O'Brien's Bridge, or at Killaloe, into the county of Clare.

I feared, however, that both these passes were guarded by the prince's
forces, and resolved, if such were the case, not to essay to cross, for
I was not fitted to sustain a scrutiny, having about me, though pretty
safely secured, my commission from King James--which, though a dangerous
companion, I would not have parted from but with my life.

I settled, then, in my own mind, that if the bridges were guarded
I would walk as far as Portumna, where I might cross, though at a
considerable sacrifice of time; and, having determined upon this course,
I turned directly towards Killaloe.

I reached the foot of the mountain, or rather high hill, called
Keeper--which had been pointed out to me as a landmark--lying directly
between me and Killaloe, in the evening, and, having ascended some way,
the darkness and fog overtook me.

The evening was very chilly, and myself weary, hungry, and much in need
of sleep, so that I preferred seeking to cross the hill, though at some
risk, to remaining upon it throughout the night. Stumbling over rocks
and sinking into bog-mire, as the nature of the ground varied, I slowly
and laboriously plodded on, making very little way in proportion to the
toil it cost me.

After half an hour's slow walking, or rather rambling, for, owing to
the dark, I very soon lost my direction, I at last heard the sound of
running water, and with some little trouble reached the edge of a brook,
which ran in the bottom of a deep gully. This I knew would furnish
a sure guide to the low grounds, where I might promise myself that I
should speedily meet with some house or cabin where I might find shelter
for the night.

The stream which I followed flowed at the bottom of a rough and swampy
glen, very steep and making many abrupt turns, and so dark, owing more
to the fog than to the want of the moon (for, though not high, I believe
it had risen at the time), that I continually fell over fragments of
rock and stumbled up to my middle into the rivulet, which I sought to
follow.

In this way, drenched, weary, and with my patience almost exhausted, I
was toiling onward, when, turning a sharp angle in the winding glen, I
found myself within some twenty yards of a group of wild-looking men,
gathered in various attitudes round a glowing turf fire.

I was so surprised at this rencontre that I stopped short, and for a
time was in doubt whether to turn back or to acc