This is written here, not for the purpose of disparaging the clergyman’s counsel or the student’s resolution.  On the contrary, no doubt was then entertained of the sincerity of either, nor has there ever since been.  There could be no one more disposed to make allowance for the difficult position in which both were placed, as well as all others who ventured to serve us:  nor could we blame men for shrinking from peril, which at the best, presented no rational chance for us, while the effort involved those who made it in almost certain ruin.  I had other opportunities of satisfying myself afterward that this clergyman, who visited us in the mountains, never relaxed in his exertions to save us.

We found ourselves next morning in an exceedingly romantic valley to the north of the “Priest’s Leap,” the property of Lord Lansdowne, where there are many comfortable farmers’ houses, and many others, whose showy exterior is sadly belied by the filth and discomfort of the inside.  We spent the day with the man of the sheep, who promised to obtain lodgings for us at a publichouse, where he was refused.  But during our stay there we met a farmer’s son, who took us home and travelled with us the whole of the next day.  We proposed to him and his sister to accompany us to the United States, having for some time entertained seriously a project of trying our chances to escape as emigrants.  He consented to be of the party, although we fully explained to him the risk of being taken in our company.  He guessed from this that we were engaged in the attempted outbreak, and being sent in to the town of Kenmare to make some purchases, he could not conceal so important a secret, but sought out a friend, a true man, to whom he unburdened himself.  We had appointed to meet him at a place called Cross, about two miles from Kenmare.  We were repairing thither at the appointed hour, and were met, not by our trusty messenger, but the friend to whom he had revealed his important secret.  This friend, alarmed at our temerity in approaching so near the town, had come to forewarn us.  His advances were met by distrust and menace, which pained him deeply.  He remonstrated and referred to the fact of coming to meet us alone, when if he meant us injury he could easily secure us.  Satisfied, at length, that his friendship was sincere, we consented to accompany him to meet another friend who had taken a different road in the direction of the mountain.  He was known to us by character, but that knowledge, with me at least, tended to increase rather than to allay distrust.  I had formed an idea of the man from reading speeches of his which appeared of an unscrupulously partisan character.  I was very soon disabused, but not however until I communicated to him my feelings in his regard.  The best proof of my mistake is furnished by the fact that my unnecessary frankness did not in the least check the enthusiasm with which he was prepared to risk fortune, liberty and life in our service.  Our interview was short.