“I knew it,” she exclaimed, “I knew it; I couldn’t mistake the look that passed between them.  Now, in God’s name,” she said, “if you’re able to drag a limb afther you at all, start out o’ this and save yourself, and, let what will happen, I entreat, for the love of God, that you won’t mention my name.”

This he faithfully promised; “But,” replied he to her warning, “I really am not able to escape, and I cannot think that your husband would injure a man who never offended him.”

“But that’s not the way they do sich things; it’s not the man you offended that will injure you, but some blackguard stranger that he gets to do it for him, and that you’ll know nothing about.  In God’s name, I say, be off out o’ this.  Even as a stranger you can hardly be safe, and if you wish to know why, whisper,” and she spoke so low as only barely to be heard, “there’s a meeting of Whiteboys to be here to-night; anyhow, you’re the friend of O’Driscol and Procthor Purcel, and that same would be enough to make them give you a knock.  Don’t face home,” said she, “or you’ll be likely to meet them, but take the mountains wanst more on your head.  Get out upon the road at Altanaveenan and you may be safe.  God of Glory!” she exclaimed, “here they are—­but watch my face and be guided by me—­here, throw yourself into that bed below and pretend to sleep—­I’ll do what woman can, but I’m afeared we lost our chance.”

M’Carthy distinctly heard them laughing as they approached the door, and, in accordance with the advice he had got, he went to the lower part of the house and lay down on the bed, where he closed his eyes and breathed like one asleep.  He now began to investigate Mogue’s conduct, in persisting to bring him by so circuitous a sweep such a distance out of his way, and decidedly contrary to his wishes.  He hesitated, however, to inculpate Mogue, who certainly could not have anticipated or brought on the fog, which had occasioned them to wander for such a length of time among the mountains.  Then, on the other hand, he deprived him of his gun and ammunition, but might not that also have been from motives of kindness?

In the meantime, eight or ten men came into the house each and all with their faces blackened, and some of them as before wearing shirts outside their dress; and this he could see from the position of the bed where he lay.  The chat among themselves and with Mrs. Finnerty was not, as is the case in romances, either mysterious or awful.  On the contrary, it was light and pleasant, and by no means calculated to heighten McCarthy’s fears; who, to say truth, however, although resolute and full of courage, would as lief been spending the evening with his friend the proctor.

“Well, Vread,” said one of them, “any news in the mountains?”

“News in the mountains!” exclaimed Vread, “well, indeed, that’s good.”

“Any deaths or marriages among the grouse, eh?”

Vread, as we have said, had got a glass of spirits, a circumstance which, to a low heart but a kind one like hers, may probably have accounted for a portion of her energy, as well as of her sympathy with the apprehended danger to M’Carthy.