechamberanditsoccupants。
　　ItwastheveryapartmentintowhichI
　　hadbeenfirstconducted。Theouterdoor，whichfacedtheoneatwhichIstood，wasclosed，andatasmalltablewereseatedtheonlytenantsoftheroom——twoofficers，oneofwhomwasCaptainOliver。Thelatterwasreadingapaper，whichImadenodoubtwasthedocumentwithwhichIhadbeenentrusted。
　　’Thefellowdeservesit，nodoubt’
　　saidthejuniorofficer。’But，me-
　　thinks，consideringourordersfromhead-quarters，youdealsomewhattoohastily。’
　　’Nephew，nephew，’saidCaptainOliver，’youmistakethetenorofourorders。Weweredirectedtoconciliatethepeasantrybyfairandgentletreatment，butnottosufferspiesandtraitorstoescape。Thispacketisofsomevalue，thoughnot，inallitsparts，intelligibletome。Thebearerhasmadehiswayhitherunderadisguise，which，alongwiththeothercircumstancesofhisappearancehere，issufficienttoconvicthimasaspy。’
　　Therewasapausehere，andafterafewminutestheyoungerofficersaid：
　　’Spyisahardterm，nodoubt，uncle；
　　butitispossible——nay，likely，thatthispoordevilsoughtmerelytocarrytheparcelwithwhichhewaschargedinsafetytoitsdestination。Pshaw!heissufficientlypunishedifyouduckhim，fortenminutesorso，betweenthebridgeandthemill-dam。’
　　’Youngman，’saidOliver，somewhatsternly，’donotobtrudeyouradvicewhereitisnotcalledfor；thisman，forwhomyouplead，murderedyourownfather!’
　　Icouldnotseehowthisannouncementaffectedthepersontowhomitwasaddressed，forhisbackwastowardsme；butIconjectured，easily，thatmylastpoorchancewasgone，foralongsilenceensued。
　　CaptainOliveratlengthresumed：
　　’Iknowthevillainwell。Iknowhimcapableofanycrime；but，by——，hislastcardisplayed，andthegameisup。Heshallnotseethemoonriseto-night。’
　　Therewashereanotherpause。
　　Oliverrose，andgoingtotheouterdoor，called：
　　’Hewson!Hewson!’
　　Agrim-lookingcorporalentered。
　　’Hewson，haveyourguardreadyateighto’clock，withtheircarbinesclean，andaroundofball-cartridgeeach。Keepthemsober；and，further，planttwouprightpostsatthenearendofthebridge，withacrossoneattop，inthemannerofagibbet。
　　Seetothesematters，Hewson：Ishallbewithyouspeedily。’
　　Thecorporalmadehissalutations，andretired。
　　OliverdeliberatelyfoldedupthepaperswithwhichIhadbeencommissioned，andplacingtheminthepocketofhisvest，hesaid：
　　’Cunning，cunningMasterHardressFitzgeraldhathmadeafalsestep；theoldfoxisinthetoils。HardressFitzgerald，HardressFitzgerald，Iwillblotyouout。’
　　Herepeatedthesewordsseveraltimes，atthesametimerubbinghisfingerstronglyuponthetable，asifhesoughttoeraseastain：
　　’IWILLBLOTYOUOUT!’
　　Therewasakindofgleeinhismannerandexpressionwhichchilledmyveryheart。
　　’Youshallbefirstshotlikeadog，andthenhangedlikeadog：shotto-night，andhungto-morrow；hungatthebridge-
　　head——hung，untilyourbonesdropasunder!’
　　Itisimpossibletodescribetheexultationwithwhichheseemedtodwellupon，andtoparticularisethefatewhichheintendedforme。
　　Iobserved，however，thathisfacewasdeadlypale，andfeltassuredthathisconscienceandinwardconvictionswerestrugglingagainsthiscruelresolve。Withoutfurthercommentthetwoofficerslefttheroom，IsupposetooverseethepreparationswhichwerebeingmadeforthedeedofwhichIwastobethevictim。
　　Achill，sickhorrorcreptovermeastheyretired，andIfelt，forthemoment，uponthebrinkofswooning。Thisfeeling，however，speedilygaveplacetoasensationstillmoreterrible。Astateofexcitementsointenseandtremendousastoborderuponliteralmadness，supervened；mybrainreeledandthrobbedasifitwouldburst；
　　thoughtsthewildestandthemosthideousflashedthroughmymindwithaspontaneousrapiditythatscaredmyverysoul；
　　while，allthetime，Ifeltastrangeandfrightfulimpulsetoburstintouncontrolledlaughter。
　　Graduallythisfearfulparoxysmpassedaway。Ikneeledandprayedfervently，andfeltcomfortedandassured；butstillI
　　couldnotviewtheslowapproachesofcertaindeathwithoutanagitationlittleshortofagony。
　　Ihavestoodinbattlemanyatimewhenthechancesofescapewerefearfullysmall。
　　Ihaveconfrontedfoemeninthedeadlybreach。Ihavemarched，withaconstantheart，againstthecannon’smouth。AgainandagainhasthebeastwhichIbestrodebeenshotunderme；againandagainhaveIseenthecomradeswhowalkedbesidemeinaninstantlaidforeverinthedust；
　　againandagainhaveIbeeninthethickofbattle，andofitsmortaldangers，andneverfeltmyheartshake，orasinglenervetremble：butnow，helpless，manacled，imprisoned，doomed，forcedtowatchtheapproachesofaninevitablefate——towait，silentandmoveless，whiledeathasitwerecrepttowardsme，humannaturewastaxedtotheuttermosttobearthehorriblesituation。
　　IreturnedagaintotheclosetinwhichIhadfoundmyselfuponrecoveringfromtheswoon。
　　Theeveningsunshineandtwilightwasfastmeltingintodarkness，whenIheardtheouterdoor，thatwhichcommunicatedwiththeguard-roominwhichtheofficershadbeenamusingthemselves，openedandlockedagainupontheinside。
　　Ameasuredstepthenapproached，andthedoorofthewretchedcellinwhichI
　　laybeingrudelypushedopen，asoldierentered，whocarriedsomethinginhishand；
　　but，owingtotheobscurityoftheplace，Icouldnotseewhat。
　　’Artthouawake，fellow？’saidhe，inagruffvoice。’Stirthyself；getuponthylegs。’
　　Hisorderswereenforcedbynoverygentleapplicationofhismilitaryboot。
　　’Friend，’saidI，risingwithdifficulty，’youneednotinsultadyingman。Youhavebeensenthithertoconductmetodeath。Leadon!MytrustisinGod，thatHewillforgivememysins，andreceivemysoul，redeemedbythebloodofHisSon。’
　　Therehereintervenedapauseofsomelength，attheendofwhichthesoldiersaid，inthesamegruffvoice，butinalowerkey：
　　’Lookye，comrade，itwillbeyourownfaultifyoudiethisnight。OnoneconditionIpromisetogetyououtofthishobblewithawholeskin；butifyougotoanyofyourd——dgammon，byG——，beforetwohoursarepassed，youwillhaveasmanyholesinyourcarcaseasatarget。’
　　’Nameyourconditions，’saidI，’andiftheyconsistwithhonour，Iwillneverbalkattheoffer。’
　　’Heretheyare：youaretobeshotto-night，byCaptainOliver’sorders。Thecarbinesarecleanedforthejob，andthecartridgesservedouttothemen。ByG——，Itellyouthetruth!’
　　OfthisIneedednotmuchpersuasion，andintimatedtothemanmyconvictionthathespokethetruth。
　　’Well，then，’hecontinued，’nowforthemeansofavoidingthisuglybusiness。
　　CaptainOliverridesthisnighttohead-quarters，withthepaperswhichyoucarried。Beforehestartshewillpayyouavisit，tofishwhathecanoutofyouwithallthefinepromiseshecanmake。Humourhimalittle，andwhenyoufindanopportunity，stabhiminthethroatabovethecuirass。’
　　’Afeasibleplan，surely，’saidI，raisingmyshackledhands，’foramanthuscompletelycrippledandwithoutaweapon。’
　　’Iwillmanageallthatpresentlyforyou，’saidthesoldier。’Whenyouhavethusdealtwithhim，takehiscloakandhat，andsoforth，andputthemon；thepapersyouwillfindinthepocketofhisvest，inaredleathercase。Walkboldlyout。IamappointedtoridewithCaptainOliver，andyouwillfindmeholdinghishorseandmyownbythedoor。
　　Mountquickly，andIwilldothesame，andthenwewillrideforourlivesacrossthebridge。Youwillfindtheholster-
　　pistolsloadedincaseofpursuit；and，withthedevil’shelp，weshallreachLimerickwithoutahairhurt。Myonlyconditionis，thatwhenyoustrikeOliver，youstrikehome，andagainandagain，untilheisFINISHED；andItrusttoyourhonourtoremembermewhenwereachthetown。’
　　IcannotsaywhetherIresolvedrightorwrong，butIthoughtmysituation，andtheconductofCaptainOliver，warrantedmeinaccedingtotheconditionspropoundedbymyvisitant，andwithalacrityItoldhimso，anddesiredhimtogivemethepower，ashehadpromisedtodo，ofexecutingthem。
　　Withspeedandpromptitudehedrewasmallkeyfromhispocket，andinaninstantthemanacleswereremovedfrommyhands。
　　Howmyheartboundedwithinmeasmywristswerereleasedfromtheirongripeoftheshackles!Thefirststeptowardfreedomwasmade——myself-
　　reliancereturned，andIfeltassuredofsuccess。
　　’Nowfortheweapon，’saidI。
　　’Ifearme，youwillfinditratherclumsy，’saidhe；’butifwellhandled，itwilldoaswellasthebestToledo。
　　ItistheonlythingIcouldget，butI