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：