CHAPTER XXXI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 15, 9 January 1891, Page 23

CHAPTER XXXI.

There was but little time for delay. Every moment was precious if the raiding Puritan general was to be stopped. Fresh messengers had come Irom O' Moore urging the greatest haste, and accordingly the shadows of evening saw the l>ng lines of swordsmen and spearsmen winding over the hills that shut out the Wick.ow valleys from the plains of Kildare and the fertile lands of Carlow. Without step or stay they rode through the night, nothing but the Btartled fl ght of the giouse or the wild shriek of the curlew to break the silence of the heathy bills. As the dawn smote the summits, wearing a crown of pale gold from the heather fl >wers, they rode from the last of the sheep-paths and entered Kildare. Without delay they continued their march— going at a much quicker rate now that the more improved roads permitted of it, The morning hours pass swiftly ; and soon the workers began to appear in the fields, end the blue smoke to curl up from the farmhouses. Most of the former appeared to be women, indicating that the men were away elsewhere.

Through the winding ways that in these days served for roads they went at quicK pace, and a few hours brought them up with the Iribh forces, where they were warmly welcomed. "Faitbful as ever, Hugh. You have come at momaitcf need. I^Tonder, lo^k — c cc where the gleams of light are — there are the ewordtmen of the r<tid rs mnrching to Dublin.'" It wastho Lord ot 1/mt who spok^ and Maurice, who was present, glanced in the direction indicated. In biave array the horsemen of 'he enomy in three col 'imps moved foiwaid, the regiments of Mfantry marching between. They moved with a slowue b s and pr< j ( i,ion that indicated good training and discipline Maurice at the Irish forces and his heart sank wiihin bnn. Tie lev\ s w<>re hastily made, and th >ugh the numbers were large an! full of courage, they were clearly but illdisciphned, c r not disciplined at all. Whatever mi'itiry skil might — and did — appertain to some of the r. giments, the irregularity in the greater portion gave the whole the appearance of a tumultuous mob. " You are surely not going to give battle to yonder troops, Rory, with these, force* ? '" a9ked Maurice in a whi->prr. "Why nut?" asked O' vloore. '■ Fearlessness and enthusiasm have woiked wonders on the battlefiel t ere now. But we have n>t time to discuss the mater — nor would it be of use if we could. S;e 1 our men are en the march.' 1 " Wheie to?" "To the Pass of Ma^euey. Ormorul's scouts have found it open. We have purposely left it open. We are now marching to occupy it. They will have to give us battle there at our own choice of position." The men, lightly equipped, marched very fist; it was easy to see that Ormond's forces, now aware of the presence of their foes, were making haste to occupy the defile to", but the necessity of dragging their cannon along tho miry road delayed them. Wuh a rapid inarch of an hour or It ss the forces of Mountgarret had seized the pas", aud the men were rapidly placed in position on the two hil!s which commanded it. The road led between them, and behind and at either side was a marshy ground developing into a bog to the east, and there they awaited the coming of the Puritan forces, now pressii g forward eagerly to Dublin to prevent their being surrounded and cut off. The latUr paused fora time, as they saw the Irish forces in array on the hills, and cal ed a halt. " Ormond is about to letreat," said O Moore, exnltin'/ly ; "he will setk to fa!, buck on Athy C»-tl» — iv which case he is dooaicd.' "I hardly thu k that," said Maurice. ' O'Byrno tells me he has some hngli^h regiments with him — some of those who served in Flauders. I know what these men can d-ire and do." " There is one thing they cannot do," said O' Vloore, confidently, "they catmot carry tbtir lives through the pass. By the way, Maurice, there is a friend ot yours in charge vi. a regiment, I understand." " Indeed," said Maurice. " Who ? " " Raymot d Mordauut." "Whit 1" cried Maurice, m surpiise. " I have been often during my illness wondering what has happened him." And then upon Maurice proctedei to put his friend in possession of the events which occurre t on ihe night of ni<> escaps on the marshes. " Ii seems you aro fated to meet constantly,' was the remaik ot O'Mtore, as he finished his hurried narration. " But you will scarcely niuet this time , for, sec ! they are about to get into motion again. Ihey are going to retreat." '•\ou are wrong there. Hotter,' said Maur.ce, "they are about to advance. Ihe columns are again moviug forward." " So they are, by \ eavt n 1 " said O'Mooie, us he watched with intentnebs the distant foe, on whose uplifte 1 bayutiets gleaming like a forest of steel, tlu s-un-r,<\s sparkled and shone. With uubrokeu f r. Nt aud in slow but cxc Hoot order they moved forwaid. Tne hurried cjuiicil of war had cu-any endei in a resolve to give battle. All negation seemed to bo cast aside, and Ormond and his heutena' ts had d. cided to accept the gage of combat. "There is work cut out tor your men, ' remarked Mauric, "if they only stand steady. Whatever faults MorJaunt has, cowardice is not one of them, and if all (hmond's officeis are like him it will need steady men to face them." Hunkd depositions were m:ue of the Ir sh forces. Tne cavalry were diawn up on one side, partuily concealed fiom observation by one of ir.c two hills which boundt d the pas?. A ong the slopes of the latter the musketeers wer ■ pUc.d, whilst behind the hedges which fronted the advai-cing cit my pikemen were lined Every arrangement was m.ule tuat tkill could snirgeb* ; anil this done the forces awaited the advancing tioop«, who mus" dislodge them fiom their portions if they were to continue their march to Dublin ; or, failit'g that, accept the alterna ive ot massacre or suireuder. By slow degrees tl.ey grew near, until the clank of their accoutrements could be distinctly heard. Pn sently the baud of the English ioices struck up a merry mirching air to inspire their troops with courage , and immediately the musketeers opsned a fusilade on them. In a moment th> j hillsides were covered with smoke; but, undeterred by the iff cts of the fire, the regiments of infantry marchtd forward, opened into line and charged up to the intervening hedges. Here they were met r>y pikemen, lining them, and a funous hand-to-hand fight ensued. Though better armed than the Irish, the impulsive valour of the latter came to thtir aid, and leaping over the hedges they attacked the foes in the r>pen. At the same m ment the strong body of English cavalry charged through tho piss, driving its Venders completely before them — not only diiving them before them, but riding up the hil'sides and taking the musket-men, hidden in a fog of smoke, iv re nr, rid ing thiouyh and sabring them as they went. " WickluA' m -n ' ' rued O'Byrue, '• you must drive these fellows beck. These aie the mi n wLo raided \our land and lift weeping widows and orphans behind them. Pay tuuu back in kind for their woik. Forward 1"