little encouragement of this sort he cheered him up, and the
dinner passed off agreeably enough; but still my father could see that
his friend was by no means at his ease, and at every time the door
opened he would start with a degree of surprise that augured anxiety
of some coming event. From these and other signs of uneasiness in
his manner, my father drew his own conclusions, and with a quick
intelligence of look communicated his suspicions to my mother, who was
herself a keen and shrewd observer.

"'Do you think, Matty,' said he, as they sat over their wine, that I
could find a bottle of the old green seal if I was to look for it in the
cellar? It has been upwards of forty years there, and I never touch it
save on especial occasions; but an old friend like Hammond deserves such
a treat.'

"My father fancied that Hammond grew paler as he thus alluded to their
old friendship, and he gave my mother a rapid glance of his sharp eye,
and, taking the cellar key, he left the room. Immediately outside the
door, he hastened to the stable, and saddled and bridled a horse, and,
slipping quietly out, he rode for the sea-coast, near the Skerries. It
was sixteen miles from Dublin, but he did the distance within the hour.
And well was it for him that he employed such speed! With a liberal
offer of money and the gold watch he wore, he secured a small
fishing-smack to convey him over to France, for which he sailed
immediately. I have said it was well that he employed such speed; for,
after waiting with suppressed impatience for my father's return from the
cellar, Hammond expressed to my mother his fears lest my father might
have been taken ill. She tried to quiet his apprehensions, but the very
calmness of her manner served only to increase them. 'I can bear this no
longer,' cried he, at last, rising, in much excitement, from his chair;
'I must see what has become of him!' At the same moment the door
was suddenly flung open, and an officer of police, in full uniform,
presented himself. 'He has got away, sir,' said he, addressing Hammond;
'the stable-door is open, and one of the horses missing.'

"My mother, from whom I heard the story, had only time to utter a 'Thank
God!' before she fainted. On recovering her senses, she found herself
alone in the room. The traitor Hammond and the police had left her
without even calling the servants to her aid."

"And your father,--what became of him?" asked the skipper, eagerly.

"He arrived