h the exception
of shape alone. The light was not sufficiently strong to give them
distinctness, and as a natural consequence, there was upon them a dim
gleamy look--a spectral character that was frightful, and filled
the mind with an impression that the meeting must have been one of
supernatural beings, if not an assemblage of actual devils, in visible
shape, coming to perpetrate on earth some deed of darkness and of
horror.

Among the whole six hundred there might have been about one hundred
muskets. Pistols, blunderbusses, and other arms there were in
considerable numbers, but these were not available for a portion, at
least, of the purposes which had brought them together.

After some preliminary preparation a light was struck, a candle lit,
around which a certain number stood, so as to expose it to as little
chance of observation as possible. A man then above the middle size,
compact and big-boned, took the candle in one hand, and brought it
towards a long roll which he held in the other. He wore a white hat with
a low crown, had large black whiskers which came to his chin, and ran
besides round his neck underneath. The appearance of this man, and of
those who surrounded the dim light which he held was, when taking their
black unnatural faces into consideration, certainly calculated to excite
no other sensations than those of terror mingled with disgust.

"Now," said he, in a strong rich brogue, "let every man fall into rank
according as his name is called out; and along with his name he must
also repate his number whatever it may be, up until we come to a
hundred, for I believe we have no more muskets. Where is Sargin Lynch?"

"Here I am," replied that individual, who enjoyed a sergeant's pension,
having fought through the peninsular campaign.

"Take the lists then and proceed," said the leader; "we have little time
to lose."

Lynch then called over a list until he had reached a hundred; every man,
as he answered to his name, also repeated his number; as for instance,

"Tom Halloran."

"Here--one!"

"Peter Rafferty!"

"Here--two!" and so on, until the requisite number was completed, and
every man as he responded fell also into rank.

Having thus got them into line, he gave them a rather hasty drill; and
this being over, hundred after hundred went through the same process
of roll-call and manoeuvre, until the task of the night was completed,
so-far, at least, as that particular duty was concerned. Oth