CHAPTER XVl.—Continued.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 19 September 1890, Page 23

CHAPTER XVl.— Continued.

Maurice stood for a moment after the figure had merged ia the gloom and become vanished, ia a state of vague perplexity. He was extremely puzzled, but why or wherafore he could not explain to himself. He was aroused from his momentary fit of abstraction by O'Byrne's whispared call, and not doubting that he was on the right track, and not for a moment questioning if this were the baafc of which Carrie Mordaunt had told dim, followed his friend. Once in, the boat with ita scarce-aeea oarsmen shot across the water, and presently they wer«j at the other side. Tnere, some horses were standing, ready saddled, awaiting them. Some conversation in whispers occurred between the parties assembled and his companion, which Maurica did not catch. It was animated and energetic enough, however, and was broken off by O'Byrne, who came back and said : " Mount now, Maurics ; we have a long ride before us. Princa Rupert's cavaliers never had one to try their mettle more." Mechaaically Maurice did as ha was desired. He was now beginning to doubt whether this was the proceeding which his betrothed had sketched out for him, but the necessity for haste and silence, and the impulsive energy of his compaaion prevented him from making any inquiries. Taere w<is an uncomf jrtabla fealiag growing about him tuat matters hal in some way miscarried, bat there was also tb.9 always perceptible fealing oE danger in ihe air. For they were still within the enemy's quarters, and each one knew, without Bpeaking of it, what terrible consequences followed capture. The three horsemen were soon off— Maurice did not know the name of the third party. They want at a walking pace for some time, and Maurice was quite surpnsjd how noiselessly they moved. There was nothing of the U9ual clanking of horses' hoofs. They took their way in some direction at a sharp angle with the river ; but they might as well have been travelling ia an Indian forest so little did Maurice know of his whereabouts. He was content to follow the pace and direction of his leader. After a time, and a very long time it seemed, during which Maurica had time to reflect much on the incidents that had occurred tj him since his arrival, they found themselves in the ope 1 country ; end when he roused himself from his reflections the red tint in the East and the gray light around him snowed him that the dawn bad come. It had grown on him by such imparceptiole degrees, that it had been around him before he was aware of it. Colonel O'Byrne leaped from his saddle and commenced to work at his horse's feet, and tieu for the first time Maurice s*w that the hoofs of the horses ware muffled. Both he and his companion dismounted and did similarly. " Tnat has been a slow and monotonous ride, Maurice," said the Wicklowman. " Thank heaven we are quite beyond the boundaries of their pickets now, and can talk. We nave a swifi ridi before us. Have you anything to driok, Oney ? " Tneir guide aud coniuctor took from his saddle bow a tin-can, safely corked. Pouring into a tin cap & measure of brandy, wuich Maurice found a most refreshing stimulant af ier his night of excitement, they proposed to resume taeir journey. " Hugh," said Maurice, whose perplexity had now reached a considerable pitch. '• May I ask where you are going t " "To Wicklow— where else ? Ooote and nis meu are marching there, and unless I can get before them and muster some forces there will be such scenes ii that land as not even the daya of B9sex or Strafford could match for horror." " Biding ihere now? " '• Wtiere else 1 Straight as a good steed and mountainous path can lead me. But, why do you ask ? You seem halting and neaitatating, Maurice. What is the reason ? " asked Colonel Hugn, staying his hand on tho saddle in sudden query. Thinking, halting and hesitating being out of question, Maurice boldly told, in as few words as he could muster, and not dwelling very particularly on side incidents— the nature of nis seeking the wharf, hi 9 disposition to go to England, and abandon his visit to Ireland. '• I see it all, Maurice," said O'Byrne, with a pleasant laugh, as he leaped into the saddle. " Jump up, Maurice, we have no time for talking. The way is long and difficult before us. Mount. Your Continental experiences have taught you nothing of human heart or human Dature. Two men there are unlit to govern the world or to know the coursings of human passions— be who is bred hi the cloister, and he who is bred in the camp. You shall not see England for some tim , Maurice. I know nothing of any such arrangement. The oue you love may be iv Dublin Castle— and here's good luck to her, Koger Leix notwithstanding, who bates them as— well, no matter, but your lover is— Psha I What am I saying? lam talking to a blind man ! Gome, Maurice, mount. Not another word about tuis for the future, for I have heavier things to think of." And with this direction O'Byrne leaped into his saddle, followed by Oney and Maurice, and the latter checking down the uncomfortable feelings of being misled and of Carrie ilordaunt's plan* havi.i^ miscarried, and some unaccountable mysteries being around him, they resumed their journey, crossing the Liffey, above Chapehz )d, and thence by rapid marches over the Dublin mountains into tuose of Wicklow, which tbey gained by noon. Tne view at other times would be magnificent, a panorama unrivalled ; but now tuey cjald see from their elevated position the glistening line of helmets as tuey wended their way in the sunlight far below tnem on tbe road nearer the sift.

It was O'Byrne V intention, as be sud, to get into the Wicklo glens before them, and muster the glensmen to surround them, an bo out off their retreat. ■ ' Towards mid-day they rested on the hills, for they were fatigue** with their long and devious tide, and partook of some of the brandy Oney carried, mixed with the clear water from the mountain springs, and lit their cigars, whilst their horses, picketed by their bridleß, lllrere allowed to graze around. During this luxurious period of repose O'Byrne suddenly pointed to the East. 11 Bee, Maurice, look yonder 1 " Maurice looked, but could only see a dreamy haze arising far in the lowlands — little spots of bine dotting the landscape not unpleasantly here and there, but growing more frequent. They were now too distant to see the line of horsemen. "Do you know what that is ? Do you know what that means ? " " No.'" "They are burning the country as they pasß. These are the houses and haggarts of the farmeis. They are desolating the land on their line of march, and murdering the people too, you may depend . Heaven help them 1 " " I cannot see the troops," 6aid Maurice, gazing intently. " I can only see the blue spots." "No ; because they have scattered, and are burning far inland and off their line of march. See how numerous the blue dots grow now I ' "But Coote is our own countryman, O'Byrne. Barely he will not suffer this t " "An Irishman 1 So much the worse, Maurice. Don't you remember the old tayirjg : if an Irishman were roasting you would get another to turn the spit . Bee how the dots grow." They were indeed growing numerous, dotting valleys widely asunder. " Maurice, I'll tell you what we shall do," said O'Byrne, after a painful pause. "We shall resume our march, and when we come to the parting of the ways you and Oney— he will be a safe quide — shall ride into Wicklow while I go and summon the clansmen. The castle there is still defended. Encourage them to hold out and delay Coote and bis people until I can come to your relief. They will return home with another story, I fancy." " Be it so," said Maurice, in ready acquiescence. When they had reached the place indicated, Maurice and his companion turned their horses' heads towards the distant town, and by many devious ways and winding paths moved in that direction, cantering rapidly where the road admitted of it, walking slowly where the ways were dangerous and rough ; while O'Byrne pursued bis solitary way across the mountains. The two travellers rode in under the castle walls and gained admittance before the military had more than come in sight. But from the summit of the battlements they conld see, when the dusk began to fall, the glare of burning homes, and the dull thud of shots told where some hapless victim had fallen a prey to the savage bar* barity of Coote and the soldiery. There were not more than some three dozen defending the castle, armed with muskets and a cnlverin or two — these latter of little use. There was, however.iabundance of ammunition, and if they could but hold out for a day or two, the Wicklow leader would be back with sufficient forceß from the glensmen. Maurice looked about the place to see that all points of defence were made sufficiently strong, and then waited the entrance of the enemy. With a grand fanfare of trumpets they crossed the narrow bridge entering the town, and advanced up hill into the s'reets. They had waited fo long, burning and shooting on the line of march, that it was long after nightfall before the tall shakos of tbe soldiers anl the glittering lines of bayonets became visible to the astonished eyes of the townsmen. The castle was some distance away from the town on the seaside, the town itself being hidden away by the curvature of the hill, but little of it could be seen from the battlements. It was bad strategy in whoever built it, but, probably, in ancient times it was more for the purpose of over-awing the turbulent townspeople than of defending them. But, looking and listening from the battlements, its defenders soon found that it was not so much the intention of the raiding column to attack them as to wreak veageance on the defenceless townspeople. The sky soon reflected the blazing homes, whilst the cries and shrieks of women rose loud and shrill on the night air. There were pale faces and anxious hearts on the battlements as these proceedings went on. Fighting in their own defence would have tbe stimulating effects of excitement and ardour, but listening in cold blood, to the cries of their kinswomen, was helplessly agonising. After a time Maurice could stand it no longer. (< This is not warfare these scoundrels are carrying on — it is murder," he said in a burst of passion. " I shall not remain here and witness it. Who will volunteer to come with me, and try and stop this murderous work ?" A number of men, equally brave and resolute as he, volunteered at once. Selecting some four, of whom his previous guide, Oney, was one, whom be apcertained to be good marksmen, they opened ihe barred door of the fortallice and crept through the fields until they came to a spot in a laneway where they could look on tbe square, wbeie the soldiers atter their march were encamped. They had little in reconnoitting, for the glare of tbe burning houses shed a '"light, bright as noon day, on the place, whilst the shadows it threw placed themselves in a gloom. The narrow-way in which they were crouched led upwards from the place, and they had thus the advantage of the position. Maurice, his gun on his knee, was transfixed with surprise as his eyes rested on the scene before him. A rough platform had been erected on which several forms were suspended. Other forms, apparently dead from grin-shote, were Btrewn under it. Boldiers were here and, there Beated in groups around barrels of drink, which they had

, taken from the houses, whilst at large fires, made of the furniture of the pillaged dwellings, sheep were roasting whole. "What are those fellows doing yonder?" Maurice asked of Oney, as straight in front of them was a large mansion, evidently the residence of people well-to-do and of independent means, into which a number of soldiera were passing in and out, carrying bandies with suspicious eagerness, " What do they mean by this harrying in and out ?" " They are going to make it their quarters for the night," replied the other in a whisper. " See, there are officers outside." As indeed there were, as Maurice saw when he had time to take closer and more particular vision. " I hardly think it is that," said he ; but his attention was presently attracted by another sight. It was that of a young woman, of superior and prepossessing appearance, who was being driven up by some soldiers with the buttends of their guns, as if it wer* an animal they were driving into the glare of the burning houses. There was a look of wild agony oa her face, of speechless terror, that made Maurice's heart throb. She carried a child in her arms, to which she clung, and to which she in a wild, dazed way bent her head aa if entreating it for protection— so it seemed to the watcher, as half-wild himself with what he saw, be nervously looked on and waited*. A soldier, amid the laughter of his comrades, deftly threw a noose over her neck from behind and drew it tight. In an instant the young woman lifted her head, but as the rope tightened under her chin she only bent the more fondly and appealingly to the little one she carried in her arms. And then her face reddened under the influence of a new glare thrown npon it by a sadden and greater blaze that bad burst forth. It was the fine mansion in their immediate front, into the first floor of whiob soldiers had been piling all the inflammable materials they could find, to which they had now set fire ani which blazed forth with destructive fury. As the fire leaped oat through the under windows and shot up above tbo-e in the second and third storeys, a piercing cry rang through the night, overleaping in its shrill accents of terror the bustle, riot, and confusion below. It came as plainly on the watcher's astounded ears, as if there were no other sound or noise there. The form of a lady, young or old, gentle or simple, Maurice could not distinguish in the wreathing flames, appeared at the window, but it was barred with iron, and it was impossible she could get through. In her terror or aneuish to save its life at any rate from the terrible death which menaced herself, or perhaps by sheer accident, a child fell from her handß into the street. A soldier standing at guard underneath, some distance from the curling flames, promptly ran up his musket, and on the point of his bayonet caught the little child. A burst of laughter at this amusing incident came from the group of officers adjoining. Encouraged by this approbation, the soldier tossed the little form upwards, and again deftly caught it on his bayonet. Maurice felt as if his heart was leaping through his month. "He dies I By the eternal justice of God 1 he dies," came from lips and throat, parched almost to suffocation ; and, kneeling on one knee, be carried the musket on his shoulder, held it with sinews of steel ; for a second his eyes glanced along it and a shrill report startled the echoes of the night ! He could hardly see, through the lifting wreathi of smoke, the reeling form of the soldier, the startled attitudes of the others, when from beside him a volley flashed, the light and the flame from the musket barrels nearly blinding him ; and then he became conscious as one in a drunken frenzy might — dimly and vaguely conscious— that there were many forms behind him, that the greater part of the little garrison had recklessly stolen after to see what devilry was going on among their kinßtnen. The momentary gleam of consciousness vanished, and, without knowing how it came to pass, or how he had come there, Maurice next found himself in the centre of the lighted Bquare in the midst of a deadly struggle, where with axes and short pikes and long knives he and his comrades fought against overwhelming odds not for life — no, not for life — but for a bloody death — death to all whom they could reach and Blay. Blazing houses shootißg their cones "of flame to the sky and their hot glare around ; malignant faces in crowds before, himself and his friend the little centre of the maddened struggle ; blood stained steel shiniog with crimson red and blue gleam as they changed and shifted in the struggle, in which no quarter was given or asked, formed a tableau which for a second flashed on his mind, in a lucid moment as if he had got a passing vision in his sleep into the region cf the damned, and forgot what preceded or followed. The raging, maddened passion of hate and vengeance and sense of cruel wrong was upon him ; the fire had transferred itself from breast to brain, and but for that passing spell — that fleeting instant of consciousness and sanity — he was no more capable of human feeiing than the tiger engaged in fight to the death. Suddenly, power of action, of motion, went from him, and the glare of the burning houses gave way to blind and Bightle3B night.