place I think you'll be safe in."

"I am altogether in your hands," replied M'Carthy, "and shall act as you
wish."

They then proceeded across the country for about two miles, keeping
up towards the mountainous district, after which they made a turn and
entered a deep valley, in whose lowest extremity stood a long, low
house.

"Now," said the stranger, "before we go in here, remember what I'm goin'
to say to' you. If any one--I mean a Whiteboy,"--here M'Carthy started,
struck by the peculiarity of the pronunciation--a circumstance which
by no means strengthened his sense, of security--"if any of them should
come across you and ask you for the pass, here it is. _What's the hour?_
Answer--_Very near the right one. Isn't it come yet?_ Answer--_The hour
is come, but not the man. When will he come?_ Answer--_He is within
sight_." He repeated these words three or four times, after which he and
M'Carthy entered the house.

"God save all here!" said the guide.

"God save you kindly, boys."

"Mrs. Cassidy," he continued, "here's poor fellow on his keepin' for
tithe business and although you don't know me, I know you well enough
to be sartin that you'll give this daicent boy a toss in a bed till
daybreak--an' a mouthful to ate if he should want it."

"Troth an' I will, sir; isn't one o' my poor boys in Lisnagola goal
for the same tithes--bad luck to them--that is for batin' one of the
vagabonds that came to collect them. Troth he'll have the best bed in my
house."

"And listen, Mrs. Cassidy; if any of us should happen to come here
to-night--although I don't think it's likely they will, still it's hard
to say, for the country's alive with with them--if any of them should
come here, don't let them know that this poor boy is in the house--do
you mind?"

"Ah, then, it would be a bad day or night either I wouldn't."

"Will you have anything to ate or dhrink," asked the guide of M'Carthy..

"Nothing," replied the other; "I only wish to get to bed."

"Come, then," said the colossal Whiteboy, "I'll show you where you're to
lie."

They accordingly left the kitchen, passed through a tolerably large
room, with two or three tables and several chairs in it, and entered
another, which was also of a good size. Here there was a bed, and
in this M'Carthy was to rest--if rest he could under a series of
circumstances so extraordinary and exciting.

"Now," said his guide, for such we must call him--"observe this," and
he brought