CHAPTER TEN.
A NIGHT ATTACK.
I think, had the wind only favoured, I might have been tempted, notwithstanding the risk of it, to venture up in my boat as far as Kilgorman for the sake of getting a word with Tim, even if I could not hope to follow my quest up to the house itself.

But the breeze dropped slack before I was well clear of Rathmullan, and it took me many hours of hard pulling, with the chance aid of an occasional puff, to make as far as Knockowen; and by that time the dawn was beginning to show in the east, and my chance of passing undetected was gone.
Besides, the news I bore, and the importance of it to the little, unprotected family at Knockowen, would hardly allow of delay.

I slipped into the house and curled myself up in my corner, but not to sleep.
Supposing, as was likely, his honour was not back by night, it would be left to me to defend the house and the women as best I could.

And how was I to do it?
The first thing I saw when I arose at the summons of the cock was the white sails of the _Cigale_ in the distance standing out for the mouth of the lough.

So there was an end of Tim for the present.