ew.

"These are all French," said he, after a brief pause.

"Every one of them," replied Mary, proudly; "and there's more coming
from the same place."

"And why can we not fight our own battles, without aid from France?"
said Mark, boldly. "If we really are worthy of independence, are we not
able to win it?"

"Because there's traitors among us," said Mary--replying before Lanty
could interpose--"because there's traitors that would turn again us if
we were not sure of victory; but when they see we have the strong hand,
as well as the good cause, they'll be sure to stand on the safe side."

"I don't care for that," said Mark. "I want no such allies as these.
I say, if we deserve our liberty, we ought to be strong enough to take
it."

"There's many think the same way as yourself," said Lanty, quietly. "I
heard the very words you said from one of the delegates last week. But
I don't see any harm in getting help from a friend when the odds is
against you."

"But I do; and great harm too. What's the price of the assistance?--tell
me that."

"Oh, make your mind easy on that score. The French hate the English,
whether they love us or no."

"And why wouldn't they love us," said Mary, half angry at such a
supposition, "and we all Catholics? Don't we both belong to the ould
ancient church? and didn't we swear to destroy the heretics wherever
we'd find them? Ay, and we will, too!"

"I'm with you, whatever come of it," said Mark, after a few seconds
of thought. "I'm with you; and if the rest have as little to live for,
trust me, they'll not be pleasant adversaries."

Overjoyed at this bold avowal, which consummated the success they
desired, they led Mark back into the cabin, and pledged, in a bumper,
the "raal O'Donoghue."

CHAPTER XXI. THE RETURN OF THE ENVOY.

Sir Marmaduke Travers and his daughter had passed a morning of great
uneasiness at the delay in Frederic's return. Noon came, and yet no
appearance of him. They wandered along the road, hoping to meet him,
and at last turned homeward with the intention of despatching a servant
towards Carrig-na-curra, fearing lest he should have missed his
way. This determination, however, they abandoned, on being told by a
countryman, that he had seen the horse young Travers rode still standing
at the gate of the "castle."

A feeling of curiosity to hear his son's account of the O'Donoghues,
mingled with the old man's excitement at his absence; and, as the day
decl