’Sir，Ihope，ifopportunityoffers，I
shallprovetodeservethehonourabletermsinwhichyouarepleasedtospeakofme。InarighteouscauseIfearnotwoundsordeath；andindischargingmydutytomyGodandmyking，Iamreadyforanyhazardoranyfate。Nametheserviceyourequire，andifitlieswithinthecompassofmywitorpower，Iwillfullyandfaithfullyperformit。HaveIsaidenough？’
’Thatiswell，verywell，myfriend；
youspeakwell，andmanfully，’repliedthegeneral。’IwantyoutoconveytothehandsofGeneralBoisleau，nowinthecityofLimerick，asmallwrittenpacket；
thereissomedanger，markme，ofyourfallinginwithsomeoutpostorstragglingpartyoftheprince’sarmy。Ifyouaretakenunawaresbyanyoftheenemyyoumustdisposeofthepacketinsideyourperson，ratherthanletitfallintotheirhands——thatis，youmusteatit。Andiftheygotoquestionyouwiththumb-
screws，orthelike，answernothing；letthemknockyourbrainsoutfirst。’Inillustration，Isuppose，ofthelatteralternative，heknockedtheashesoutofhispipeuponthetableasheutteredit。
’Thepacket，’hecontinued，’youshallhaveto-morrowmorning。Meantimecomfortyourselfwithfood，andafterwardswithsleep；youwillwant，mayhap，allyourstrengthandwitsonthemorrow。’
Iappliedmyselfforthwithtothehomelyfarewhichtheyhadprovided，andIconfessthatInevermadeamealsoheartilytomysatisfaction。
Itwasabeautiful，clear，autumnmorning，andthebrightbeamsoftheearlysunwereslantingoverthebrownheathwhichclothedthesidesofthemountain，andglitteringinthethousandbrightdropswhichthemeltinghoar-frosthadleftbehindit，andthewhitemistswerelyinglikebroadlakesinthevalleys，when，withmypedlar’spackuponmyback，andGeneralSarsfield’spreciousdespatchinmybosom，Isetforth，refreshedandcourageous。
AsIdescendedthehill，myheartexpandedandmyspiritsroseundertheinfluenceswhichsurroundedme。Thekeen，clear，bracingairofthemorning，thebright，slantingsunshine，themerrysongsofthesmallbirds，andthedistantsoundsofawakeninglabourthatfloatedupfromtheplains，allconspiredtostirmyheartwithinme，andmorelikeamad-capboy，brokenloosefromschool，thanamanofsoberyearsuponamissionofdoubtanddanger，Itrodlightlyon，whistlingandsingingalternatelyforveryjoy。
AsIapproachedtheobjectofmyearlymarch，Ifellinwithacountryman，eager，asaremostofhiskind，fornews。
IgavehimwhatlittleIhadcollected，andprofessinggreatzealfortheking，which，indeed，Ialwayscherished，Iwonuponhisconfidencesofar，thathebecamemuchmorecommunicativethanthepeasantryinthosequartersaregenerallywonttobetostrangers。
FromhimIlearnedthattherewasacompanyofdragoonsinWilliam’sservice，quarteredatWillaloe；buthecouldnottellwhetherthepassageofthebridgewasstoppedbythemornot。Witharesolution，atallevents，tomaketheattempttocross，Iapproachedthetown。
WhenIcamewithinsightoftheriver，Iquicklyperceivedthatitwassoswollenwiththerecentrains，as，indeed，thecountrymanhadtoldme，thatthefordswerewhollyimpassable。
Istoppedthen，uponaslighteminenceoverlookingthevillage，withaviewtoreconnoitreandtoarrangemyplansincaseofinterruption。Whilethusengaged，thewindblowinggentlyfromthewest，inwhichquarterLimericklay，Idistinctlyheardtheexplosionofthecannon，whichplayedfromandagainstthecity，thoughatadistanceofelevenmilesattheleast。
Ineveryetheardthemusicthathadformehalftheattractionsofthatsullensound，andasInotedagainandagainthedistantthunderthatproclaimedtheperils，andthevalour，andthefaithfulnessofmybrethren，myheartswelledwithpride，andthetearsrosetomyeyes；andliftingupmyhandstoheaven，IprayedtoGodthatImightbesparedtotakeapartintherighteousquarrelthatwastheresobravelymaintained。
Ifelt，indeed，atthismomentalonging，moreintensethanIhavethepowertodescribe，tobeatoncewithmybravecompanionsinarms，andsoinwardlyexcitedandstirredupasifIhadbeenactuallywithinfiveminutes’marchofthefieldofbattle。
Itwasnowalmostnoon，andIhadwalkedhardsincemorningacrossadifficultandbrokencountry，sothatI
wasalittlefatigued，andinnosmalldegreehungry。AsIapproachedthehamlet，Iwasgladtoseeinthewindowofapoorhovelseverallargecakesofmealdisplayed，asiftoinducepurchaserstoenter。
Iwasrightinregardingthisexhi-
bitionasanintimationthatentertainmentmightbeprocuredwithin，foruponenteringandinquiring，Iwasspeedilyinvitedbythepoorwoman，who，itappeared，keptthishumblehouseofrefreshment，tolaydownmypackandseatmyselfbyaponderoustable，uponwhichshepromisedtoservemewithadinnerfitforaking；andindeed，tomymind，sheamplyfulfilledherengagement，supplyingmeabundantlywitheggs，bacon，andwheatencakes，whichI
discussedwithazealwhichalmostsurprisedmyself。
Havingdisposedofthesolidpartofmyentertainment，Iwasproceedingtoregalemyselfwithabrimmingmeasureofstrongwaters，whenmyattentionwasarrestedbythesoundofhorses’hoofsinbriskmotionuponthebrokenroad，andevidentlyapproachingthehovelinwhichIwasatthatmomentseated。
Theominousclankofswordscabbardsandthejingleofbrassaccoutrementsannounced，unequivocally，thatthehorsemenwereofthemilitaryprofession。
’Thered-coatswillstophereundoubtedly，’saidtheoldwoman，observing，Isuppose，theanxietyofmycountenance；
’theyneverpassuswithoutcominginforhalfanhourtodrinkorsmoke。Ifyoudesiretoavoidthem，I
canhideyousafely；butdon’tloseamoment。Theywillbeherebeforeyoucancountahundred。’
Ithankedthegoodwomanforherhospitablezeal；butIfeltarepugnancetoconcealingmyselfasshesuggested，whichwasenhancedbytheconsciousnessthatifbyanyaccidentIwerede-
tectedwhilelurkingintheroom，mysituationwouldofitselfinevitablyleadtosuspicions，andprobablytodiscovery。
Ithereforedeclinedheroffer，andawaitedinsuspensetheentranceofthesoldiers。
Ihadtimebeforetheymadetheirappearancetomovemyseathurriedlyfromthetabletothehearth，where，undertheshadeofthelargechimney，Imightobservethecomingvisitorswithlesschanceofbeingmyselfremarkedupon。
Asmyhostesshadanticipated，thehorsemendrewupatthedoorofthehut，andfivedragoonsenteredthedarkchamberwhereIawaitedthem。
Leavingtheirhorsesattheentrance，withmuchnoiseandclattertheyproceededtoseatthemselvesandcallforliquor。
ThreeofthesefellowswereDutchmen，and，indeed，allbelonged，asIafterwardsfound，toaDutchregiment，whichhadbeenrecruitedwithIrishandEnglish，asalsopartlyofficeredfromthesamenations。
Beingsuppliedwithpipesanddrinktheysoonbecamemerry；andnotsufferingtheirsmokingtointerferewiththeirconversation，theytalkedloudandquickly，forthemostpartinasortofbarbarouslanguage，neitherDutchnorEnglish，butcompoundedofboth。
TheyweresooccupiedwiththeirownjocularitythatIhadverygreathopesofescapingobservationaltogether，andremainedquietlyseatedinacornerofthechimney，leaningbackuponmyseatasifasleep。
Mytaciturnityandquiescence，however，didnotavailme，foroneofthesefellowscomingovertothehearthtolighthispipe，perceivedme，andlookingmeveryhardintheface，hesaid：
’Whatcountrymanareyou，brother，thatyousitwithacoveredheadintheroomwiththeprince’ssoldiers？’
Atthesametimehetossedmyhatoffmyheadintothefire。Iwasnotfoolenough，thoughsomewhathot-blooded，tosuffertheinsolenceofthisfellowtoinvolvemeinabroilsodangeroustomypersonandruinoustomyschemesasariotwiththesesoldiersmustprove。
Itherefore，quietlytakingupmyhatandshakingtheashesoutofit，observed：
’Sir，IcraveyourpardonifIhaveoffendedyou。Iamastrangerinthesequarters，andapoor，ignorant，humbleman，desiringonlytodrivemylittletradeinpeace，sofarasthatmaybedoneinthesetroubloustimes。’
’Andwhatmayyourtradebe？’saidthesamefellow。
’Iamatravellingmerchant，’Ireplied；
’andsellmywaresascheapasanytraderinthecountry。’
’Letusseethemforthwith，’saidhe；
’mayhapIormycomradesmaywantsomethingwhichyoucansupply。Whereisthychest，friend？Thoushalthavereadymoney’winkingathiscompanions，’readymoney，andgoodweight，andsoundmetal；noneofyourrascallypinchbeck。
Eh，mylads？Bringforththegoods，andletussee。’
Thusurged，IshouldhavebetrayedmyselfhadIhesitatedtodoasrequired；
andanxious，uponanyterms，toquiettheseturbulentmenofwar，Iunbuckledmypackandexhibiteditscontentsuponthetablebeforethem。
’Apairoflaceruffles，bytheLord!’
saidone，unceremoniouslyseizinguponthearticleshenamed。
’Aphialofperfume，’continuedanother，tumblingoverthefarragowhichIhadsubmittedtothem，’wash-balls，combs，stationery，slippers，smallknives，tobacco；
by——，thismerchantisaprize!Markme，honestfellow，themanwhowrongstheeshallsuffer——’foreGadheshall；thoushaltbefairlydealtwith’thishesaidwhileintheactofpocketingasmallsilvertobacco-box，themostvaluablearticleinthelot。’Youshallcomewithmetohead-quarters；thecaptainwilldealwithyou，andneverhaggleabouttheprice。
Ipromisetheehisgoodwill，andthouwiltconsidermeaccordingly。You’llfindhimaprofitablecustomer——hehasmoneywithoutend，andthrowsitaboutlikeagentleman。IfsobeasItellthee，Ishallexpect，andmycomradeshere，apieceortwointhewayofacompliment——butofthisanon。Come，then，withus；buckleonthypackquickly，friend。’
Therewasnouseinmydeclaringmywillingnesstodealwiththemselvesinpreferencetotheirmaster；itwasclearthattheyhadresolvedthatIshould，inthemostexpeditiousandadvantageousway，turnmygoodsintomoney，thattheymightexciseuponmetotheamountoftheirwishes。
Theworthywhohadtakenaleadinthesearrangements，andwhobyhisstripesIperceivedtobeacorporal，havinginsistedonmytakingadramwithhimtocementournewly-formedfriendship，forwhich，however，herequestedmetopay，madememountbehindoneofhiscomrades；
andtheparty，ofwhichIthusformedanunwillingmember，movedataslowtrottowardsthequartersofthetroop。
Theyreineduptheirhorsesattheheadofthelongbridge，whichatthisvillagespansthebroadwatersoftheShannonconnectingtheoppositecountiesofTipperaryandClare。
Asmalltower，builtoriginally，nodoubt，toprotectandtodefendthispass，occupiedthenearextremityofthebridge，andinitsrear，butconnectedwithit，stoodseveralstragglingbuildingsratherdilapidated。
Adismountedtrooperkeptguardatthedoor，andmyconductorhaving，dismounted，asalsothecorporal，thelatterinquired：
’Isthecaptaininhisquarters？’
’Heis，’repliedthesentinel。
Andwithoutmoreadomycompanionshovedmeintotheentranceofthesmalldarktower，andopeningadoorattheextremityofthenarrowchamberintowhichwehadpassedfromthestreet，weenteredasecondroominwhichwereseatedsomehalf-dozenofficersofvariousranksandages，engagedindrinking，andsmoking，andplay。
Iglancedrapidlyfrommantoman，andwasnearlysatisfiedbymyinspection，whenoneofthegentlemenwhosebackhadbeenturnedtowardstheplacewhereIstood，suddenlychangedhispositionandlookedtowardsme。
AssoonasIsawhisfacemyheartsankwithinme，andIknewthatmylifeordeathwasbalanced，asitwere，uponarazor’sedge。
ThenameofthismanwhoseunexpectedappearancethusaffectedmewasHughOliver，andgoodandstrongreasonhadI
todreadhim，forsobitterlydidhehateme，thattothismomentIdoverilybelievehewouldhavecompassedmydeathifitlayinhispowertodoso，evenatthehazardofhisownlifeandsoul，forIhadbeen——thoughGodknowswithmanysorestrugglingsandatthesterncallofpublicduty——thejudgeandcondemnerofhisbrother；andthoughthemilitarylaw，whichIwascalledupontoadminister，wouldpermitnoothercourseorsentencethanthebloodyonewhichIwascompelledtopursue，yeteventothishourtherecollectionofthatdeedisheavyatmybreast。
AssoonasIsawthismanIfeltthatmysafetydependedupontheaccidentofhisnotrecognisingmethroughthedisguisewhichIhadassumed，anaccidentagainstwhichweremanychances，forhewellknewmypersonandappearance。
ItwastoolatenowtodestroyGeneralSarsfield’sinstructions；anyattempttodosowouldensuredetection。Allthendependeduponacastofthedie。
Whenthefirstmomentofdismayandheart-sickeningagitationhadpassed，itseemedtomeasifmymindacquiredacollectednessandclearnessmorecompleteandintensethanIhadeverexperiencedbefore。
Iinstantlyperceivedthathedidnotknowme，forturningfrommetothesoldierwithallairofindifference，hesaid，’Isthisaprisoneroradeserter？Whathaveyoubroughthimherefor，sirra？’
’Yourwisdomwillregardhimasyouseefit，mayitpleaseyou，’saidthecorporal。
’Themanisatravellingmerchant，and，overtakinghimupontheroad，closebyoldDameMacDonagh’scot，IthoughtImightaswellmakeasortofprisonerofhimthatyourhonourmightusehimasitmightappearmostconvenient；hehasmanycommododieswhicharenotunworthyofpriceinthiswilderness，andsomewhichyoumaycondescendtomakeuseofyourself。
Mayheexhibitthegoodshehasforsale，an’tpleaseyou？’
’Ay，letusseethem，’saidhe。
’Unbuckleyourpack，’exclaimedthecorporal，withthesametoneofcommandwithwhich，attheheadofhisguard，hewouldhavesaid’Recoveryourarms。’
’Unbuckleyourpack，fellow，andshowyourgoodstothecaptain——here，whereyouare。’
Theconclusionofhisdirectionswassuggestedbymyendeavouringtomoveroundinordertogetmybacktowardsthewindows，hoping，bykeepingmyfaceintheshade，toescapedetection。
Inthismanoeuvre，however，Iwasfoiledbytheimperiousnessofthesoldier；
andinwardlycursinghisill-timedinterference，Iproceededtopresentmymerchandisetothelovingcontemplationoftheofficerswhothrongedaroundme，withastronglightfromanoppositewindowfulluponmyface。
AsIcontinuedtotrafficwiththesegentlemen，IobservedwithnosmallanxietytheeyesofCaptainOliverfrequentlyfixeduponmewithakindofdubiousinquiringgaze。
’Ithink，myhonestfellow，’hesaidatlast，’thatIhaveseenyousomewherebeforethis。Haveyouoftendealtwiththemilitary？’
’Ihavetraded，sir，’saidI，’withthesoldierymanyatime，andalwaysbeenhonourablytreated。Willyourworshippleasetobuyapairoflaceruffles？——verycheap，yourworship。’
’Whydoyouwearyourhairsomuchoveryourface，sir？’saidOliver，withoutnoticingmysuggestion。’Ipromiseyou，Ithinknogoodofthee；throwbackyourhair，andletmeseetheeplainly。Holdupyourface，andlookstraightatme；