ead and wine. No one knew what troops there might be in the town.
It would not be safe to count on the support of the inhabitants if they
happened to have soldiers in their houses. The inns might be full of
officers. The shops might be in the hands of the royal troops.

"It's no use discussing the difficulties and dangers," said Donald at
last. "We've got to risk it. We can't fight all day on empty stomachs.
We'd fight badly if we did. I and Neal here will go into Antrim, we're
the least likely to be recognised. The rest of you are known men. We'll
bring you back something to eat."

At eight o'clock they set out, and reached the town just as the people
were beginning to open their doors. Donald Ward pressed some money into
Neal's hand.

"Go into the inn where we stopped," he said. "Get a couple of bottles
of wine and some cold meat if you can. I'll go on to the baker's. We'll
meet again opposite the church. If I'm not there in twenty minutes go
back without me; I'll wait that long for you. Walk in as if you owned
the shanty. There's nothing starts suspicion as quick as looking
frightened. Bluster a bit if they look crooked at you, and answer no
questions for anybody."

Neal did his best to follow the advice. But it is not easy for a man who
has slept two successive nights in the open, who has had no opportunity
of shaving, and who has crawled in ditches for several miles, to assume
the airs of an opulent and self-contented tourist. Neal was painfully
conscious that he must look like a disreputable tramp. Nevertheless he
squared his shoulders, held up his head, and jingled his money in
his pocket as he passed through the door. He called valiantly for the
master. A girl, tousle-headed and heavy-eyed, looking as if she, too,
had slept on a hillside or slept very little in bed, came to him. He
recognised her as the same who had waited on him and Donald when they
spent the night in the inn. She was sharp-sighted in spite of her
sleeplessness. She knew Neal.

"In there with you," she said, pointing to a door, "I'll get you what
you're after wanting. The dear knows there's broken meat in plenty here
the morn."

Neal entered the room. The table was littered with the remains of
breakfast. A large party had evidently been there and had gone. Neal
guessed that at least a dozen people had sat at the table. With his back
to the room, looking out of the window, stood a young man, booted and
spurred for riding, well dressed, we