did so, a
figure, dressed in fantastic fashion, appeared from behind some broken
ground in the neighbourhood of the downs. She advanced towards him, and
then suddenly stopped, looking eagerly in his face.

"Who are you, stranger--who are you who come to these shores? It is not
good for you to be alone here; if you come, come with armed men, with
muskets on their shoulders and swords by their sides, for that slight
weapon that you carry would avail you nothing against the enemies you
are likely to meet here. Go back, I tell you, the way you came. I may
seem silly and mad, and mad and silly I am, but I can sing; few can sing
like me. Now listen stranger, listen to my song." She burst forth
again in the same wild strains which at first attracted the young
officer's attention.

"But what reason could you give me why I should follow your advice? I
like your song, however; can you not sing me another?"

"Yes," she answered, "mad Kathleen has many a song in her head, but it
does not always come when called for, it is only as the fit seizes her
that she can bring it forth. Never mind listening to my song, however,
but follow my advice. There is your boat even now out in the bay; go,
make a signal to it to come back to you, or evil will befall you."

"I can scarcely suppose that, provided I do not leave the shore,"
answered the officer. "I thank you, however, for your advice, but I do
not purpose wandering far from where I now am."

"Even here where you stand you are not safe; but I have warned you once,
and I cannot warn you more," exclaimed the mad woman, as with wild
gestures she retreated back to the spot from which she appeared to have
come. The young officer watched her till she disappeared. A shade of
melancholy came over his countenance.

"I might have asked her about some of the people hereabouts," he said to
himself. "Her warning perhaps is not to be despised; I will sit down
here, and wait till the boat returns."

The officer was approaching the edge of the cliff when Father O'Rourke
reached the downs; seeing the stranger, he advanced towards him. The
temper of the priest had not calmed down, so it seemed, since his
encounter with the poor widow. As he approached the young officer, he
looked at him earnestly.

"What brings you here?" he exclaimed. "What business have armed men to
come upon our coasts, let me ask you?"

"Really, sir," said the officer, drawing himself up, "I bear his
Majesty