opose that you two shall be astir half an hour
before the troops; and that you shall, before any one else is moving,
go along the path leading to the cliffs, stop a couple of hundred
yards beyond the village, and arrest any one who may come along."

"Yes, I think that will be a very good plan," Lieutenant Desmond said.
"No one shall pass us, I warrant."

"Don't forget to take your pistols; it is likely enough you may have
to use them before the day is over. These scoundrels know they fight
with ropes round their necks, and are almost sure to resist
desperately. Now we will have one glass more, and then be off to bed.
The day will begin to break about seven, and I will impress upon the
landlord the urgent necessity of calling you both by five."

"I suppose we are to stay where we take up our station till you come
along with the company, O'Connor, whether we take any prisoners or
not?"

"Yes, that will be the best way, Desmond. If you have caught any one I
will send them back with a guard to the village. No, it would not do
for you to move before we come up, for there is no saying what time a
messenger will go along. They may not take the alarm until just as we
are starting, or even until they see which road we are taking. By the
way, you may as well take that pair of handcuffs the sergeant has left
on the table with you, otherwise if you do get a prisoner you would
have to keep your hands on his collar, or he might make a bolt any
moment. There is nothing like being on the safe side.

"You had better take up your post at some place where your figures
will not be seen by any one coming along the road till he is close to
you, or instead of coming straight along he might make a bolt round;
and some of these fellows can run like hares. We must not let the
smallest chance escape us. If we succeed in the affair we shall get no
end of credit, beside the satisfaction of freeing the country of as
desperate a band of ruffians as any that infest it, and that's saying
a good deal. Now, here's success to our work to-morrow." O'Connor
drained his glass and placed it on the table, and then rising and
taking up his sword made his way to his room, his companions at once
following his example.

CHAPTER XII.

THE CAVE AMONG THE ROCKS.

At five o'clock on the following morning Ralph was roused by the
landlord, who brought him a candle; he lost no time in dressing,
buckled on his sword, looked to the priming of the double-b