atter. Was it his fancy--he was far from
nervous--or were the men beginning to look impatiently at one another?
Was it his fancy, or were they beginning to press more closely on their
prisoners, as if they sought a quarrel? He imagined that he read in one
man's eyes the question "When?" and in another's the question "Now?"
And a third, he thought, handled his weapon in an ominous fashion.

Colonel John was a brave man, inured to danger and trained to
emergencies, one who had faced death in many forms. But the lack, of
arms shakes the bravest, and it needed even his nerve to confront
without a quiver the fate that, if his fears were justified, lay before
them: the sudden, violent death, and the black bog-water which would
swallow all traces of the crime. But he did not lose his firmness or
lower his crest for a moment.

By-and-by the track, which for a time had ascended, began to run
downward. The path grew less sound. The mist, which was thicker than
before, and shut them in on the spot where they walked, as in a world
desolate and apart, allowed nothing to be seen in front; but now and
again a ragged thorn-tree or a furze bush, dripping with moisture,
showed ghostlike to right or left. There was nothing to indicate the
point they were approaching, or how far they were likely to travel;
until the Colonel, peering keenly before them, caught the gleam of
water. It was gone as soon as seen, the mist falling again like a
curtain; but he had seen it, and he looked back to see what Og was
doing. He caught him also in the act of looking over his shoulder. Was
he making sure that they were beyond the chance of interruption?

It might be so; and Colonel John wheeled about quickly, thinking that
while O'Sullivan Og's attention was directed elsewhere, he might take
one of the other men by surprise, seize his weapon and make a fight for
his life and his servant's life. But he met only sinister looks, eyes
that watched his smallest movement with suspicion, a point ready
levelled to strike him if he budged. And then, out of the mist before
them, loomed the gaunt figure of a man, walking apace towards them.

The meeting appeared to be as little expected by the stranger as by
Og's party. For not only did he spring aside and leave the track to
give them a wider berth, but he went by warily, with his feet in the
bog. Some word was cried to him in the Erse, he answered, for a moment
he appeared to be going to stop. Then he passed on an