e at
Rathmullan for provisions, bidding me return within three days, unless I
was signalled for earlier.

It was a Sunday morning when I found myself once more in the familiar
inn at Rathmullan. I soon found that my host, who took little note of
his customers, did not remember me; and he was civil enough now to one
of his Majesty's lieutenants, and eager to execute my commissions for
stores.

"Faith, sir," said he, "and it's some of us will be glad to see the luck
back, for it's gone entirely since the troubles began."

"You mean the smuggling?" said I, by way of drawing him out.

"That and other things. These are bad times for honest folk."

As I knew the fellow to be an arrant harbourer of smugglers and rebels,
I took his lamentation for what it was worth.

"Maybe you're a stranger to these parts, captain," said he presently,
giving me another step in the service.

"I've heard something of them," said I. "I met a young fellow called
Gallagher not long since, and he was talking of Lough Swilly."

"Tim was it, or Barry?" asked the landlord, with interest.

"Are there two of them, then?"

"Faith, yes; and one's as black as the other's white. Tim, bless him!
is a rale gentleman and a friend to the people."

"Which means a rebel, I suppose. And what of Barry?"

"Bedad, he's a white-livered sneak, and he'd best not show his face in
these parts. There's a dozen men sworn to have the life of him."

I laughed.

"It must have been Tim I spoke to, then, for he spoke well of you, and
said you had some excellent rum in your cellar. Maybe he knew more
about it than the Custom-House, eh?"

This put mine host in a flutter, and he vouched by all the saints in the
calendar he had not a drop in the house on which he had not paid duty.
And as Tim Gallagher had mentioned the rum, would I be pleased to try a
glass?

"Where is this Tim now?" I inquired, when the glasses were brought.

"'Deed, captain, that's more than I can tell you. He was wanted badly
by the boys here, who chose him their captain for the turn-out that's to
be; but it's said he's abroad on the service of the country, and we'll
likely see him back with the Frenchmen when they come."

"Ah, you're expecting the Frenchmen, are you? So are we. I may meet
this Tim Gallagher over a broadside yet."

"If you do, dear help you, for Tim's got a long arm, I warn you."

As I was about to go, I inquired,--

"By the way, you have a magistrate living s