"You have not been any time in Dublin, and I question whether a single person there would be likely to recognize you. You will, of course, be in disguise, and your youth will be in your favour. I don't say there is no danger in such an undertaking2, but I do not think the risk is greater than that which you have frequently run. I was sure you would readily undertake the mission, and I thought I could answer for your intelligence as well as your discretion3."
"I will undertake it, certainly, father, if you think me capable of it," Walter said. "It is dull enough here, now that the wet weather has thoroughly4 set in, and I shall really like the adventure. When am I to set out?"
"Tomorrow. Your instructions, and the letters you are to carry, will be drawn5 up tonight, and you can set off after breakfast. I shall ride with you, with a part of the troop, until you are past the point where you are likely to fall in with any body of the enemy's cavalry6. After that you will, of course, shift for yourself. We think you had best travel on foot, dressed as a peasant. In that way you will attract no attention, and pass through towns occupied by the enemy without questioning."
"I think, father, I will take Larry with me, if you have no objection. He would be the real thing, and could do most of the talking. Besides, sometimes it is very useful to have someone to send with a message, or to put on guard when one went in anywhere."
"Take him, by all means, Walter, and, indeed, I agree with you that you may find him very useful."
Accordingly, the following morning Walter and Larry, dressed as young peasants, mounted, and with the troop started from the camp. No signs of any parties of the enemy were seen during their ride, and after proceeding8 some five-and-twenty miles, they dismounted, and with a hearty9 farewell from Captain Davenant, and a cheer from the men, they started on foot.
The letters of which Walter was the bearer had been written on very small pieces of paper, and had been sewn up inside the collar of his coat. His instructions, as to the persons on whom he was to call, had been learned by heart and the paper destroyed. Larry was in high glee at taking part in the adventure, and laughed and jested as they made their way along.
They avoided the main roads running to Waterford and Dublin, as they would probably have fallen in with parties of troops journeying west, and might have been shot out of pure wantonness, besides being exposed to the risk of being asked awkward questions. They slept at peasants' houses, where they were everywhere hospitably10 received, as soon as their hosts assured themselves that they were Catholics. Larry was the principal spokesman, for although Walter, like all the Catholic gentry12, spoke11 the native language, he was not so fluent as his follower13, to whom it came naturally, as, although the peasantry in the neighbourhood of Dublin were all able to speak English, they always conversed14 in Irish among themselves. Larry gave out that he and his companion had been serving in the army, and had obtained leave to pay a visit to their native village, near Dublin, for the winter.
"I doubt whether you will find much of it standing15," one of their hosts said, "for I hear that county Wicklow, and all round Dublin, has been wasted by them foreign devils in Dublin. The curse of Cromwell be upon them! But we'll be aven wid them yet. They say next spring a big French army is coming, and they will set the Germans running so that they won't stop till the last man gets on board ship, and ould Ireland is free from them, the murthering haythens. But you must be careful, lads, and not let out to a sowl that ye have been wid the boys in the west, or it's short work they would make of you."
In every case they were asked questions about sons or relations with the army, and were often able to give news as to where the regiments16 to which they belonged were stationed, and of the part they had taken during the last year's fighting. News travelled slowly, and was circulated principally by means of travelling peddlers, who hawked17 their wares18 from village to village, and reported what was going on in the outside world. Thus, although the peasants were aware of the general details of the fighting which had taken place, they knew nothing of the part which the various regiments had borne in it. Reading and writing were rare accomplishments19, and the post was altogether interrupted, so that many remained in suspense20, from the beginning to the end of the war, as to the fate of those who had left them to take part in it.
The friends did not make long journeys, for Walter was unaccustomed to walk barefooted, and his feet at first were very sore and tender; but by the time they reached Dublin they had hardened, and he was able to stride along by the side of Larry, who, until he started with him for the war, had never had on a pair of shoes in his life.
As soon as they reached Dublin, they made their way to the quarters inhabited by the working classes. There Walter purchased shoes, and made such alteration21 in their attire22 as to do away with their country aspect, and give them the appearance of two young fellows belonging to the town. Having hired a room, and made these changes, they sallied out.
The streets were thronged23 with foreign troops, who behaved as if in a conquered country, swaggering along the streets, pushing the citizens out into the middle of the road, abusing the tradesmen who refused to part with their goods at nominal24 prices, making insolent25 remarks to any woman who hurried past them, and behaving with a freedom and license26 which showed how completely all bonds of discipline were relaxed.
"They look mighty27 bould," Larry whispered, "but it's mighty little of it they show when they see the Irish horse advancing agin them. No one would think, to see them now, as they were the men we saw spurring away for the bare life on Boyne Water."
"No, indeed, Larry," agreed Walter, who was furious at what he saw. "I wish we had a few squadrons of Sarsfield's horse here. We would clear the street of these vermin in no time. But you must be careful, Larry. Whatever happens, we must not get into any brawl28. We have a mission to perform, and must not think of ourselves."
"I will remember it, yer honour."
It was well that Larry had been warned, for the next moment a German soldier passing brushed against him, and then, with a savage29 oath, turned and struck him to the ground. Larry sprung up with his eyes blazing with passion, but he caught Walter's warning "Larry," and, hanging his head, moved away without a word.
"That's right, Larry," Walter said approvingly. "I was afraid for a moment that you were going to spring at that fellow. If you had you would have been in a lockup in five minutes, and as you could have given no good account of yourself, there you might have remained for weeks."
"If ever I meet that fellow outside Dublin," Larry muttered savagely30, "I will pay him for the blow he gave me."
Seeing the risk of another encounter of the same kind, Walter led the way down to the bank of the river, and there they remained, chatting, until it became dusk.
"Now, Larry, I must begin my work. My first visit is to be to a merchant, who lives in a street close to where the ships discharge. While I am in, do you sit down on a doorstep near, and keep a sharp lookout31 to see whether the house is watched. It is not likely, but all the better class of Catholics who remain in the town are regarded with suspicion."
Walter had no trouble in finding the house he was in search of, and, knocking at the door, he told the servant who opened it that he wanted to see the master.
"You must come in business hours," the man said. "He can't see you now."
"I have a letter to him, from his friend Mr. Fitzgerald of Waterford. If you tell him that, I think he will see me now."
"That's all right," the man said. "He tould me if anyone came with a letter from that gentleman, I was to show him up."
So saying, he led him upstairs.
"Here's a young man, your honour, with the letter you tould me about, from Mr. Fitzgerald."
"Show him in," a voice said; and Walter entered a sitting room. The gentleman who was with him said nothing, until the door was closed behind him. Then he asked:
"Has the ship come in?"
To which Walter replied:
"She is sailing slowly, but she will come."
"That's right," the merchant said, rising. "Where do you come from?"
"I am Walter Davenant, a cornet in my father's troop of horse, and I have come direct from Limerick. I have a letter for you, in my collar."
He pulled off his coat, the merchant handed him a knife, he ripped open the collar, and, taking out the papers concealed32 there, picked out that intended for Mr. O'Brian, which was not directed, but had only a slight mark upon it to distinguish it from the others. The merchant read it in silence.
"I am disappointed, Mr. Davenant," he said, as he finished it. "I had hoped that a dash would be made at Dublin this winter; but the general says that it has been decided33 to fight one more campaign on the defensive34, and that in the autumn, when the French arrive, there will be a general advance. Now, I am ready to answer any question you are instructed to ask."
"In the first place, sir, how many men do you think would be ready to join in any rising in Dublin?"
"It would all depend upon whether an Irish army was advancing in this direction. In that case, some seven or eight thousand men would rise. But unless, there were a hope of early assistance, I do not think that above a thousand could be relied on. I have about that number on my list. They, as you see, could do nothing unassisted. There are three or four thousand troops here, and the Protestant mob who would join them would number seven or eight thousand, at the very least. Therefore, any attempt to rise in the face of such odds35, unless after a crushing defeat of William's troops, would be out of the question. But, as I said, if an army were marching on Dublin, the Protestants would be thinking more of taking to their ships than fighting, and all the Catholics in the city would then join the movement."
"So I could, a year ago," Mr. O'Brian said; "but the constant persecution37 and ill treatment of the Catholics have caused large numbers of them to leave the town. Many of the younger and more determined38 men have made their way west and joined the army. I fear that the numbers I have given are quite as many as can be relied upon."
"The general was in hopes," Walter said, "that a diversion might have been caused in the spring, by a rising in Dublin, which would, even if unsuccessful, compel the Dutch general to keep a large force here."
"It might have been done, six or eight months ago," Mr. O'Brian said; "but the spirit of the people here has been very much broken, as well as their numbers diminished. But you can rely upon it, that if anything like a general rising can be got up, we will do our share here. With but a thousand men I can rely on, I feel that any open insurrection would be hopeless; but we could fire the city at a score of points, night after night, and so alarm the citizens that they would insist on a considerable force being kept here for their protection, and this would aid our friends outside. I know nothing as to what is being done there, I have only charge of the matter inside the city."
"I am well aware of that, sir, and have to call upon those who have the threads of the movement, throughout the country, in their hands. I only arrived today, and came to you first, in order that I might know how matters stand here before I see the others. I shall, of course, call again upon you before I leave."
After leaving Mr. O'Brian, Walter visited the houses of several others to whom he bore letters. The accounts of the feeling throughout the country were more encouraging than those which he had received from Mr. O'Brian. The hatred39 of the invaders40 was greater than ever, and the peasantry in all parts were in a state of sullen41 desperation. Indeed, the enemy could nowhere move, in small parties, without the certainty of being attacked. The pressing need was arms. A great part of the peasants who owned guns had already joined the army, and the rest possessed42 no weapons beyond roughly-made pikes, and scythes43 fixed44 on long handles. These were formidable weapons in a sudden attack on any small party, but they would not enable the peasants to cope, with any chance of success, against considerable bodies of troops, especially if provided with artillery45.
The persons whom Walter saw were in communication with the disaffected46 in all parts of the country, and agreed in the opinion that a general rising should be delayed, until some striking success was obtained by the Irish army, when the whole country would rise and fall upon the enemy wherever met with. The plans for a rising having been discussed and arranged, after several interviews, at some of which most of the leaders of the movement were present, Walter prepared to start again for the camp, with the news that the first Irish victory would be followed by a rising throughout the country, aided by great conflagrations47, if not by a serious movement in Dublin.
The negotiations48 had occupied over a fortnight. During the first ten days, Larry, who always kept watch outside the house Walter was visiting, reported that nothing whatever had occurred that was in the slightest degree suspicious. Then he told Walter, on his retiring to their lodgings49, that he fancied their footsteps were followed.
"Do you think so, Larry?"
"I do, yer honour," Larry replied earnestly. "Three times, when you were in the house, the same man came along the street, and each time I saw him look up at the windows, and somehow I felt that he was following us on our way back. I looked round several times, and each time I fancied I saw a fellow slip into a doorway51."
"That is serious, Larry. You don't think anyone in this house can have a suspicion of us?"
"Not they, yer honour. They all think it's just as you say; that the village was burned, and we have come to look for work in the city. Besides, if it was anyone here, he wouldn't have to take the trouble to track us back."
"That's true enough, Larry. No; if there is a suspicion, it must be from some spy in the house of one of the gentlemen I have visited. We know that the leading Catholics are all suspected, and some of the servants may have been bribed52 to report everything which takes place in the house. We must be very careful; and let us arrange this, Larry, that if there is trouble and we get separated, we will neither of us come back to our lodging50, but will meet at that burned-out village three miles along the western road. If anything happens to me, go to the first house I went to, and see Mr. O'Brian, and tell him that I have been taken. If there is anything to be done he will do it. If not, make your way straight back to Limerick. I have told you exactly what has been arranged with people I have seen, and you can tell my father, who will report to the general. But whatever you do, don't stop here with any idea of getting me out of their hands. The most important thing is that they should know, at Limerick, exactly what has been arranged. If you remain here, you would almost certainly be caught also, for, as the man who has followed us will be aware that we are together, a search will at once be made for you. So mind, my orders are, that if you see I am in trouble you are at once to set out for Limerick. If you think that I may manage to get away, you are also to leave at once, but are to wait for me, for twelve hours, at the village three miles out. If I do not come by the end of that time, it will be that I have been taken, and you are to go straight on."
It was on the evening when all the arrangements were finally settled, that a loud knocking was heard at the door of the house where eight of the principal persons in the affair were assembled. One of them looked out of the window, and announced that the street was full of soldiers. All leaped to their feet, and drew their swords.
"It is of no use to resist, gentlemen," Walter said. "Do you put bottles and glasses on the table, and sit down quietly. I will try to escape. If they find you alone, they can prove nothing against you, and if I get safe off, you also are safe. Is there any way out on to the roof? No doubt the house is watched behind."
"There is a trapdoor," the gentleman, in whose house they were, said, and led the way upstairs at full speed. As he was unbolting the trap, Walter ran into a bedroom and seized an armful of blankets, then ran up the ladder to the trapdoor, and stepped out on to the roof. The door was closed behind him, and he heard the bolts drawn, and then his host ran downstairs and told the frightened servants to open the doors, which had so far resisted the attack from without. Headed by an officer, the soldiers rushed in.
"What means this violence?" the gentleman asked. "Why is my house broken into in this way?"
"I arrest you, and all who are in this house," the officer said, "on the charge of treason."
"Treason!" the gentleman said, coolly. "You will find no treason here. I have a few friends upstairs, who are cracking a bottle of port; but that is not, so far as I am aware, against the law."
The officer ran upstairs to the room where the others were standing, as if surprised at the tumult53, round the table, on which were bottles and half-filled glasses.
"Take the names of all these persons," the officer said to the sergeant54 who followed him, "and then convey them in custody55 to the castle."
"There is no trouble about their names," the host said. "All are well known and peaceful citizens, as can be testified by any magistrate56."
"Where is the man who was with you?" the officer said, looking round.
"There is, so far as I am aware, no one in the house, sir, beyond these gentlemen and my domestics."
"It is a lie!" the officer exclaimed, furiously. "A man was seen to enter this house, an hour and a half ago, and no one has left since."
"A young man! Oh, I suppose you mean the young fellow who brought me a message from my cousin, at Waterford, and who called to ask if I had yet found him any employment. Oh yes, he has been here, but left some time ago, unless he is chatting with the maids in the kitchen."
The officer directed a rigorous search to be made of the house. The soldiers soon reported that every nook and corner had been examined, but that no one was to be found. At this moment, a shot was fired in the street, and a sergeant ran in.
"Captain Peters bid me say, sir, that they have just caught sight of a man on the roof of a house, some distance along the street."
"Take the prisoners to the castle, under a strong guard, sergeant. You will be answerable for their safety," the officer exclaimed, as he ran downstairs.
Directly the trap closed behind him, Walter--sure that some minutes would pass before the method of his escape was known--tore the blankets he had brought with him into wide strips, tied the ends together, and twisted them up into the form of a rope; then, coiling this over his arm, he made his way along the roofs. The street below was now a mass of people. The report that a Popish plot had been discovered, and that a number of important arrests had been made, spread quickly, as the soldiers were seen gathered round the house. The news was sufficient to stir up party feelings, and the mob which collected soon set up the shout which had, of late, been so often raised in the streets of Dublin--"Down with the Papists!"
Soon the crashing of glass was heard, as stones were hurled57 at the dwellings58 of known Catholics. Walter, anxious for the safety of Larry, who was, he knew, somewhere without, tried to look down into the street to see what was going on, believing that in the darkness he could not be seen. The flash of a musket59, and the whistle of a ball close to him, showed him that his figure had been seen against the skyline.
Drawing back, he paused a moment in thought. The trapdoor would be discovered at once, and a search on the roof commenced, and the soldiers would be placed behind the houses. There was no time to be lost in continuing his search for a house with a building projecting behind, onto which he could lower himself with his rope, which was not nearly long enough to reach the ground.
Looking over at the back, between two of the sharp ridges60 of the roofs, he hung his rope so that it would fall across a window, fastened the end round a stack of chimneys, and then, taking hold of it, swung himself over. He had been very careful in tying the knots, and had tested them by pulling at them with all his strength; but he did not feel at all certain that they might not draw with his weight, in which case he must have been dashed to pieces on the ground far below him; but there was no time to hesitate, and, as fast as he could, he began to slide down the rope, the frequent knots affording good hold for his hands.
At last he reached the window. It was made of the small diamond-shaped panes62 at that time in general use. Holding the rope with one hand and his legs, he dashed the other hand through a pane61, just where he judged the fastening inside would be. Three panes were beaten in before he felt the latch63. This was easily turned. The frame opened outward, and he had some difficulty in pulling it past him; then, grasping the woodwork, he drew himself in, and with a great effort succeeded in gaining a sufficient holding to enable him to leave go of the rope, and make good his footing inside.
He had little fear of the inmates64 of the house taking notice of the fall of glass; for, had they noticed the sound above the din7 in the street, they would have supposed that the breakage was caused by one of the flying stones. He ran lightly downstairs, and opened a door at the back of the house, and found himself in the yard. The wall was not very high, and a spring enabled him to get his fingers on the top. He was soon sitting there, and then dropped into the road behind.
The sound of his fall caught the ears of the soldiers, who were stationed at the back of the house from whence he had started, some fifty yards away. There was a sharp challenge, and then, as no answer was given, four or five shots were fired, and there was a rush of feet along the road.
As it was only in the principal thoroughfares that a few lights were exhibited, the road would have been in complete darkness had not the clouds, just at that moment, blown away from the face of the moon, which was half full.
The shots, however, had been fired hastily, and Walter dashed off at full speed, unhurt. He heard shouts from the roofs of the houses, and one or two shots were fired, but the chance of his being hit was but small. The sound, however, told the soldiers and crowd in the front street that the fugitive65 was escaping at the rear, and there was a general rush down the street to the next turning. Walter was a hundred yards ahead, before the mob reached the turning, and was rapidly distancing the soldiers who were pursuing him. Unfortunately, however, there were many people hurrying from all sides, attracted by the shouting and firing. Several of these, in response to the shouts of the soldiers, tried to stop him as he dashed past, and failing to do so, at once joined in the pursuit.
Walter saw that he must be captured, if he kept straight on, for a group of men approaching, warned by the shouts of his pursuers, prepared to seize him. He therefore turned sharp down a narrow lane to his left. Another fifty yards he was through this, and found himself on the road, running by the side of the Liffey. Without a moment's hesitation66 he sprang across it, and plunged67 into the river.
Even in the moment of his spring, he perceived that the tide was running up. Had it been ebbing68, he would have made down and tried to gain the shore, under shelter of the shipping69 moored70 below. But it was useless to think of swimming against the tide. His pursuers were but a few yards behind him, and the second time he rose to the surface for air, two or three shots were fired. He dived again, and when he next came up, took a deliberate look round in order to judge of his chances.
He was now about a third of the way across. The shore he had left was already lined with people, and several were gathering71 on the opposite bank. Two or three shots struck the water close to him, and he knew that he was visible to his pursuers. Taking a long breath, he again went under water. He was a first-rate swimmer and diver, having bathed regularly, summer and winter, in the bay below the castle.
He had, this time, turned his face towards the shore he had quitted. The tide, he knew, was sweeping72 him up. He kept under water as long as he possibly could, swimming his hardest. When he could keep under no longer, he turned on his back, and permitted himself to rise slowly to the surface.
The moment his mouth and nostrils73 were above water, he got rid of the pent-up air, took another breath, and sank again. He swam on until he felt, by the ground rising rapidly in front of him, that he was close to the edge. He then cautiously came to the surface, and looked round.
He was close under the bank from which he had started, but two or three hundred yards higher up. The bank rose straight up, some twelve feet above him, and he could hear persons talking close to its edge.
"There he is."
"No, he isn't."
"Pretty nearly over the other side."
"I don't see him."
"They will catch him as he gets out."
"I believe he has sunk."
"He never could keep under all this time."
"One of the bullets must have hit him."
Then a voice in the crowd shouted, "There's his head, just in the middle of the river," and a stone splashed in the stream. It was followed by a volley of other stones, and several musket shots in the same direction.
Walter, having now got his breath, sank his head quietly below the water and swam on again, keeping close under the bank. Whenever he came up for air, he listened for a moment. Shots were still being fired below him, and he knew that the attention of all upon the shores was still directed towards the centre of the stream, and that there was but small chance of anyone leaning over to gaze down into the water close to their feet.
His hopes rose, as every minute placed him further from his pursuers. He could no longer hear voices above him when he rose, but he swam on, for upwards74 of a mile, and struggled up the bank well beyond the walls of the town. He lay down a few minutes to rest himself, walked half a mile along the bank, and then, entering the river again, swam across, for the road he was to follow was on the south side of it.
He made his way across the country until he saw a small shed. He entered this, and finding some hay in the loft75, stripped off his wet clothes, and crept deep into the hay to warm himself, for the water was cold, and he was shivering from head to foot.
As soon as it was light, he again put on his clothes and started at a run, which he maintained until he was in a thorough glow, in spite of his wet clothing. He did not approach the village, at which he had arranged to meet Larry, until the sun was high, and his clothes had dried so far that they would not attract the attention of anyone who might be passing. Then he went into the deserted76 village and took up his place in one of the ruined cottages, from which he could obtain a view of the road from Dublin.
Half an hour later, he saw Larry coming along it. Although there was no one else in sight, someone might be going the other way, and Walter therefore remained in his hiding place till Larry was abreast77 of him, when he showed his head in the doorway, and called him by name.
Larry gave a cry of joy and, rushing in, threw his arms round him and burst into tears.
"It's a terrible fright you have given me!" he exclaimed, when he could find words. "I have been breaking my heart all night. Sure I thought you were at the bottom of the river."
"Not this time, Larry, though it was a pretty close thing. Did you see it all?"
"Sure and I did," Larry said. "I was sitting on a doorstep, watching the house, when I saw the sodgers coming along. They turned up from a side street, and were so close that I saw I could not get across and get the door opened in time to give you the alarm. Then they began to knock at the door, and for a bit I felt so wake that I could not move. Then the crowd began to gather, and then I said to myself, The master will try to shlip out at the back of the house. So I went round, but I found the thieves of the world waiting for ye there. But I was sure ye weren't the one to let them take ye widout a struggle for it. So I moved a bit away, and jist waited.
"The time seemed long, when on a suddint I heard the sodgers sing out, and then fire, and set out to run. I never doubted it was you, and so off I went behindt them, as hard as I could tare78. I wasn't long in coming up to them, and at first I thought ye would get clean away. Then my heart fell, when I saw those villains80 attempt to seize ye, but, when I thought it was all over, ye turned sharp off and made for the river. I was with the first of them to get there, and I ran, accidental, against the first sodger who got his musket to his shoulder, and there was no saying where the ball went to. He cursed me for a clumsy baste81, and would have knocked me down, but he was in too great a hurry to load again.
"I saw the bullets strike the water, close to you, when you came up again. I saw you look round, and guessed ye was thinking what was the best thing to do. Then we saw no more of ye. I didn't think you had been hit, for I saw you go down regular, as if you were diving in the sea for pleasure; and not sharp, as you would have done if a bullet had hit you. I guessed as you were meaning to swim up the stream, and I did the only thing I could to stop them from following up, by shouting that I saw ye, and throwing a big stone into the water close to where I had seen your head before, knowing that, by that time, ye must be nigh a hundred yards up.
"The fools didn't stop to think, but they took to throwing stones, and firing as hard as they could, and by the time they had done I knew, if ye were alive, ye must be nigh a quarter of a mile up the river. Some of them did run up, and I kept with them, but sorrah a glimpse of ye did we get. At last, everyone made sure that you were kilt entirely82, and went their ways.
"I went off to our lodgings, but took good care not to go in. And it was well I didn't, for, half an hour later, a troop of sodgers came up, and some of them went in.
"They were led by that black villain79 who used to come wid messages from Mr. O'Brian, and I have no doubt it was he who set the sodgers upon you. Anyhow, they didn't find much there, but four of them waited till morning inside, the others all going away, so that, if you had got out of the river, they might catch ye in a trap.
"I waited till they had left this morning, thinking, I suppose, that it was no use to stay longer, and then started to see if your honour were here.
"Sometimes I thought I should find you, then again, I tould myself that if you had been alive I must have seen you come up agin; for, knowing the strength of the stream, and how fast you could swim, I could tell pretty nigh about where you would come up, if you were keeping straight up the river. How did you manage it at all, Master Walter?"
"I turned, and swam back again to the bank, Larry. I knew everyone would be watching the middle of the river, and would not be looking at the water in front of them. Of course, the stream took me up a long way. I only came up once, on my back, took a breath, and went down again, and the second time I was right under the bank and well out of sight, though I could hear them talking above me. It was just when I looked round, then, that I saw them throwing stones and firing into the middle of the river, two hundred yards lower down, and after that I had only to keep on swimming under water, close to the bank."
"And that is how ye managed it! It was a grand thought, entirely, to swim back to us. I never thought of that. I was most afraid you would go for the opposite shore, and there were plenty had gathered there, ready to seize you. I didn't think I could have missed you, if you'd kept on in the middle, and I have been puzzled altogether as to what could have become of you, if ye were really alive.
"I have got some bread in my bundle here, and a bottle of spirits, and you had better have a bite and a sup before we go on, for it's pretty nigh as white as a ghost ye are."
The meal seemed to put new life and strength into Walter, and, after its conclusion, he was ready to step out again with fresh energy. They thought it better at once to leave the road, and tramp across the country. By so doing they avoided all parties of the English troops, and reached the Irish army without adventure. Walter at once reported himself to General Sarsfield, and related all that had taken place in Dublin.
"You have done excellently, Mr. Davenant, and your escape from capture was an extraordinary one. Unfortunately, the betrayal of what was doing, and the arrest of our friends, is likely to upset all the plans you had arranged."
"I hope not, sir," Walter said. "I know that they were all careful to have no written documents, for it was always possible that the houses of the Catholics might be searched."
"That may be so," the general said; "but I fear that this traitor83 will have managed to overhear some of the conversation; and the fact of their meeting, and of your escape, will in itself tell against them sufficiently84 to ensure their being kept in prison, at any rate for a considerable time; and, even if released, they would be suspected persons, and would be unable to make the slightest move."
The general's previsions were justified85. The whole of those arrested were retained in prison for some months, and no such general rising as had been planned was ever carried into effect.
During the winter, stores and ordnance86 arrived from France for the supply of the Irish army, and from England for the use of the British, and a great number of officers from the Continent also joined both armies.
The discontent among the Irish at the apathy87 of France was extreme. They had embarked88 in the war on the strength of the promises of King Louis. None of these promises had been fulfilled. The supplies of arms and money had been most meagre, the few thousand troops sent had never taken part in any of the operations, and their coming had been much more than counterbalanced by the troops sent from Ireland in exchange for them. An additional cause of discontent was given by the fact that William exchanged all the prisoners taken in Ireland for Dutch prisoners, in the hands of Louis, and the Irish so handed over were all incorporated in the French army.
So great was the discontent that, had a proclamation of pardon and protection been offered, the whole Irish army would have disbanded, and all resistance ceased. But Louis, alarmed at finding that it was likely William would be freed from his troubles at home, and be at liberty to give his whole attention to the war on the Continent, sent fresh promises of large and speedy aid; and despatched General Saint Ruth to take the command in Ireland, in place of Lauzun, who had returned to France.
This appointment caused fresh discontent among the Irish. Their cause had already been well-nigh ruined by the interference and incapacity of the French generals, and, on the retirement89 of Lauzun, they had confidently expected that Sarsfield would be appointed commander-in-chief, and that henceforth there would be unity90 of design in their operations. Saint Ruth was accompanied by a large number of young French officers, whose demeanour still further widened the breach91 between the French and Irish.
Saint Ruth at once inspected the army, now concentrated between Limerick and Athlone. Except that there was a great deficiency in horses for the cavalry, the army was greatly improved in discipline and appearance since the battle of the Boyne, for both officers, petty officers, and men had learned their duties. The army had passed the winter in comfortable quarters, and had been well supplied with food.
The difficulty was to find horses. The rapparees had carried off many of the chargers of the English cavalry, by stratagem92, and it was a common practice of the Danish and other foreign troops to sell their horses to the Irish, at the outposts, and pretend that they were stolen. Still, the supply was altogether insufficient93, and Saint Ruth, finding that he could not get horses from the enemy, determined to take them from his friends.
A proclamation was accordingly issued, inviting94 all the gentry throughout the country held by the Irish, to meet him at Limerick, mounted and accoutered in the best manner. Reports were spread that an important communication was to be made to the gentlemen of the country, from King James, and that many marks of honour and distinction were to be conferred.
Accordingly, there was a very numerous attendance of gentry on the day fixed. Saint Ruth appeared on the ground with a large body of cavalry. He made a speech to the gentlemen--complimented them on their punctual attendance and gallant95 appearance; told them that it was necessary that every man should make sacrifices for the defence of his religion and his estates, and requested them to hand over their horses to the cavalry. He then at once rode off the ground, leaving the cavalry to take possession of the horses.
Anger and expostulation were useless, and the gentlemen had to return on foot, sadder men; but the army obtained a large and valuable addition of horses, and Saint Ruth was able to march out at the head of twenty thousand foot, and five thousand well-appointed cavalry.
Their direction was Athlone, towards which point Ginckle was also directing his movements, having assembled his whole force at Mullingar, withdrawing the garrisons97 from almost all the towns, in order to raise his force in the field. The alarm in Dublin was, in consequence, extreme, and the council and lords justices besought98 Ginckle not to leave them without protection; but he only replied that they had it in their own power to put an end to the war, by publishing such a declaration of pardon and security, for person and property, as would satisfy the Irish in James's army. But the council, even in this moment of alarm, refused to renounce99 their golden hopes of confiscation100.
Ginckle's first attack was directed against the village of Ballymore, which lay between Mullingar and Athlone. It was defended by a thousand cavalry and infantry101, and a sergeant and a few men were posted, in a castle, on an eminence102 some distance from the village. The first attack was made on the castle, but the sergeant and his little garrison96 made a long and gallant resistance, and the savage Dutchman was so infuriated at the opposition103 that, when at last the post was taken, he ordered the gallant sergeant to be at once hung.
He then sent word to the garrison of the village that, if they did not surrender, he would serve them as he had served the sergeant. They were unmoved by the threat, and made a long and gallant defence against the whole of Ginckle's army; and the Dutch general was unable to overcome their resistance, till he at last offered fair terms of surrender. The position being a strong and important one, Ginckle spent some days in adding to the defensive works the Irish had erected104, before he moved forward and sat down in front of Athlone. His army was well provided with heavy artillery and everything necessary for a siege, and he was firmly resolved that there should be no repetition of the disastrous105 failure of the preceding autumn.
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1
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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8
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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11
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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14
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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hawked
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| 通过叫卖主动兜售（hawk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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18
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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19
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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20
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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21
alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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27
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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28
brawl
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| n.大声争吵，喧嚷；v.吵架，对骂 | |
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29
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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31
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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32
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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34
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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41
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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42
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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43
scythes
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| n.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的名词复数 )v.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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45
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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46
disaffected
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| adj.（政治上）不满的，叛离的 | |
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47
conflagrations
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| n.大火（灾）( conflagration的名词复数 ) | |
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48
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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49
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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50
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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51
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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52
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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53
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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54
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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55
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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56
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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57
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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58
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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59
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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60
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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61
pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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63
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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64
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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65
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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66
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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67
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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68
ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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69
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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70
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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71
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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72
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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73
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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75
loft
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| n.阁楼，顶楼 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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78
tare
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| n.皮重；v.量皮重 | |
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79
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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81
baste
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| v.殴打，公开责骂 | |
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82
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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83
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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84
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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85
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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86
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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88
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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90
unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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91
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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92
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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93
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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96
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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97
garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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98
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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99
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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100
confiscation
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| n. 没收, 充公, 征收 | |
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101
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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102
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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103
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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104
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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