"Come," said the Chief to De Tourville, "your ride from Kinvara must have given you an appetite, and you, De Merville, join your Captain."

He then filled his goblet with wine, and continued, "Here is success to our cause, both by land and sea."

"We respond with all our hearts," said the Chevalier; "and in return drink the health of you and your amiable family."

After some time had elapsed, De Tourville remarked the absence of Lady Helena and William.

"I am sorry to tell you," said the Chief, "that my wife is at present in great grief at the idea of parting with our only son, who is on the eve of going to France to complete his education. Perhaps you may be able to accommodate him with a passage, and I will, of course, defray the expenses.

"Ouf! pay me!" said De Tourville, indignantly. "I shall not accept as much as a single jacobus from you. I to receive payment for taking your son to France! If he will do me the favour of coming as my guest, the first cabin shall be at his service, and I consider it by no means an adequate return for your hospitality to me. Mon ami I would much rather have him on board than his Royal Highness Philip Duke of Orleans!"

"Many thanks," returned the Chief; "he is to be accompanied by a young man named Moylan, who is going abroad to study for the Church."

"Baste! I will take him also," said the Chevalier. "He is not the first divinity student my good ship has borne from the shores of this unfortunate country."

After dinner, De Tourville said

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I will now walk out to see some of my customers, and show the place to De Merville, who never saw Gortinsiguara before."

"Remember," said O'Shaughnessy, "you are my guest here for some

time."

The Chevalier thanked the Chief, but said he could remain for that night only, as he had to visit Captain Forster and other friends before he returned to France, and that a message could be sent at any time to acquaint him of William's arrival, and he would immediately return to Gortinsiguara. He then departed, to transact his business in the village.

Towards evening De Tourville and De Merville were seated in the banqueting-hall of the mansion, with O'Shaughnessy, Lady Helena, their daughter Helena, Father Moylan, and his nephew.

The priest, the Reverend Dermot Moylan, who was born in 1657, was a mild, gentlemanly person, of polished manners. In his youth he was educated at the celebrated seminary of Douay, and at the University of Louvain, where great numbers of the Catholic clergy had for a long period been forced to resort, owing to the despotic and cruel laws of a bigoted Protestant Government, which debarred them from an opportunity of being educated at home. In the year 1680, being then twenty-three years of age, he privately hastened back to his native land, in a contraband vessel, from which he landed by night at the village of Duras. Having received Holy Orders at Ballylooge, from the Right Reverend Doctor Keogh, Lord Bishop of Clonfert, he was appointed parish priest of Kilmacduach and Beach, or St. Anne's. He took up his residence at Laughtyshaughnessy, which was one of the estates of his protector, the Chief of Clooneene, and where some members of his family resided. He often had to hide from his vindictive enemies, but was always fortunate in escaping their pursuit. Now, however, he was at liberty openly to perform the functions of his sacred office, and he hoped, ere long, to erect at Shanaglish a church worthy of that ancient place. The furious bigots of former times had destroyed the church dedicated to St. Anne, which had previously stood there from time immemorial, and a plain thatched building was afterwards erected in the demesne of Clooneene, which, however, did not occasionally escape the notice of the persecutors of the Catholic religion-those sanguinary priest-hunters who were eager for reward. Several times it was found necessary to send a family to reside there, to give it the appearance of an ordinary dwelling, and thus prevent its being burned and razed to the ground. Such was the lamentably sad state that the ancient religion of the country was reduced to in those evil days; but it was a consolation to Father Moylan that he was respected by all his parishioners, despite the tyranny of the Government, and was a frequent guest at their houses, particularly at Clooneene.

"I hope, De Tourville, your crew are all well," said O'Shaughnessy, "they have many old acquaintances at Duras and Kinvara."

"If strong lungs are indicative of health," said De Tourville, "my crew are the healthiest afloat. Mon Dieu! I wish you heard the ringing cheer they gave when we cast anchor at Duras, and how it was echoed by the surrounding woods. After landing, they had a dance at the old Druid Altar (42), and I sent ashore some ankers of brandy to be distributed among those of our friends who reside at Duras."

"Had you an easy voyage ?" asked the Chief.

"Light winds blowing when we left Brest; we had to tack occasionally. Half way between Brest and Cape Clear it blew a strong

south-east gale, and we saw a Dutch frigate nearing us; but I knew she was no match in point of speed for the Flying Eagle, so I let her pretty near, and then gave her a shot from my stern-chasers, and afterwards showed the white flag, with the fleur-de-lys of la belle France. They appeared very much astonished, but, with every sail spread to the gale, I soon left her far behind. By St. Louis! only for I knew it was my duty to attend to my orders, I would have boarded the Dutchman, and tried the strength of my crew. Here, my young friend, Moylan," he continued, "you must drink to our better acquaintance. You are to be my companion on my next voyage to the beautiful land of France. Mon cher, you must not be surprised at the rough manners of my sailors; for I assure you, uncouth as they may appear, they have a great respect for the Catholic priesthood. I remember, on one occasion we had a clergyman on board, and, being attacked by an English vessel, my crew fought much better in consequence of his presence amongst them. We were maintaining a running fight, when a broadside from the Flying Eagle, sent the enemy's main-mast overboard. I wore round and gave her a second broadside, which swept her decks, and then coolly continued my voyage, having only two men wounded and one killed, while the enemy must have lost considerably by the engagement."

"My minstrel will now play for you," said the Chief, as Mac Brody entered.

The minstrel was kindly greeted by De Tourville, who said—

"We will give you a hearty welcome on board, if you visit the Flying Eagle. My sailors would be delighted to hear your harp, and my Second Lieutenant, De Trushnot, is an excellent musician."

"Perhaps I may do myself the honour of paying you a visit, sir," said Mac Brody; "but if the company have no objection I will now play for you 'Rosg Catha Gabhra,' one of Ossian's spirited war songs."

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I have," exclaimed the Chevalier, after hearing it played, "a mind to carry you off to my ship this very night. Your harp would inspire my sailors before going to battle."

"I was bred on the land, and not on the sea," returned Mac Brody; "but, surely, you are not without music on board ?"

"We have," said De Tourville, "plenty of violins, horns, drums, and fifes, no doubt; but the wild strains of your harp excel them all. De Trushnot, I am sure, would be in ecstasies if he heard you play."

"I much admire the harp's sweet sounds," said De Merville, "and although, sir," he continued, addressing O'Shaughnessy, "you may imagine I am a real Frenchman, still I proudly claim Ireland as the

land which gave some of my ancestors birth. Indeed, I begin to consider myself an Irishman."

"But your name is a French one," said the Chief.

"No doubt of that," returned the Lieutenant, "and, probably, the De Mervilles can trace their pedigree back to the days of Charlemagne, Emperor of the West and King of the Franks, or to those of Dagobert, or, perhaps, to the earlier period when Clovis governed France; but I will explain how that name came to be adopted by my family. Many years ago one of my ancestors was an adherent of one of Ireland's most celebrated ¡warriors, Red Hugh O'Donnell, and accompanied him to Spain, where he went to seek assistance for his conquered country from King Philip III. The name of Sir Hugh Mostyn is, I believe, inscribed in the pages of Irish history."

"It undoubtedly is," said the Chief of Cineal Aodh.

"My ancestor," continued De Merville, "like many of those whose families came over to this country, felt keenly its many wrongs, and espoused the cause of the dauntless Red Hugh when he rose in arms to throw off the galling yoke of her oppressors. Banished for his zeal in the defence of his fatherland, he found a ready welcome in Spain, which has ever been the hospitable home of the extirpated Irishman! His grandson, my father, leaving that country on some commercial affairs, married, at Brest, the daughter of Monsieur Casimer de Merville, and I have adopted my mother's name. I was bred to the sea, and, having met my friend De Tourville at Brest, I took a great fancy to him and became his Lieutenant, knowing him to be a commander of ability and undoubted courage."

"Your health, and caed mille failte to Ireland," warmly exclaimed O'Shaughnessy. "I feel truly happy to see you at Gortinsiguara, and I am sure all my neighbours will participate in my feelings."

Having thanked the Chief for his kindness, De Merville said

"I take a lively interest in the affairs of this country. The recital of the terrible scenes enacted here both during the wars of Queen Elizabeth's reign and the usurpation of the late Regicide spread all over the Continent of Europe, and has excited the greatest indignation. It has also been the medium of placing many of the descendants of the extirpated Irish in high positions abroad, who feel an intense anxiety with regard to the affairs of Ireland, and an inveterate hatred for England."

"Yes," said the Chief, "many of our exiled countrymen are well off in Spain. A great number from this county settled at Malaga, from whence they trade with their relatives in Galway, which, before the sanguinary wars you have mentioned, was a city that enjoyed great com

mercial intercourse with France, Spain, Portugal, and even the West Indies. Still, I regret to say that in a few years its houses fell into ruin : its once numerous and opulent merchants disappeared in consequence of the cruel treatment which they received after the violation of the treaty made with that city in 1652. But we must now hope for the better.”

"At all events, I must put my vessel in a more warlike trim than she is in at present," said De Tourville; "for although she now carries only seven guns and two chasers, she is pierced for twenty-four. I will obtain the balance of what I require at Brest, or perhaps Dieppe, and endeavour to gain some renown in the struggle between King James and the Prince of Orange."

Captain de Tourville then related several exciting anecdotes of his various voyages to the coasts of England and Scotland, and prolonged his discourse until the night was far advanced, when all retired to rest.

CHAPTER VI.

RATHORPE.

On arriving at Clooneene, Kelly was cordially received by the Chief, and next day, accompanied by Cuthbert Fenwick, to whom he had become much attached, as their dispositions and tastes were almost similar, went to fish for pike in the lake of Knockancorragh, in the demesne of Clooneene. After having killed several, they returned to partake of luncheon, when the Chief remarked that probably they might meet the express at Crushnahawn if they proceeded there.

"We may as well stroll in that direction, grandfather," said John, "and then go on to Rathorpe, as I am very anxious to see my mother."

When lunch was over they walked to Crushnahawn, but found, on inquiry, that the expected express had not passed, and continuing their walk they soon reached the height over Rathorpe (43), which was situated in the midst of a dense and ancient wood. This old mansion, to which were added numerous additions of various sizes and different orders of architecture, covered a large space of ground, and extended to the ancient fort at its rere from which it derived its name. This fort or rath, was surrounded by an immense ditch, the banks of which abounded with brushwood, and in the centre was a large cave. Through the wood at one side of the fort ran a narrow road, which passed by the lake, and