uld you come near my humble abode, to believe that I shall
be happy to receive you. We poor, oppressed Catholics have little to
offer our guests, but to such as I possess you will be welcome. Our
business is to look after the souls of our parishioners. If we can but
show them the right way to heaven we should be content."

The young officer seemed somewhat inclined to smile at these remarks of
the priest.

"I will not fail to avail myself of your invitation," he answered, "but
at present I do not intend to extend my walk along the sea-shore."

"Well then, sir, as you have wished me good morning, I must wish you the
same, and a pleasant walk to you, only let me advise you to be cautious
where you go; it isn't just the safest part of the country for a king's
officer to be found wandering in by himself. However, sir, I have given
you a friendly warning, and now again farewell." The priest, somewhat
to the surprise of the officer, considering the father's previous
greeting, put out his hand, which he was too courteous not to take, then
quickly turning round, Father O'Rourke proceeded up the gorge into the
country.

Father O'Rourke was not accustomed to explain to others the object of
his proceedings. He had good reasons in his own estimation for
everything that he did. They were possibly conscientious; but then his
conscience might have been a very erring guide, and led him far wrong,
as is the case with many other people in the world.

"It cannot be helped," said the priest to himself, alluding to something
which was passing in his own mind, "but no harm may come of it to me
after all. The boys were to meet at O'Keef's last night, and there will
be plenty of them still about there; they will be glad enough of the
chance of getting hold of a king's officer, and if he shows fight and
some one gives him a knock on the head, or sends a pistol-bullet through
him, it will settle the business. He is certain to be down in the cove,
and if the boys are quick they will catch him there. I am pretty sure
that I am not mistaken, but at all events he will be a valuable prize if
he can be got hold of any way."

Such thoughts occupied the mind of the priest as turning off from the
beaten path he took his way across a mountainous region which still
remained in all its primitive wildness. After proceeding for some
distance at a speed which was surprising considering his age, he reached
some rude turf-covered huts, scarcely