the troubled images presented by his own mind; and his brain was as full and as feverish, as it had been under the clouds of midnight.

He had spurred half the distance to Enniscorthy, when, at a point where a bosheen, or bridle-road, entered upon the main one, many voices suddenly assailed him with cries of "Stop! stop!-and, almost at the same instant, his bridle was seized, and a tumultuous crowd surrounded him.

His first motion was to snatch at the pistol in his bosom,-he had left his sword behind; but before he drew it out, one observant glance at his detainers informed him that, when they should become aware whom they had in their hands, they were not the description of persons from whom he might apprehend opposition in his course, or injury in life or limb. He had encountered, in fact, a formidable throng of insurgents, some mounted, but the greater number on foot, shouldering their tall pikes, and marching, or more properly hurrying and huddling on, while their women and children mixed promiscuously among them, compelled, as in all the ravages in the South was the case, by the burning of their cabins, or the terrors of

staying unprotected, at home, to share the fortunes, often in the very field of strife, of their husbands, fathers, and brothers.

"Stop me not, good friends!" cried Sir William, the instant he had made his observation. "I am the son-in-law of Sir Thomas Hartley, who has met death in your cause; your enemies are my enemies; stop me not! I am for life or death!"

"Indeed? Sir William Judkin," questioned one of the foremost of the horsemen.

"Yes, and, if I do not mistake, I answer Mr. Rourke."

"And that you do, my worthy friend; but who could hope to meet you at large? We heard you were a prisoner in Enniscorthy castle, and expected no less than an account of your elevation to the gallows this morning."

Mr.

"I escaped by a singular chance, Rourke; but do not now detain me; I have business of importance in Enniscorthy, which must be despatched before the morning brightens."

"Business of importance? how can that be? If you've escaped from the prison, out of which your worthy father-in-law has been led to his murder, what business can you have with any of his murderers ?"

"My wife is in the town, in the

of my power

enemies and her's; I am spurring singly to brave them, and rescue her or fall in the attempt."

"Does your head go right, man?"

"Scarcely, scarcely; but this must be attempted."

"Why, your servant, who is in custody in the town, has informed against you as a Croppy."

"Ay, Sir!" exclaimed Sir William; "accused me of disloyalty ?" and he stopped and gazed intently forward, as if pursuing a sudden thought to its goal.-" The traitor rascal!" he continued, in less agitation, "but if I can reach him, he will meet his deserts. Tell me, tell me, Mr. Rourke, can you, will you, befriend me, and let me try to serve you?"

"Speak your wishes, Sir William."

"Give me a band of brave fellows, and I will storm and win Enniscorthy for your cause."

"Your hand upon it, Sir William: by the life! here we are, a reinforcement proceeding to join the main body assembled with that very intent; and glad we will be to have a dashing young fellow, like yourself, engaged in the affair."

"I am with you then," replied the desperate

man, with an air of thoughtless determination, as if he but grasped at the most palpable means of rescuing his mistress and bride: and when his resolution was announced by the priest, the shout which escaped the disorderly throng, now once more in motion, told the great value they attached to the acquisition they had made.

"How proceeds our cause, Mr. Rourke? I have heard little or nothing about it," said the Baronet, as they continued their march.

"Two considerable bodies of Wexford patriots have assembled," answered the clerical soldier.

"Where? in what positions ?"

"Upon two of the many rocky and barren eminences which form remarkable features of our county, whence they can view the approach of an enemy at a good distance, and, in case of attack, have some advantage of ground: a good plan, by the life! and one we would all do well to keep in view;-and they call their positions camps, Sir William, though, to tell the blessed truth, little resembling the military station so denominated; for the poor fellows spend day and night on those hills, with no covering but the canopy of heaven: to be sure, the weather is as fine and as favourable as if it

came to them upon the prayers of the whole church."

"But are your two divisions quite inactive ?"

"No, God forbid! they sally down, and run about the country, whenever it's quite convanient, taking some revenge, at last, upon whatever Orange house comes in the way; at the same time that the Orange yeomen are burning their desolate cabins, or shooting or bayoneting on the hearth-stones, or by the road-side, such timid friends as have not turned out with the main bodies, or such old men as were not able to turn out; so that, by the life! it's tit for tat between 'em."

"But surely this is a very petty and undecisive mode of warfare ?"

"There's something else along with it. One of the armies I spoke of, is posted on the principal eminence in the county, about twelve miles north-east of Enniscorthy town; the other on the hill of Owlard, four miles to its east. Yesterday morning, the first position I'm telling you of, was approached by a force of yeomen cavalry; and as the poor boys cannot yet be called much better than a mob, in point of discipline, they yielded to the terror armed horsemen always produce amongst a mob, and,