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，’