comely son had so unceremoniously reduced her.

During dinner at Hartley Court, Sir Thomas did not make an allusion to the occurrences of the day. The whole conversation, which he nearly engrossed, referred to the unsettled state of the country. His son-in-law elect, respecting the delicate and high-minded feeling that, until all parties stood as they had stood before, would not even name the heiress of Hartley Court, or utter a word which might bring in her name, demeaned himself with a becoming gravity of manner, highly to his advantage in the observant eyes of his host. They separated at a reasonable hour; and the unusually cordial and lengthened pressure of their hands, upon the threshold, was the sole interchange, during the evening, of the thoughts and sentiments that absorbed both.

Slowly, and with none of his usual elasticity of bound, did Sir William seat himself in his saddle. Having passed the avenue-gate of Hartley Court, the reins fell from his hands, his head drooped on his breast, and his horse paced soberly towards home.

At a short distance on, the road was bound

ed to the right by a copse-wood of oak that sloped down a hill to the Slaney's brink; and to the left, a precipitate acclivity, also thickly clothed with wood, made shadow across the way, even at noon, and now trebled the darkness of, considering the time of the year, a very dark night. Through the almost rayless pass, the animal slackened his pace. Suddenly he plunged backward, and ere his master could snatch up the bridle from his neck, a pair of colossal arms dragged him to the road, and there encircled his body with a grasp of iron.

"Unloose me, villain !" Sir William cried in vain. And vain too were his struggles, his writhings, and bendings, to get free. The bulky carcase of his captor crushed closer against him, at every effort; and the giant arms, passing over his, pinioned him altogether.

"Hould your grip, boy, an' the job is done," said a voice, of which some of the cadences were not unfamiliar to him. Again he struggled, and again the clasping muscles closed tighter round his person. The broad chest heaved quickly against his; the laborious grinding of teeth was at his ear; and the man's chin pressed and forced down his shoulder, until Sir

William almost lost the power of motion of any kind.

In a few seconds, he felt other hands catching his wrists; and once more he vainly writhed through every joint, as he asked—" What is the reason of this outrage ?-why am I thus seized

on ?"

"Thonomon duoul! have you id ?” said the voice he had heard before, evidently not speaking to him.

The single monosyllable "Yes," came softly in answer.

"On wid it, quick then!" and Sir William felt his hands forced behind him. Horrible fears inspired nature with a last effort: he raised himself upon his toes, and, with all his strength, pushed forward. The heavy carcase that pressed him almost to suffocation, fell back, with a dead sound, upon the road; but he fell along with it; and still the herculean arms hugged him desperately. And in this situation, notwithstanding continued struggles, Sir William's hands were finally tied behind his back, and his legs also manacled.

"Let go now, my boy; your work is done clane," he heard growled into the ear of the fel

low by whom he was held; and instantly the grasp became loosened, and his first captor, allowing him to roll over on the road, slowly

arose.

66 An' I may go home to my said or questioned this person.

mother now ?"

"Go your ways, boy, an' snap your fingers at Moya Critha.”

"Oh, the Lord be praised!" and Sir William saw the Colossus shamble away from the

scene.

"Explain this outrage ?" he then cried to the worthies who stood over him.

"Hould your tongue, you spawn o' the duoul! you'll know id afore day-dawn, an' to your cost."

As the speaker ceased, he gave a shrill whistle, and he and his companion stood silently a few paces from their captive. "I perceive you intend something more than robbery."

"An' you may swear that. Bud, Sam, we'll take the offer; come, show us the linin' o' your pockets."

There was a chuckling assent; and as they stooped over him, Sir William, notwithstanding the dense gloom, and even the precautions the men had taken to disguise their features,

thought he recognized a rather well-known countenance. Their plundering search ended, and his suspicions fearfully increased.

"An', so, the duoul have you! would nothin' in the world sarve you bud to come here a-coortin' ?”

"Is that my offence ?"

"Hah! by the livin' farmer, you'll soon know it is, if a grave can be dug deep in Dunbrody."

"Villain! Now I know your motive, or, rather, the motive of your employer, Talbot !"

"Don't bother no more; wait till you larn. Sam, where 's that young thief iv a cadger? sleepin' on the car maybe ; so I'll whistle again.”

He sounded another shrill call; listened, and heard it answered.-" Aye; he's commin' at last. Is the other rope ready?"

66

Ready noosed, by the deed," he was answered, in a mild under-tone.

"Bud stop," said Bill, again listening; “there 's no car afther the horse that's comin' on us!"

"Hallo-a! Where are you?" shouted stentorian lungs at a little distance; and, almost instantly, a horseman trotted briskly up.

"Hell an the duoul!" muttered Bill.