in the
bosom of the widow. No prayer for the safety of those on board escaped
his lips. He seemed to gaze with satisfaction on the fearful danger to
which she was exposed. He more than once exclaimed to himself, "She
cannot escape yonder rocks, and then that pert and daring youth who set
me at defiance, with all his companions, will meet the fate which they
and their Saxon countrymen so well merit. Curses on the heads of those
who execute the behests of King George and his ministers. While we have
red-coats and blue-jackets arrayed against us, what hope is there of
liberty for old Ireland? I hate them all. From the king on his throne
to the meanest soldier who trails a pike in his service!"

At a short distance on a high and projecting part of the cliff, stood a
wild and fantastic figure. It was that of mad Kathleen. She waved her
arms round and round. Now she shouted, as if she would warn those on
board the ship of the danger they were approaching. Again and again she
cried out, as if encouraging them to perseverance in their bold attempt
at beating out of the bay. Sometimes she uttered blessings on their
heads, especially that of their young commander.

"A brave youth, a noble youth he is," she exclaimed; "even when I set
eyes on him this morning I felt my heart drawn towards him. Grievous
would it be for him to lose that fine ship, his first command, and still
more grievous were his life to be taken by the angry waves!"

Thus she continued for some time, until she was interrupted by a hand
being placed on her shoulder. She turned round and saw Miss O'Reilly
standing near her.

"What, Kathleen, are you trying to show yonder ship the way to beat out
of our bay?" asked Mr Jamieson, in his usual kind voice.

"I would I were on board, minister, that I might help to guide them,"
she answered, with a laugh. "There are many worse pilots than I am, and
often in girlhood's days have I sailed with my father on yonder sea,
sometimes, as now, tossed with waves, at other times calm and blue, like
a young maiden's eye, void of guile and treachery."

"But, tell me, Kathleen, do you think the ship will manage to escape
from the dangers by which she is surrounded?" asked Miss O'Reilly, in a
somewhat agitated voice. "They say her captain is a brave and gallant
officer, and it would be grievous if he were to lose that beautiful
vessel, for so I am told she is."

"God who guides the winds and gives them power alone