Here's the 'Castle!' long life to it, and may it never have occasion to read me a lecture for protecting a coward! Steady, men--shoulder oines!--ah, I'm a pearl before swine here:--upon my honor and conscience, I'm nothing else--hurra!" Whilst this manifestation of courage and loyalty was proceeding, his daughter had sent a little girl by a lonely and circuitous way across the fields to Longshot Lodge, with a message to the effect that they had prevailed upon Alick to stop for the night, and that he would also breakfast there the next morning.

The little girl's absence was very brief, and on her return, Alick had no hesitation in remaining.

The heroic magistrate, having taken another tumbler, began to get drowsy, and with some assistance, was prevailed on to go to bed, where he almost immediately fell asleep.

The two young men then got together all the arms and ammunition in the house, which, having made ready for an attack, they went also to bed, taking only their coats off, where for the present we leave them--but not asleep--and return to M'Carthy, for whose absence, no doubt, the reader is anxious that we should account..