"And what were you dreaming of last night, O'Donnell ?" enquired Henry of his cousin.

"I dreamt,” replied Hugh Roe, "that I was standing on the rock of Kilmacrenan, and that John Oge Mac Sweeny, of the Battleaxes, was with me; and somehow I thought that all the mountains of Ireland were visible from the spot where we stood, from the Reeks to Magilligan, and from Croagh Patrick to Ben Edar; but Slieve Gallion stood highest of them all; and I saw Hugh O'Neill and the Kinel Owen arrayed in order of battle, from one side of the mountain to the other; and all the free-towns of Ireland were burning brightly in the plain at their feet. But, after that, the sea came between us, and I was sailing, I thought, out of the harbour of Killibegs, in company with the Earl and Manus O'Kane; and John Oge, with the fosterers, was standing on the beech wringing his hauds and lamenting. God knows what it means; but I think there will be a blow struck out of Ulster yet, and, by Columb Kill, if I could but see the clans once fairly in the field, I

would have little fear of ever crossing the sea against my will again."

"I would like well to cross the sea to Spain," said Henry; "I hear that it is a brave country, and we have friends there before us. They say, indeed, that it was out of Spain the old clan Milé came long ago."

"I would rather remain in Ireland," said Art; "though indeed I am told that Santacruz and Madrid are pleasant places to live in; but what is it to a man to be among palaces and gardens every day of his life, if he cannot see the faces of his friends and kindred? To my eye there is nothing in nature so lovely as the sight of one's own people?"

"And yet," replied Henry, "if our own people were to come and see us now, altered as we are by imprisonment, and they by sorrow, I question much if either they would remember us, or we them."

"It would take a strange disguise to make me forget the face of one of my father's nation," said Art; "I would know the well-set eye of one of my race, though it had been wept blind for my misfortunes; I would know the light step of an Ulster man as far as I could see him, though he were walking among a hundred shuffling Saxons."

"I hear the step of a loyal Ulster man just now," said Hugh, as the warden's men were heard coming up the stairs with supper. Turlogh was in attendance as usual; and, after the others had retired, resumed his tale at the request of the expectant princes.

Brother Virgil first directed his steps to the booth of the wounded outlaw. Here was a scene of sad trepidation and alarm; for Mac Gillmore's fever, aggravated by the excitement of his people's danger, was rapidly increasing.

"Are you making haste with the litter?" he cried impatiently to his attendants, who were busied in the outer apartment framing a rude bier of osiers; "bring it as it is; if it bear my weight it is enough. Would ye keep me here, ye villains, till Mac Seneschal sets fire to my doors?"

"Be patient, my son, be patient," said good Virgil; "the danger is not VOL. VI.

yet so pressing; I am assured that the wood will not be passable for a full hour at the least, and this over-great anxiety will but increase thy malady."

"How can I be patient," exclaimed the wounded man, "with the deadly enemies of my people waiting only for the fall of a few burning trees to carry fire and sword into the last retreat of our nation? There-by the light of Heaven, I see the reflection of the flame upon the door!"

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Nay, my son, this is but fancy," said the monk; the smoke of the conflagration is scarce visible even from the brow of the hill; but neither smoke nor flame can reach us here."

2 Y

Make haste with the litter!" again cried the wounded man, not attending to the good brother's explanation : 'bring me some drink, Mary, and send some one to bring me word from the kindred. King of the Elements!" he exclaimed, raising himself impatiently on his couch as the faint echo of a shout from the woods below fell upon his ears" King of the Elements ! that I should lie idle here, and the Savages shouting at my door! Bring the litter, ye villains, finished or unfinished! Carry me out in your arms, if ye can do no better !"

"Oh, be patient, be patient, dear Hugh, and they will soon be ready," said the lady, holding the drink to his lips.

"Believe me, chieftain, thou hast still time enough for gaining a place of safety," expostulated brother Virgil.

Oh, it is not that he means," cried the lady; "it is to head the kindred that he would be carried forth. Alas! Hugh, with these broken limbs, of what avail will your presence be among the people? You will but encumber them, and put yourself in the way of needless danger. But the exertion alone will ruin you. Oh, do not go down! You know that we must retreat sooner or later, and why should you strive to delay a necessity at the risk of your own life? Let us carry you as far, at least, as the top of the hill, where you will be in safety: you know how swiftly they will pursue us when they once break through; and if your bearers be not already in advance, you will never be able to endure the rapidity of our flight."

"When did you ever know me to head a flight, Mary?" said the outlaw: "my place is with the men of the kindred; but do you get ready to join the creaght, and take Harry with you; for we will have to fire the booths after you leave them, and the farther you are from the danger and confusion the better."

"And do you suppose," said the lady, half reproachfully, "that I will leave your side and you in this condition?"

"And why should I go with the creaght?" cried the boy: "let the women go on-I will stay with you, father."

Before Mac Gillmore could reply, a messenger rushed in. "What news,

Donagh ?" cried the chief, rising eagerly on his elbow.

"Owen sent me to hurry off the creaght," replied the messenger: "the wind has risen, and the flames are bearing all before them; the clan Savages' arrows are falling already over the blazing barrier; Tieg Carragh is hurt, and the wind is against us; so that all our shot, so far, have fallen short."

"Lift me into the litter," said Mac Gillmore, less vehemently, as the attendants at length brought it in. He was raised in their arms and placed on his new bed, not without considerable pain and difficulty; but he did not utter so much as a moan. "Carry me down now, my men," he cried with renewed animation as they raised him to their shoulders. "We will see the churl's strength at least, before we take the road. Ah, if I had but the use of my limbs for one hour again, I would mind their burning no more than a bonfire at beltine! But give me another drink before I go, for this thirst is hotter than fire itself."

"Oh, do not venture beyond the brow of the hill," besought the lady, again ministering the cup to the sick man; "your fever is getting worse every hour, and if the crisis overtake you on the road, you will be lost!"

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Attending little to the lady's expostulations, Mac Gillmore was borne out on the shoulders of his clansmen; and brother Virgil, prompted as much by interest in his fate as by a curiosity which might for some time be safely gratified, prepared to accompany the little procession. Oh, holy father!" cried the lady, when she perceived the good man's intentions, " do not let him rush into needless danger; speak to him and persuade him to come with us; his presence below can be of no avail; he is in no fit state to issue orders; his eyes are wild and glassy, and he has been already wandering in his mind, until roused by the report of our danger."

"He is, indeed, in burning fever," replied the monk;" but, while thus obstinately bent on his purpose, it would be ill done to thwart him. But I will go down along with him, and my best advice and aid shall not be wanting. Meanwhile, dear lady, prepare thyself for flight, for I fear this is like to end

Even during the short time he had spent in the chieftain's booth, a fearful change had come over the scene with out. The thin, hazy vapor from the burning wood had but a few minutes since been barely visible past the foot of the projecting rocks, amid the flood of ruddy light with which the declining sun filled all the space between ; but now the sun had sunk behind the intervening mountain, and the cliffs threw their shadow over all the lower region of the hill, where volumes of smoke, both white and heavy, were plainly to be seen rolling from the advancing conflagration like banks of clouds before a stormy sunrise; for the reflection of the flames, although the fire itself was still concealed from view, shot up into the darkened air upon the right, as if a rival of the setting sun were about to burst from the bosom of the woods. They were now fast approaching the fire itself: showers of embers first proclaimed its vicinity, then came the crackling and rustling of the flame, confusedly heard amid the cries of defiance which at intervals sounded from the parties at either side, until, on turning the rocky base of the great southern precipice, the whole scene of devastation and approaching strife lay at their feet. The steep front of the hill was clothed, as has been said, with natural forest down to the water's edge. This belt of wood and thicket clasped also the southern declivity of the mountain where it sloped away to the valley which there stretched somewhat farther inland to the base of another range of hills less advanced towards the coast. It was from this side the enemies of Mac Gillmore now made their attempt upon his fastness. By dint of severe labor they had cleared themselves a passage through the exterior thickets, and gained the close wood within. But here the axe had failed them. The timber of the main barrier was close and weighty, and a tangled undergrowth of furze and briars rising as high as the lower branches, filled every interstice. The axe had then been cast aside, and the torch applied instead. The substitute had proved successful. A favorable breeze had

already carried the flame through more than three parts of the remaining defences, and a practicable way was rapidly opening; for the lighter under-growth was parched as if into touchwood by the heat of summer, and the blaze of its conflagration soon wrapped the heavier green timber in an equal flame. But while the underwood was consumed with the rapidity of stubble, the standing trees burned with a slower and more formidable fire, falling successively with the crash and ruin of numberless branches, and overspreading the ground which had been cleared of its incumbering thicket the moment before, with fresh piles of smouldering and blazing timber. Thus, while the underwood, the original defence, was already cleared from side to side, the standard trees, which had at first been, in comparison, but minor obstacles, remained impassable and unapproachable, like pillars of red-hot iron glowing in the midst of the smoke and blackening ashes, while, from the remains of the burning branches above, a red shower of embers kept falling like incessant flakes of snow. From where he stood, the good monk could see the assailants in the smoky track behind, busied in clearing away the logs as they fell, or extinguishing the embers and pressing forward amid smoke and fire, ready to burst in upon their enemies the moment they might be able to pass the few standing trees between. The Muintir Gillmore awaited the incursion under shelter of a ledge of rock that protected them alike from the sweep of the flame and the fall of their antagonists' arrows, which, mixed with the less destructive missiles shot forth by the vehemence of the flame itself, might occasionally be seen rising from the farther verge of the conflagration, and arching the fiery barrier in a flight more rapid than the sparks themselves. Mac Gillmore cast an eager but unsteady glance at the scene. The hand of the fever was strong on him; and he shook from head to foot, as he tried to raise himself, and take a fuller survey of the danger. He gazed a moment, and seemed to observe the position of his men with approbation, but his glance soon grew vacant, and he sunk back with a moaning sob of disap pointment :-" I am weaker than I

thought myself," he murmured; "I can see nothing clearly; yet Owen has placed the kindred well; send him to ine-quick, Donagh; or bear me down till I speak with him."

"Send him thither," said the monk, "the chief is too ill at ease to be carried into such a scene."

"No," cried Mac Gillmore, "bear me down; it is all alike now; I will die among my people."

"This is the madness of his distemper," said brother Virgil in a low voice to the bearers ; carry him back towards the camp, and I will be your

warrant."

Carry me to the breach, I say," cried the outlaw; and the monk, unable to combat his authority, was reduced to the alternative of either deserting his patient, or of venturing with him into great and gratuitous danger. Benevolence, however, still supplied the worthy man with courage, and he prepared to descend into the valley with his charge; but they had not proceeded many steps, when Owen Grumagh was seen coming hastily from his company to meet them. "Tierna," cried the clansman, advancing to the side of the litter, "by your hand, I beseech you come no farther. We are well able to hold the breach till the kindred get clear of the camp. If you could strike a blow at all, I would never ask Adam Garv's son to turn back; but, by your head"

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By my head, and by my father's head," cried Mac Gillmore, "I will not turn back while I see my people in the breach before me!" he spoke with renewed energy, and, rallying at the words, again raised himself and looked around. It is a brave burning," he said with a ghastly smile; "but I will make a brighter blaze of Dundonald Castle some day yet, ah! Righ na Nul!" he then exclaimed, extending his clenched hand, and striking it fiercely at the wood, if I had but the use of my limbs again, how I would trample these dogs of the mountain into their own cinders before an hour! Son of Rory, is there no way of firing the trees behind them and catching them where they stand in a trap of flame?"

"I have tried it twice, tierna ;" replied the clansman; "but none of the kindred could pierce the thickets far enough to windward. Savage has a

hot stand of it as it is. He had good need to be shod with iron who would walk in the track of such a fire; though by my hand, I think we will make him wish for lighter brogues presently.”

"Oh! God, that I could but stand upon my feet!" cried the unhappy outlaw, relapsing into despondency as he sank back from an ineffectual attempt to rise.

"Would to God, that thou hadst called earlier upon his name!" exclaimed brother Virgil.

"What, is the Franciscan there?" muttered Mac Gillmore; I had lost sight of you, friar, come hither and give me your hand."

The monk placed his hand in that of the outlaw; I am here by thy side, chieftain," he said, "and would fain have thee accompany me back to a place of greater safety, for alas! thou art ill fit for such violence as is here approaching."

"Friar," said the outlaw, "I thought that you had deserted me."

"I have been with thee since we left the camp together;" replied brother Virgil.

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My memory has been wandering," said Mac Gillmore vacantly; "I am not sure how I came to be here; but, friar, do not let the bantierna wait for me."

"I promised to her not to return without thee;" said the monk.

The outlaw made no immediate reply, but grasping the Franciscau's hand, he muttered shortly after: "I am glad you christened the boy, it is what I would wish to have done to myself."

"Glory be to God!" exclaimed the pleased ecclesiastic, readily overlooking any incoherency in language so unexpectedly pious; "it is never too late to choose the better course; if heaven but spare us out of this present peril, I will baptize thee my son before another day of darkness shall have passed over thy head."

"This is no time for practising your spells, Gilly Francisagh;" interrupted Owen Grumagh sternly, "but for your idle incantations, the kindred would never have been taken in this surprise."

"But for your sins and sacrileges, son of Rory," retorted the Franciscan, "you would never have had enemies to surprise you."

"What smoke is that?" suddenly