Pushing up to the ruins of the smith's house the yeomen appeared engaged pretty nearly in the same manner as when Shawn had taken his last look of them. One party surrounded a thorn-bush parched by the recent blaze, to the knotted stem of which was tied Saunders Smyly's victim. The powerful shrieks of the sufferer had sunk into hoarse and feeble cries. His strength had become exhausted from the continuance of the punishment; and as at each infliction his face turned over his shoulder to meet that of his torturer, its expression was such as humanity would weep at, and almost such as misbecame a creature wearing the form of man.

Sir Thomas's heart sickened, but his usually mild nature also fired at the view. He quickly descended from his horse, and seizing Smyly by the throat-"Desist, scoundrel!" he cried; "the man can endure no more."

"Ballybreehoone cavalry! dhraw swords!" exclaimed Saunders, startled at the suddenness and energy of the assault; for, in truth, he was a very coward. His orders were obeyed, and Sir Thomas was rudely pushed away.

"Your captain," he demanded, "where is he ?" as the victim, gaining a moment's relief;

turned a mournfully imploring eye upon the Baronet, with, "Oh, Sir Thomas, save me, save me! an' bid 'em to bring me one little dhrop o' wather-the dhrooth is choakin' me!"

Sir Thomas's question was but rudely answered; the men pointed, however, to the group around the lime-tree, and thither he rushed to seek Captain Whaley.

But here a scene of surpassing horror awaited him. As he approached the tree, the figure which Shawn-a-Gow had seen slowly elevated, was for the second time let down, only half deprived of life, however, in order that Captain Whaley might, if possible, wring from the convulsed lips and bewildered senses of the victim, confessions regarding a conspiracy with which he had no connexion, and also regarding the place to which his father had recently fled. For the smith, when he returned from the hill, did not sit down by the side of his son.

After having been left alone at the stream in the dell, the boy had looked round to greet his mother; he saw her not. He arose, and went among the groups of villagers, inquiring for her. The trembling people informed him that she had turned back to her house, to secure some important papers Disobeying, or not remem

bering his father's commands to await his return without stirring, the affectionate and anxious lad set out, by the way all had come to the glen, in search of his mother. The moment he appeared in the village, the yeomen made him prisoner; and the reader knows the result.

The parent for whom he had unhesitatingly risked his life, now sat on the ground, near to him, as, at Sir Thomas's approach, he was a second time lowered to attend to the questions of Captain Whaley. Though Shawn-a-Gow had indeed heard shrieks, when her darling was first dragged to the tree, the mother did not now utter a cry or a groan. Her knees were crippled up to her mouth, her arms and clasped hands encircled them, and she gazed around with a vague and unspeculative eye, utterly silent. It was no wonder that her mind, never of a strong cast, should, at the sights she had seen, have quite failed her.

Captain Whaley was engaged in a critical examination of the lad's spasmed features, in order to ascertain whether or not the vital spark had sufficiently returned to permit of farther appeals to the senses and the understanding of his subject.

"He's gone in arnest now, Captain, I believe," said one of the men, while something like alarm tempered the grim smile that accompanied his words.

"No such thing," answered the Captain; "these Croppies have the lives of cats; it takes a long time to kill 'em."

Convulsive

His judgment proved correct. heavings agitated the boy's bosom ; his limbs quivered to the touch of returning life; a long moan escaped him; and when he was placed against the tree, slowly, and with seeming pain, his eyes opened, staring around wildly and haggardly, as if frightful visions met them at every glance. At this moment Sir Thomas Hartley came "Gracious God, Captain Whaley!" he cried, starting back; "is it by such acts as these you hope to bring back the wretched people to a sense of their duty."

.up.

"I require no interference from you, Sir Thomas," answered the Captain doggedly; "mind your own affairs; and I tould before, they will give you enough to do.”

you

"This is my affair, Sir; it is the affair of every man who claims kindred with humanity, or who sincerely wishes to keep the peasantry of the

country obedient to the laws, and faithful to their King, but you, Captain Whaley,—you urge them on to ferocious retaliation."

"Be d-d, Sir! do you threaten us?"

"I do not; I merely suggest to you what may be the natural consequences of such scenes, and such acts; and I declare it as my opinion, that the scene and acts which I now behold are sufficient to drive our whole County into insurrection."

"O-ho! you'll call up the whole County against us, will you, Sir Thomas? Bear that in mind, men; he promises an insurrection through the whole County of Wexford."

As Sir Thomas turned on his heel in disgust, Saunders Smyly ran up to the magistrate-captain, his scourge in his hand.

Well, Saunders, does the Croppy-hound give tongue, at last ?”

"He does, plase your honour;" touching the instrument to the peak of his helmet, by way of salute, "but I'll spake in your honour's ear."

"Be d-d! do you tell me so? Aha! I knew there was something in his budget-coming against us, you say, ten thousand strong? Well,