After taking part in the operations in Kerry, Captain Davenant's troop
returned to Limerick, around which city the greater part of the Irish
army were still encamped.

Chapter 13: A Dangerous Mission.

"Walter," Captain Davenant said to his son one day, when he returned from
a council in which he had taken part, at the quarters of General
Sarsfield, "I have a mission for you in Dublin. It is necessary, in the
first place, to communicate with some of our friends there, and in the
second to ascertain, as far as we can, the plans of the enemy during the
next campaign. There are few of us here who would not be readily
recognized in Dublin; therefore, when there seemed a difficulty in
selecting someone to undertake the duty, I said that I thought you would
be likely to succeed better than most.

"You have not been any time in Dublin, and I question whether a single
person there would be likely to recognize you. You will, of course, be in
disguise, and your youth will be in your favour. I don't say there is no
danger in such an undertaking, but I do not think the risk is greater
than that which you have frequently run. I was sure you would readily
undertake the mission, and I thought I could answer for your intelligence
as well as your discretion."

"I will undertake it, certainly, father, if you think me capable of it,"
Walter said. "It is dull enough here, now that the wet weather has
thoroughly set in, and I shall really like the adventure. When am I to
set out?"

"Tomorrow. Your instructions, and the letters you are to carry, will be
drawn up tonight, and you can set off after breakfast. I shall ride with
you, with a part of the troop, until you are past the point where you are
likely to fall in with any body of the enemy's cavalry. After that you
will, of course, shift for yourself. We think you had best travel on
foot, dressed as a peasant. In that way you will attract no attention,
and pass through towns occupied by the enemy without questioning."

"I think, father, I will take Larry with me, if you have no objection. He
would be the real thing, and could do most of the talking. Besides,
sometimes it is very useful to have someone to send with a message, or to
put on guard when one went in anywhere."

"Take him, by all means, Walter, and, indeed, I agree with you that you
may find him very useful."

Accordingly, the following morning Walter and Larry, dressed as young
peasants, mounted, and with the