sharpeneditmyself；ithasanedgelikeaskean。’
　　Heplacedinmyhandthesteelheadofahalberd。Graspingitfirmly，Ifoundthatitmadebynomeansabadweaponinpointofconvenience；foritfeltinthehandlikeaheavydagger，theportionwhichformedthebladeorpointbeingcrossednearlyatthelowerextremitybyasmallbarofmetal，atonesideshapedintotheformofanaxe，andattheotherintothatofahook。Thesetwotransverseappendagesbeingmuffledbythefoldsofmycravat，whichIremovedforthepurpose，formedaperfectguardorhilt，andthelowerextremityformedlikeatube，inwhichthepike-handlehadbeeninserted，affordedamplespaceforthegraspofmyhand；thepointhadbeenmadeassharpasaneedle，andthemetalheassuredmewasgood。
　　Thusequippedheleftme，havingobserved，’Thecaptainsentmetobringyoutoyoursenses，andgiveyousomewaterthathemightfindyouproperforhisvisit。Hereisthepitcher；IthinkIhaverevivedyousufficientlyforthecaptain’spurpose。’
　　Withalowsavagelaughheleftmetomyreflections。
　　Havingexaminedandadjustedtheweapon，Icarefullyboundtheendsofthecravat，withwhichIhadsecuredthecrosspartofthespear-head，firmlyroundmywrist，sothatincaseofastruggleitmightnoteasilybeforcedfrommyhand；andhavingmadetheseprecautionarydispositions，Isatdownuponthegroundwithmybackagainstthewall，andmyhandstogetherundermycoat，awaitingmyvisitor。
　　Thetimeworeslowlyon；theduskbecamedimmeranddimmer，untilitnearlyborderedontotaldarkness。
　　’How’sthis？’saidI，inwardly；
　　’CaptainOliver，yousaidIshouldnotseethemoonriseto-night。Methinksyouaresomewhattardyinfulfillingyourprophecy。’
　　AsImadethisreflection，anoiseattheouterdoorannouncedtheentranceofavisitant。Iknewthatthedecisivemomentwascome，andlettingmyheadsinkuponmybreast，andassuringmyselfthatmyhandswereconcealed，Iwaited，intheat-
　　titudeofdeepdejection，theapproachofmyfoeandbetrayer。
　　AsIhadexpected，CaptainOliverenteredtheroomwhereIlay。Hewasequippedforinstantduty，asfarastheimperfecttwilightwouldallowmetosee；
　　thelongswordclankeduponthefloorashemadehiswaythroughthelobbieswhichledtomyplaceofconfinement；hisamplemilitarycloakhunguponhisarm；hiscockedhatwasuponhishead，andinallpointshewaspreparedfortheroad。
　　Thistalliedexactlywithwhatmystrangeinformanthadtoldme。
　　Ifeltmyheartswellandmybreathcomethickastheawfulmomentwhichwastowitnessthedeath-struggleofoneorotherofusapproached。
　　CaptainOliverstoodwithinayardortwooftheplacewhereIsat，orratherlay；
　　andfoldinghisarms，heremainedsilentforaminuteortwo，asifarranginginhismindhowheshouldaddressme。
　　’HardressFitzgerald，’hebeganatlength，’areyouawake？Standup，ifyoudesiretohearofmattersnearlytouchingyourlifeordeath。Getup，Isay。’
　　Iarosedoggedly，andaffectingtheawkwardmovementsofonewhosehandswerebound，’Well，’saidI，’whatwouldyouofme？
　　IsitnotenoughthatIamthusimprisonedwithoutacause，andabout，asIsuspect，tosufferamostunjustandviolentsentence，butmustIalsobedisturbedduringthefewmomentsleftmeforreflectionandrepentancebythepresenceofmypersecutor？
　　Whatdoyouwantofme？’
　　’Astoyourpunishment，sir，’saidhe，’yourowndesertshavenodoubtsug-
　　gestedthelikelihoodofittoyourmind；
　　butInowamwithyoutoletyouknowthatwhatevermitigationofyoursentenceyoumaylookfor，mustbeearnedbyyourcompliancewithmyorders。Youmustfranklyandfullyexplainthecontentsofthepacketwhichyouendeavouredthisdaytodestroy；andfurther，youmusttellallthatyouknowofthedesignsofthepopishrebels。’
　　’AndifIdothisIamtoexpectamitigationofmypunishment——isitnotso？’
　　Oliverbowed。
　　’AndwhatISthismitigationtobe？
　　Onthehonourofasoldier，whatisittobe？’inquiredI。
　　’Whenyouhavemadethedisclosurerequired，’hereplied，’youshallhear。’Tisthentimetotalkofindulgences。’
　　’Methinksitwouldthenbetoolate，’
　　answeredI。’Butachanceisachance，andadrowningmanwillcatchatastraw。
　　Youareanhonourableman，CaptainOliver。
　　Imustdepend，Isuppose，onyourgoodfaith。Well，sir，beforeImakethedesiredcommunicationIhaveonequestionmoretoput。WhatistobefallmeincasethatI，rememberingthehonourofasoldierandagentleman，rejectyourinfamousterms，scornyourmitigations，anddefyyourutmostpower？’
　　’Inthatcase，’repliedhe，coolly，’beforehalfanhouryoushallbeacorpse。’
　　’ThenGodhavemercyonyoursoul!’
　　saidI；andspringingforward，IdashedtheweaponwhichIheldathisthroat。
　　Imissedmyaim，butstruckhimfullinthemouthwithsuchforcethatmostofhisfrontteethweredislodged，andthepointofthespear-headpassedoutunderhisjaw，attheear。
　　Myonsetwassosuddenandunexpectedthathereeledbacktothewall，anddidnotrecoverhisequilibriumintimetopreventmydealingasecondblow，whichI
　　didwithmywholeforce。Thepointunfortunatelystruckthecuirass，neartheneck，andglancingasideitinflictedbutafleshwound，tearingtheskinandtendonsalongthethroat。
　　Henowgrappledwithme，strangetosay，withoututteringanycryofalarm；
　　beingaverypowerfulman，andifanythingratherheavierandmorestronglybuiltthanI，hesucceededindrawingmewithhimtotheground。Wefelltogetherwithaheavycrash，tuggingandstraininginwhatwewerebothconsciouswasamortalstruggle。AtlengthIsucceededingettingoverhim，andstruckhimtwicemoreintheface；stillhestruggledwithanenergywhichnothingbutthetremendousstakeatissuecouldhavesustained。
　　Isucceededagainininflictingseveralmorewoundsuponhim，anyoneofwhichmighthavebeenmortal。Whilethuscontendingheclutchedhishandsaboutmythroat，sofirmlythatIfeltthebloodswellingtheveinsofmytemplesandfacealmosttobursting。AgainandagainI
　　strucktheweapondeepintohisfaceandthroat，butlifeseemedtoadhereinhimwithanalmostINSECTtenacity。
　　Mysightnownearlyfailed，mysensesalmostforsookme；Ifeltuponthepointofsuffocationwhen，withonedesperateeffort，Istruckhimanotherandalastblowintheface。TheweaponwhichIwieldedhadlightedupontheeye，andthepointpenetratedthebrain；thebodyquiveredunderme，thedeadlygrasprelaxed，andOliverlayuponthegroundacorpse!
　　AsIaroseandshooktheweaponandthebloodyclothfrommyhand，themoonwhichhehadforetoldIshouldneverseerise，shonebrightandbroadintotheroom，anddisclosed，withghastlydistinctness，themangledfeaturesofthedeadsoldier；
　　themouth，fullofclottingbloodandbrokenteeth，layopen；theeye，closebywhoselidthefatalwoundhadbeeninflicted，wasnot，asmighthavebeenexpected，bathedinblood，buthadstartedforthnearlyfromthesocket，andgavetotheface，byitsfearfulunlikenesstotheotherglazingorb，aleermorehideousandunearthlythanfancyeversaw。Thewig，withallitsrichcurls，hadfallenwiththehattothefloor，leavingtheshornheadexposed，andinmanyplacesmarkedbytherecentstruggle；therichlacecravatwasdrenchedinblood，andthegayuniforminmanyplacessoiledwiththesame。
　　Itishardtosay，withwhatfeelingsI
　　lookedupontheunsightlyandrevoltingmasswhichhadsolatelybeenalivingandacomelyman。Ihadnotanytime，however，tospareforreflection；thedeedwasdone——theresponsibilitywasuponme，andallwasregisteredinthebookofthatGodwhojudgesrightly。
　　WitheagerhasteIremovedfromthebodysuchofthemilitaryaccoutrementsaswerenecessaryforthepurposeofmydisguise。Ibuckledonthesword，drewoffthemilitaryboots，anddonnedthemmyself，placedthebrigadierwigandcockedhatuponmyhead，threwonthecloak，drewitupaboutmyface，andproceeded，withthepaperswhichIfoundasthesoldierhadforetoldme，andthekeyoftheouterlobby，tothedooroftheguard-room；thisIopened，andwithafirmandrapidtreadwalkedthroughtheofficers，whoroseasIentered，andpassedwithoutquestionorinterruptiontothestreet-door。HereIwasmetbythegrim-
　　lookingcorporal，Hewson，who，salutingme，said：
　　’Howsoon，captain，shallthefilebedrawnoutandtheprisonerdespatched？’
　　’Inhalfanhour，’Ireplied，withoutraisingmyvoice。
　　Themanagainsaluted，andintwostepsIreachedthesoldierwhoheldthetwohorses，ashehadintimated。
　　’Isallright？’saidhe，eagerly。
　　’Ay，’saidI，’whichhorseamItomount？’
　　Hesatisfiedmeuponthispoint，andI
　　threwmyselfintothesaddle；thesoldiermountedhishorse，anddashingthespursintotheflanksoftheanimalwhichI
　　bestrode，wethunderedalongthenarrowbridge。Atthefarextremityasentinel，asweapproached，calledout，’Whogoesthere？
　　stand，andgivetheword!’Heedlessoftheinterruption，withmyheartboundingwithexcitement，Idashedon，asdidalsothesoldierwhoaccompaniedme。
　　’Stand，orIfire!givetheword!’criedthesentry。
　　’Godsavetheking，andtohellwiththeprince!’shoutedI，flingingthecockedhatinhisfaceasIgallopedby。
　　Theresponsewasthesharpreportofacarbine，accompaniedbythewhizofabullet，whichpasseddirectlybetweenmeandmycomrade，nowridingbesideme。
　　’Hurrah!’Ishouted；’tryitagain，myboy。’
　　Andawaywewentatagallop，whichbidfairtodistanceanythinglikepursuit。
　　Neverwasspurmoreneeded，however，forsoontheclatterofhorses’hoofs，infullspeed，crossingthebridge，camesharpandclearthroughthestillnessofthenight。
　　Awaywewent，withourpursuersclosebehind；onemilewaspassed，anothernearlycompleted。Themoonnowshoneforth，and，turninginthesaddle，I
　　lookedbackupontheroadwehadpassed。
　　Onetrooperhadheadedtherest，andwaswithinahundredyardsofus。
　　Isawthefellowthrowhimselffromhishorseupontheground。
　　Iknewhisobject，andsaidtomycomrade：
　　’Loweryourbody——lieflatoverthesaddle；thefellowisgoingtofire。’
　　Ihadhardlyspokenwhenthereportofacarbinestartledtheechoes，andtheball，strikingthehindlegofmycompanion’shorse，thepooranimalfellheadlongupontheroad，throwinghisriderhead-foremostoverthesaddle。
　　Myfirstimpulsewastostopandsharewhateverfatemightawaitmycomrade；
　　butmysecondandwiseronewastospuron，andsavemyselfandmydespatch。
　　Irodeonatagallop，turningtoobservemycomrade’sfate。Isawhispursuer，havingremounted，riderapidlyuptohim，and，onreachingthespotwherethemanandhorselay，reininanddismount。
　　Hewashardlyupontheground，whenmycompanionshothimdeadwithoneoftheholster-pistolswhichhehaddrawnfromthepipe；and，leapingnimblyoveraditchatthesideoftheroad，hewassoonlostamongtheditchesandthorn-
　　busheswhichcoveredthatpartofthecountry。
　　Anothermilebeingpassed，Ihadthesatisfactiontoperceivethatthepursuitwasgivenover，andinanhourmoreIcrossedThomondBridge，andsleptthatnightinthefortressofLimerick，havingdeliveredthepacket，theresultofwhosesafearrivalwasthedestructionofWilliam’sgreattrainofartillery，thenuponitswaytothebesiegers。
　　Yearsafterthisadventure，ImetinFranceayoungofficer，whoIfoundhadservedinCaptainOliver’sregiment；andheexplainedwhatIhadneverbeforeunderstood——
　　themotivesofthemanwhohadwroughtmydeliverance。Strangetosay，hewasthefoster-brotherofOliver，whomhethusdevotedtodeath，butinrevengeforthemostgrievouswrongwhichonemancaninflictuponanother!
　　’THEQUAREGANDER。’
　　BeingaTwelfthExtractfromtheLegacyofthelateFrancisPurcell，P。P。ofDrumcoolagh。
　　AsIrodeataslowwalk，onesoftautumnevening，fromtheoncenotedandnoticeabletownofEmly，nowasqualidvillage，towardsthenolessremarkabletownofTipperary，I
　　fellintoameditativemood。
　　Myeyewanderedoveragloriouslandscape；abroadseaofcorn-fields，thatmighthavegladdenedevenagoldenage，waswavingbeforeme；groupsoflittlecabins，withtheirpoplars，osiers，andlightmountainashes，clusteredshelteringlyaroundthem，werescatteredovertheplain；
　　thethinbluesmokearosefloatingthroughtheirboughsinthestilleveningair。Andfarawaywithalltheirbroadlightsandshades，softenedwiththehazeofapproachingtwilight，stoodtheboldwildGalties。
　　AsIgazedonthisscene，whoserichnesswasdeepenedbythemelancholyglowofthesettingsun，thetearsrosetomyeyes，andIsaid：
　　’Alas，mycountry!whatamournfulbeautyisthine。Dressedinlovelinessandlaughter，thereismortaldecayatthyheart：sorrow，sin，andshamehavemingledthycupofmisery。Strangerulershavebruisedthee，andlaughedtheetoscorn，andtheyhavemadeallthysweetnessbitter。Thyshamesandsinsaretheausterefruitsofthymiseries，andthymiserieshavebeenpouredoutupontheebyforeignhands。Alas，mystrickencountry!clothedwiththismostpity-movingsmile，withthismostunutterablymournfulloveliness，thousore-grieved，thoudesperately-beloved!
　　Isthereforthee，mycountry，aresurrection？’
　　IknownothowlongImighthavecontinuedtorhapsodizeinthisstrain，hadnotmywanderingthoughtsbeensuddenlyrecalledtomyownimmediateneighbourhoodbythemonotonousclatterofahorse’shoofsupontheroad，evidentlymoving，atthatpeculiarpacewhichisneitherawalknoratrot，andyetpartakesofboth，somuchinvogueamongthesouthernfarmers。
　　Inamomentmypursuerwasupwithme，andcheckinghissteedintoawalkhesalutedmewithmuchrespect。Thecavalierwasalight-builtfellow，withgood-humouredsun-burntfeatures，ashrewdandlivelyblackeye，andaheadcoveredwithacropofclosecurlyblackhair，andsurmountedwithaturf-colouredcaubeen，inthepack-
　　threadbandofwhichwasstuckashortpipe，whichhadevidentlyseenmuchservice。
　　Mycompanionwasadealerinallkindsoflocallore，andsoontookoccasiontoletmeseethathewasso。
　　Aftertwoorthreeshortstories，inwhichthescandalousandsupernaturalwerehappilyblended，wehappenedtoarriveatanarrowroadorbohreenleadingtoasnug-lookingfarm-house。
　　’That’sacomfortablebitivafarm，’