ed good-by passed between
the others, and Darby began to descend the stairs cautiously, while the
little child went before with a candle. As the street door was opened, I
could perceive that a car and horse stood in waiting, accompanied by two
men, who, the moment they saw me, sprang forward to Darby's assistance,
and helped to place me on the car. M'Keown was soon beside me, and
supporting my head upon his shoulder, he contrived to hold me in a
leaning position, giving me at the same time the full benefit of the
cool breeze, which already refreshed and restored me.

The vehicle now moved on in darkness and in silence. At first our pace
was slow, but it gradually quickened as we passed along the quay; for as
such I recognized it by the dull sound of the river near us. The bright
lamps of the greater thoroughfares soon made their appearance; and as
we traversed these, I could mark that our pace slackened to a walk,
and that we kept the very middle of the wide street, as if to avoid
observation. Gradually we emerged from this, and, as I heard by the roll
of the wheels, reached the outskirts of the town. We had not been many
minutes there when the horse was put to his speed, and the car whirled
along at a tremendous rate. Excepting a sense of weight and stiffness
in the side, I had no painful feeling from my wound; while the rapidity
with which we passed through the air imparted a sensation of drowsiness
far from unpleasant.

In this state I scarcely was conscious of what passed about me. Now and
then some occasional halt, some chance interruption, would momentarily
arouse me, and I could faintly hear the sound of voices; but of what
they spoke I knew nothing. Darby frequently questioned me, but my utmost
effort at reply was to press his hand. By times it would seem to me as
though all I felt were but the fancies of some sick dream, which the
morning should dispel and scatter. Then I thought that we were flying
from an enemy, who pressed hotly on us, and gained at every stride;
a vague, shadowy sense of some horrible event mingling with all, and
weighing heavily on my heart.

As the time wore on, my senses became clearer, and I saw that we were
travelling along the seaside. The faint gray light of breaking day
shed a cold gleam across the green water, which plashed with a mournful
cadence on the low, flat shore. I watched the waves as they beat with a
heavy sough amid the scattered weeds, where the wild cry of the curlew