CHAPTER XXVIII.-(Continued.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 14, 2 January 1891, Page 25

CHAPTER XXVIII.-(Continued.)

It waa ali over in a mom-ut, ani the detachment was broken irretrievably, arid the men dead, dymt,', it fled. Carrie Mordaunt's horse, but little voder ber control, had made a sudden burst when first tho uoisea had come, and galloDed uncontrollably away, and Mordaunt bad ga loped af icr to catch and lend him back. Hearing th>; Hounds of strife, and marvelling what it wai he wheeled around, ami drawing his sword rode back, to find that his command had been cut awn, He found himself among a body of strange hurseraeu, one of whom with a deft stroke swept the sword from his grasp.

" Yi^ld yourself up a prisoner," cried a horsaman, apparently in command, riding up.

"What is the meaning of this? Wno are you / " he cried in amazement, for tbe moment believing that soon portion of bis command had treacherously fallen oa the other a-xi slain tnem. "It means that you have chunked places with your prisoner. He is free, and you aie the bondsma >," aaid the leader ; a^d on the moment looking around (Jolom-1 Mordaunt saw Maurice O'Connor in the saddle beside him, his hands untied and the bonds cut or loosened. " More treachery,'" said the astuniah'd officer, '"It is only in ambuscades like this th-tt you achieve victory, O'Byrne," said he haughtily ; you dare not meet men in the open field." " There is time enougn for that, Mordaunc," said Colonel Hugh O' Jyrne ; Ireland is not won or lost yet.'

" Tou wiU never win it by warfare of this kind."

"All is fair in love or war, good sir," said the Wicklow man. " But one thing you will never see us do in victory or defeat— you will npver see us war on women or helpics children." "We punish evil-doers, and shall always do so," said Mordiunt unflinchingly.

"So do we— or at least we hope to," retoricd O'Byroe. " But we are losing time here. Bind your prisoner, men, and bring him along. There are trees in Wicklow strong enjugb to hang the murderer of* women and children on.

" Runaways from Drogheda— you can easily boast of your victory here."

" Nay man ; we are but making fresh moves oa the chess-board of war. As for you, you are only restoring us the pleasure you cheated us of at Drogheda — that of hanging you for cowardly and inhuman conduct. And, by the way, you here, too, Manus, the weaver? You aided and abetted him in hn escape. You acted the part of traitor to the came of Ireland — bind mm, to), men, a»d bring him on. Be quick, the night is waning, and we are far too near dmgerous ground.' 1

The men dismounted from their horses as their leader spoke' preparing to put hiß oideis into execu'ion.

" I knew you were afraid to croea swords with your equals f " cr'ed Mordaunt tauntingly. "\ou arc brave only against small forces, ur iv auibuscadts, ur tauug helpless prisoners, '

" Peace, man. Your conduct has cut you off from the knowledge di. gentlemen and soldiers. The hand raised to slay women an d children has the weak blood of a coward running through it, and —

Colonel Mordaunt snatched at his sword belt, but the sword was not there. With rapid movement he snatched the steel scabbard from its fastening, and lifting himself in the saddle, struck the speaker full across the face with it. Then, wheeling his horse around, struck the spurs deep into him, broke through the soldiers fumbling at bis feet, tumbling and scattering them, and flew towards the sea. The tide was full in, the water deep, the banks at this place high and precipitous, and, as he came to the verge, he lifted bis horse'a head, dug his spurs into its sides, and bold y sprang into the night and sea. The horse sank to hi, mouth, bringing the rider to his •boulders, but he rose again promptly, and Colonel Mordaunt guiding his bead seawards, swam out into the lightless water.

It would be madness to follow him, even if the trackless water could give them the clue, and listening for a moment on the verge of the cliff to th« faint motion of the swimming animal, O* Byrne Baid :

"It was a bold leap, and worthy a braver man. It has saved him his unworthy life. Time is precious, Maurice, and we must away. We are passing through the enemy's country here, and my men are worn and tired with much travelling. Come ; ride on ; we can talk as we go. Drogheda is lost to us tbis time, and things look gloomy enough ; but brave hearts and resolute men can master fate even yet— ride on." " I cannot go, Hugh. Miss Mordaunt " "Who!"

11 What of her?"

" She was here — I shall tell you why later on — but she is wandering on a wild steed through these marshes, and shall get lost. I must find her and protect tier." " Ob, Maurice, Maurice 1 What a faint heart you bear to Ireland when a daughter of that scorpion race can win your love from her I " ■aid the Wicklow man, in mingled sorrow and anger. "It cannot be helped, Hugh. I should sooner lose my own life than that anything could happen her. Cide on and leave me to search for her. I should be more than cowardly did I abandon her." " Oh, Maurice, Maurice I Such talk in times like these I But — stay man — what is this ? " he asked, as the step of a galloping horse came across them, and presently a flying steed with trailing reins, and a form reeling in the saddle, came up with them. The horse, with the instincts of military training 1 , had galloped back and rejoined its fellows, mistaking the steeds of the Wicklow men for those of tbe scattered detachment.

"This is she — tbis is Carrie, Mjbs Mordaunt," cried Maurice, in an ecstasy of delight, as he leaped from his horse, clutched the trailing reins and caught the semi-unconscious form from the saddle in his arms with every expression of intense joy. "What now, Maurice? " asked the Wcklow chief, as he viewed these demons rations with cynical eyes. •' What after this ? We are delaying our time perilously long. These fallows who have escaped will have entered the gates of Dublin by this ; and others will have booted and saddled. Shall you ride with us or say 1 " " With you," said Maurice, resolutely, as, placing the form of Carrie Mordaunt on tbe saddle before him, he leaped on his horse. "Forward, then — menl The dawn will have come before the Wick low hills appear in view, hide fast I "

And softly, as the phantom horsemen of the marshes might have done, the horsemen defile before him, break into a trot, and move noiselessly on.