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