“And remember,” added Alick, turning with a look of agony to the females, “that the men have all been shot, and are lying in the upper room!”

The ruse of M’Carthy succeeded.  The Whiteboys, on being admitted, took it for granted that those who opened the door belonged to themselves and had got in by some other entrance.  The house was hastily searched; and the fact of the Purcels having been killed in the upper room, was corroborated by the limbs of John and his father being visible among the burning pile.  The state of the house now rendered a hasty retreat out of it necessary.  A sudden trembling of the walls and upper joists was felt, the crowd rushed out, and the next moment the whole building was one fallen mass of smoking ruins.

The females now found themselves prisoners; but still their brother and M’Carthy kept near them, and seemed to act as a portion of those to whom their guardianship! had been entrusted.  Julia found herself committed, as if by general consent, to the care of one individual, who kept her a little in advance of the accompanying crowd—­to! whom, from time to time, he waved his hand without looking behind him to intimate that they should not press close upon them, but afford him an opportunity of holding what he wished to be considered some confidential conversation with her.

“That I may be blest, Miss Julia, but you’re a lucky girl this night—­an’ I think I may say that I’m a lucky boy myself.  I’m to take care of you, and to bring you to a safe place; which I’ll do, never fear.  You know what I told you afore about my family—­how we wor ever an’ always doin’ our best against the Sassanach Laws—­an ould family it is—­an’ sure ould blood is betther than riches any day—­an’ it isn’t complexion aither, Miss Julia, that a—­this way, darlin’—­this way—­an’ how long now is it since you fell in consate with me?  Well, darlin’ that I may die a happy death in a good ould age, if I can blame you for not spakin’—­especially afther havin’ lost your father and two brothers this night.  Howandiver, we can have a lob of their wealth, anyhow, yourself and myself—­this way, darlin’, there’s a party of friends waitin’ for us—­wisha’ thin, but I’m lookin’ forrid to a happy life wid you—­but sure you might say a single word to me, darlin’—­jist to let me know you hear me.”

Whether Julia heard this one-sided dialogue or not, it is difficult to say.  She seemed passive and inattentive, and walked on with an abstracted and mechanical motion.  Her brother and lover could only get near her occasionally, having found it necessary to watch her mother and sister also.  They could perceive, however, not only that the crowd which followed Mogue appeared to be a good deal in his confidence, and under his sway, but that it increased so rapidly as he went along, that they became alarmed, especially as the Cannie Soogah had not yet made his appearance.

At this moment they were met by a body of men, who on looking at Mogue and Julia, exclaimed, “You are bringing her the wrong way—­you are breakin’ your ordhers—­you know that our captain laid it out, that you should bring her in the other direction, and to where the guard is waitin’ for her.”