ing Tim. Towards night, worn-out
with weariness and excitement, I abandoned the quest, and dropped back
on the tide to Rathmullan.

The place was full of reports of the new orders which had come from
Dublin for the disarming of the people, and of the military rigour with
which soldiers and magistrates between them were putting their powers
into force. Nearly a hundred stands of arms had, it was rumoured, been
captured the day before at Milford, and one man who resisted the search
had been hung summarily on the nearest tree.

As I sat screened off in a quiet corner of the inn over my supper, a
new-comer entered and joined the group who were discussing the news of
the day in the public-room.

"Well?" was the greeting of one or two as he entered.

"Whisht, boys! we're done intirely," said the new-comer.

"How done? Did he not pass that road?"

"He did; but never a hair of him was singed."

"I knew Paddy was a botch with the gun," said one; "there should have
been better than him for such a job. Was he taken?"

"'Deed, I don't know how it all happened, but you're out about Paddy.
He did his best, I'm told, and there were two to second him. But the
job had got wind, and Paddy got a shot in the arm before he could let
fly. And they tell me the other two are taken."

A cry of consternation went round the audience. "If Flanagan's one of
them--"

"The very boy."

"It'll be a bad job for us all, then, for Flanagan will save his skin if
twenty others swing for it. Where is he?"

"At Knockowen for the night."

"No news of Tim Gallagher?"

"Not a word. It's a wonder what's keeping him. He's badly wanted."

"'Deed, you may say so. He's the only gineral we have."

"As for Flanagan," said some one else, "I'm thinking he may not have
toime to turn king's evidence. They're making quick work of the boys
now. Is there no getting him away out of that before he tells?"

"Knockowen's guarded like a fort, with a troop of horse quartered in
it."

"Dear, oh! Do the rest of the boys know of it?"

"Ay, and they've scattered. And I'm thinking that is what we'd best do,
in case Flanagan names names."

"You're roight," said the chief speaker, rising. "By the powers,
there'll be a big reckoning for all this when Tim comes home."

And they trooped out into the road.

All this was disturbing enough, and decided me to be early at my
appointment with his honour in the morning.

"Yet," said I to myself, "men wh