nts.

I feared that, as he had now come into our neighbourhood,--if Kanimapo
was rightly informed,--he would attack Don Fernando's house, from which
he would obtain a richer booty than from ours or Castle Concannan. I
mentioned my fears to Tim.

"It may be, Masther Barry; but if he pays Castle Concannan a visit
first, it's my belief that we'll be after giving him such a drubbing
that he'll have no stomach for attacking any other place. We've a good
store of ammunition at our house, and your uncles have a still larger;
and with forty or well-nigh fifty true men inside the four walls, we
shall be able to keep the enemy employed as long as they venture to stay
within gun-shot."

On reaching the house, we found my mother and Norah mounted. Each of
them held one of the children; while the rest of the horses were laden
with the ammunition, and some of the more valuable property. I could
nowhere find the doctor, and asked what had become of him. Presently I
saw him returning with four blacks.

"I went away for an especial object," he said: "to hide my chests of
natural history. The rogues would have broken them open, expecting to
find them full of treasure; or should they burn the house, their
contents would have been destroyed: so I thought the best way would be
to conceal them in the woods, as I could not ask your father to convey
them."

I congratulated him on his forethought, and it then occurred to me to
ask what had become of Gab.

"Oh, the villain! I forgot all about him!" exclaimed the doctor. "He
still remains shut up. Should the banditti destroy the house, he will
be burned alive."

"Common humanity forbids that we should allow him to be thus put to
death. We must take him with us," observed my father.

"He would only meet with his deserts," remarked the doctor. "However,
as it won't do to let him be at liberty, I will bring him out."

The doctor hurried into the house, and quickly returned driving Gab
before him with a rope fastened round his wrists, so that, though he
could use his feet, he could not run away.

The order was now given to advance,--my mother and sister, with the
children, being placed in the centre, while our own servants and the
villagers marched on either side; for though we hoped to reach Castle
Concannan in safety, we could not tell at what moment Aqualonga and his
band might arrive.

My father cast a regretful look at his house, which he was thus leaving
to destruction