mily. How he had found out that my father had been engaged in the
Irish rebellion I could not discover. He after this, for some time,
fought very shy of me, though from that day forth he gave up bullying,
and we became very good friends. Indeed, by the wise management of the
head-master, our school was really a very happy one, though fights
occasionally took place in spite of the punishment which we knew would
be inflicted were we discovered infringing its laws.

I had been there rather more than four years, and was now nearly sixteen
years of age, when one day the doctor sent for me.

"I am sorry that I am going to lose you, Desmond," he said. "I have
just received a letter from your uncle, desiring me to send you up to
town immediately, as he wishes you to accompany him to South America,
for which country he purposes forthwith setting out. I feel it my duty
to advise you as to your future conduct. The native inhabitants have, I
understand, for some years been engaged in a fearful struggle with the
Spaniards to become independent of the mother-country; and by the last
advices I see that it still continues. You may very probably be tempted
to take part with the insurgents; but I would urge you to remain
neutral. I do not enter into the point as to whether people have a
right to fight for their independence--and from what I know of the
Spaniards I fear their rule of their American provinces has been a most
tyrannical and unjust one; but I do know that those who draw the sword
are liable to perish by the sword, and I should be very sorry to hear
that such has been your fate."

"I am much obliged to you, sir, for your kind wishes," I answered, and I
felt the blood mantling my brow as I spoke; "but I cannot promise to sit
at home among the women and children when those I love are hazarding
their lives on the field of battle. I have heard enough of the way the
Spaniards have treated the inhabitants of Venezuela and New Granada to
make my heart burn with indignation and a desire to emancipate the
country my father has adopted from the cruel yoke pressing on it; and if
I am called on to fight in the cause, I cannot refuse through fear of
risking my life."

The doctor smiled, looking on me still as a boy.

"I suspect, Desmond, that the reason you have been sent for is, that you
may assist in protecting your mother and sisters should the older
members of your family be engaged elsewhere. Such I gather from the
ten