I am here to guide this Scottish knight, who is staying at Rathlin, a fugitive from their vengeance like yourself, and who is charged with a mission from the King of Scotland to your chiefs, whom he would fain induce to join in a rising against the power of the English." "He is welcome," the man who appeared to be the leader of the party replied, "and may he succeed in his object; but," he continued bitterly, "I fear that the chance is a small one.

The Norman foot is on our necks, and most of those who should be our leaders have basely accepted the position of vassals to the English king.

Still there are brave hearts yet in Ireland who would gladly rise did they see even a faint chance of success.

Hundreds are there who, like us, prefer to live the lives of hunted dogs in caves, in mountain fastnesses, or in the bogs, rather than yield to the English yoke.
Tell me your plans and whither you would go; and I will give you guides who know every foot of the country, and who can lead you to the western hills, where, though no open resistance is made, the English have scarce set foot.

There we generally find refuge; and `tis only at times, when the longing to see the homes of our childhood becomes too strong for us, that I and those you see--all of whom were born and reared between this and Coleraine--come hither for a time, when at night we can issue out and prowl round the ruins of the homes of our fathers." While this conversation had been going on, the others, seeing that the visit was a friendly one, had set to work, and bringing up driftwood from below, piled it round the little blaze which Ronald had commenced, and soon had a great fire lighted.