turned over
a few pages, I threw them aside as abominable trash, not fit for any
gentleman's eyes to rest on. They were such works as contributed to
prepare the way for the French Revolution. The steward brought me an
excellent dinner, and placed a bottle of claret on the table, of which,
however, I partook very moderately. I passed the afternoon as best I
could, now and then going on deck to have the pleasure of taking a look
at the _Liffy_, and hoping to see one of her boats passing. I
determined, should one pull by, to hail her and say who I was; for I was
afraid that Nettleship might suppose the brig had been lost, and that
the report of my death might, by ill-luck, reach Ballinahone. I
watched, however, in vain. As evening approached I expected that Dubois
and La Touche would return. Something kept them on shore; probably,
finding the calm continue, they were carrying out their intentions of
amusing themselves. At last darkness came on, and I went back into the
cabin. I should have said that the brig carried a small boat hoisted up
astern, but which was in a dilapidated condition, and considered not fit
to put into the water. As we had no carpenter on board able to repair
her, she was allowed to remain hoisted up. I had been in the cabin some
time, and I believe I must have dropped off into a doze, when I heard a
sound of blocks creaking, and presently there was a splash in the water.
Springing up, I looked out of one of the stern ports, which was open,
and could distinguish a boat just below me with a man in her, moving
round the quarter. At first I thought he was Larry, and then I felt
sure that Larry would not have taken a boat without first giving me
notice of his intentions. In less than a minute afterwards, however, he
poked his head into the cabin.

"Hwist, Mr Terence, it's just as I thought it would be," he whispered.
"Dan Hoolan and the rest are going to pull on shore. They have made the
watch below drunk, and they have seized the anchor watch and put them in
limbo. They fancy that if they can get away up the country, they'll be
safe, and I have a mind to go with them and pull the boat back, and take
you off. Keep a look-out of the cabin window, Mr Terence; maybe I'll
come under the counter, and you can squeeze through the port without
anybody on deck finding us out. Now I'm off."

Larry hurried out of the cabin, leaving me in a state of anxious doubt
as to whether he would succeed. I wa