t he spakes so well
of, that we hear sich discoorse?"

"You're mistaken there, Nelly," replied Body; "I had no intention of
taking away her life, although I believe my worthy comrade here in the
red hair, that I helped out of a certain gaol once upon a time, had no
scruples."

"No, curse the scruple!" said the other.

"I was in the act of covering her eyes and mouth to prevent her from
either knowing her old servant or making a noise,--but d---- it, I was
bent to save her life that night, rather than take it," said Rody.

"I know this friend of yours, Rody, but a short time," observed Nell;
"but if he hasn't more spunk in him than yourself, he's not worth his
feedin'."

"Show me," said the miscreant, "what s to be done, life or purse--an'
here's your sort for both."

"Come, then," said Nell, "by the night above us, we'll thry your
mettle."

"Never heed her," observed Nanse; "aunt, you're too wicked an'
revengeful."

"Am I?" said the aunt. "I tuck an oath many a year ago, that I'd never
die till I'd put sharp sorrow into Lamh Laudher's sowl. I punished him
through his daughter, I'll now grind the heart in him through his son."

"An' what do you want to be done inquired the red man.

"Come here, an' I'll tell you that," said Nell.

A short conversation took place between them, behind a little partition
which divided the kitchen from two small sleeping rooms, containing a
single bed each.

"Now," said Nell, addressing the whole party, "let us all be ready
to-morrow, while the whole town's preparin' for the fight, to slip away
as well disguised as we can, out of the place; by that time you'll have
your business done, an' your trifle o' money earned;" she directed the
last words to the red-haired stranger.

"You keep me out of this secret?" observed Body.

"It's not worth knowin'," said Nell; "I was only thryin' you, Rody. It's
nothing bad. I'm not so cruel as you think. I wouldn't take the wide
world an' shed blood wid my own hands. I tried it once on Lamh Laudher
More, an' when I thought I killed him hell came into me. No; that I may
go _below_ if I would!"

"But you would get others to do it, if you could," said Rody.

"I need get nobody to do it for me," said the crone. "I could wither any
man, woman, or child, off o' the earth, wid one charm, if I wished."

"Why don't you wither young Lamh Laudher then?" said Rody.

"If they fight to-morrow," replied Nell; "mind I say if they do--an' I
now tell y