, seemed to disport itself far up in the
very depths of the glowing sky. On looking again upon the earth they
perceived that this terrible circle was extending itself over a wider
circumference of country, marking every prominent object around them
with a dark blood--red tinge, and throwing those that were more remote
into a visionary but appalling relief.

"_Dhar Chriestha_," exclaimed Flanagan, "I have it; thim I spoke about
has paid Bodagh Buie the visit they promised him."

"Come round the hip o' the hill," said Connor, "till we see where it
really is; but I'll tell you what, Bartle, if you be right, woe betide
you! all the water in Europe wouldn't wash you free in my mind, of being
connected in this same Ribbon business that's spreading through the
country. As sure as that sky--that fearful sky's above us, you must
prove to me and other's how you came to know that this hellish business
was to take place. God of heaven! let us run--surely it couldn't be the
dwelling-house!"

His speed was so great that Bartle could find neither breath nor leisure
to make any reply.

"Thank God!" he exclaimed; "oh, thank God it's not the house, and there
lives are safe! but blessed Father, there's the man's whole haggard in
flames!"

"Oh, the netarnal villains!" was the simple exclamation of Flanagan.

"Bartle," said his companion, "you heard what I said this minute?"

Their eyes met as he spoke, and for the first time O'Donovan was struck
by the pallid malignity of his features. The servant gazed steadily upon
him, his lips slightly but firmly drawn back, and his eye, in which
was neither sympathy nor alarm, charged with the spirit of a cool and
devilish triumph.

Connor's blazed at the bare idea of his villainy, and, in a fit of manly
and indignant rage, he seized Flanagan and hurled him headlong to
the earth at his feet. "You have hell in your face, you villain!" he
exclaimed; "and if I thought that--if I did--I'd drag you down like a
dog, an' pitch you head--foremost into the flames!"

Bartle rose, and, in a voice wonderfully calm, simply observed, "God
knows, Connor, if I know either your heart or mine, you'll be sorry for
this treatment you've given me for no rason. You know yourself that, as
soon as I heard anything of the ill-will against the Bodagh, I tould it
to you, in ordher--mark that--in ordher that you might let him know it
the best way you thought proper; an' for that you've knocked me down!"

"Why, I beli