sentinels without exciting any suspicion. As they approached the camping ground they rode as cautiously and noiselessly as possible, till the sentinel just outside the encampment was startled by the appearance of horsemen through the dim moonlight, with one tall form looming at their head, and called out for the password. "Sarsfield is the word and Sarsfield is the man!" was the answer to the challenge; and the whole party dashed in on the encampment. Instantly the English bugles sounded the alarm, and the sleepers sprang up and hastily snatched their weapons. But all too late: those who stood on the defence were at once cut down; and the rest, seeing resistance hopeless, saved themselves by flight. One prisoner was taken, an officer who lay sick in a neighbouring house, whom Sarsfield treated with kindness, and to whom, according to Story, he stated that he would have gone to France if the enterprise had failed.

Sarsfield could not bring away the guns or any other heavy articles, knowing he was sure to be pursued; but the horses were captured, and all portable things were stowed away in pockets and saddle-bags. There was not a moment to lose; and while some of the party smashed up the tin boats, others hastily filled the cannons with powder and buried their muzzles in the earth, piling over them the powder packets, waggons, ammunition, and provisions, in a great heap. A long fuse was fired when the party had got to a safe distance, and the whole train was blown up in one terrific explosion. Sir John Lanyer and his party, who were at this very time on their way towards Ballyneety, saw the heavens and all the surrounding landscape lighted up for a moment, and heard the ominous rumble in the distance. Divining but too well the meaning of what

he saw and heard, he galloped forward and arrived just in time to see the last of Sarsfield's column disappearing through the darkness. He tried to overtake them; but Sarsfield wishing to get back as soon as possible without any more fighting, soon distanced the pursuing party, and crossing the Shannon, made his way safely to the city, where he was welcomed with a mighty cheer. The garrison, as we are told in the Life of King James, "was hugely encouraged by this advantage" and having before their minds the noble defence of Derry just a year before, all, both garrison and citizens, determined to emulate it.

Sarsfield's Rock: 2 miles west from Cullen, and 5 miles west from Limerick Junction, Space in front, where Siege Train was blown up. From a Photograph.

The very spot where the train was blown up is still well known; and the rocky eminence rising over it is now called Sarsfield's Rock; but the old castle has almost disappeared. The whole place abounds in

traditions of the event; and the people tell how, some years ago, persons digging deeply came upon quantities of human bones.*

CHAPTER LII.

THE SIEGE OF LIMERICK.-PART II.

A.D. 1690.-William and Mary.

T the opening of the last chapter it was stated that King William arrived with his army at Limerick on Saturday the 9th August 1690. He was attended by Ginkle, Douglas, and others of his best generals; and he encamped near Singland, within cannonshot of the walls, his lines extending in a curve east and south of the city. The place was so badly prepared for a siege that the French general Lauzun laughed at the idea of defending it, saying that it could be taken with roasted apples." He refused, as he said, to sacrifice the lives of the Frenchmen intrusted to him in what he considered, or pretended to consider, a hopeless contest. But in truth he was

* There are half a dozen places called Ballyneety (White's Town) in Tipperary and Limerick; and attempts have been made, in the face of the plainest evidence, to identify the scene of Sarsfield's exploit with the little bamlet of Ballyneety near Cahirconlish, which lay barely three English miles from the rear posts of William's camp, though Story tells us the distance was about seven; i.e. about twelve English. This Ballyneety is fully thirteen miles from Cullen; whereas Story's words show that the camping place was the Ballyneety just near Cullen. Again, Story relates that Sir John Lanyer-with his troop of horse—

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sick of this Irish war, with all its hardships and privations, and he longed to get back to France. The Duke of Tirconnell, who was old and sickly and weary of turmoil, voted with him to surrender the city. But Sarsfield was of a different mind: he was for defence and he was heartily seconded by a brave French captain named Boisseleau or Boileau. They infused their spirit into the native troops; and it was resolved at all hazards to defend the city; whereupon Lauzun and Tirconnell marched to Galway with all the French troops, bringing away a great quantity of ammunition sorely needed by the citizens. And thus the two chief men intrusted with the guardianship of Limerick deserted their posts, leaving the Irish to defend it as best they could. Boileau, having been appointed governor, set about repairing and strengthening the old walls, towers, and forts: the citizens vied with the soldiers and even the women and children assisted with the greatest spirit and cheerfulness.

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At this time Limerick was the second city in Ireland. The principal part, called the English Town, stood upon the King's Island, which is enclosed by two branches of the Shannon, and is about a mile in length. Here also stood, as it still stands, the fine ruin of King John's

had been an hour on the march from his own camp towards the camping place of the train at Ballyneety, when he saw the flash and heard the report in the distance: and yet it seems, according to this new identification, the place of the explosion was only three or four miles from Lanyer's starting-point! There are other evidences-independent of Story-equally strong, showing this identification to be quite wrong: but the point need not be argued further. The place where William's train was blown up is known with as much certainty as the site of the battle of the Boyne.

Castle beside the main branch of the river, and near it the old Cathedral. Here were the dwellings of the nobility and gentry, and the principal buildings and houses of business. On the mainland, at the county Limerick or south side, was another and smaller part of the city called the Irish Town, which was connected with the English Town by Ball's-bridge, a large stone

structure. The English Town was connected with Clare by Thomond-bridge, also of stone. Those two old bridges were removed about seventy years ago, but the new structures retain the old names. Each part of the city was encompassed by a stone wall, outside which was a trench and a weak palisade-" a toy of a palisade," as one of the old writers calls it. It was a handsome well-built city. Story tells us that the