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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18356-h.zip b/18356-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2156f7f --- /dev/null +++ b/18356-h.zip diff --git a/18356-h/18356-h.htm b/18356-h/18356-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..64c9c80 --- /dev/null +++ b/18356-h/18356-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9415 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Orange and Green, by G. A. Henty</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + caption { font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial"; + text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; } + div {text-align: center} + em {font-style: italic} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h1.pg {text-align: center; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: 0em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3.pg {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0em} + hr {height: 5px} + p {text-indent: 4% } + strong {font-weight: bold} + table {text-align: center} + td { font-family: "Arial";} + td.ltoc { letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; + text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; vertical-align: top } + td.rtoc { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left} + thead { font-weight: bold;} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + border: solid black; + height: 5px; } + pre {font-size: small;} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Orange and Green, by G. A. Henty</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Orange and Green</p> +<p> A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick</p> +<p>Author: G. A. Henty</p> +<p>Release Date: May 8, 2006 [eBook #18356]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORANGE AND GREEN***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Martin Robb</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + +<h1>Orange and Green:</h1> +<h2>A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick</h2> +<h2>By G. A. Henty.</h2> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<center> +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Contents</caption> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"></td> +<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch1">Chapter 1</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Shipwreck.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch2">Chapter 2</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">For James Or William.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch3">Chapter 3</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The King In Ireland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch4">Chapter 4</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Siege Of Derry.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch5">Chapter 5</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Relief Of Derry.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch6">Chapter 6</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Dundalk.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch7">Chapter 7</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Coming Battle.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch8">Chapter 8</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Boyne Water.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch9">Chapter 9</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Pleasant Quarters.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch10">Chapter 10</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Cavalry Raid.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch11">Chapter 11</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The First Siege Of Limerick.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch12">Chapter 12</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Winter Quarters.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch13">Chapter 13</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Dangerous Mission.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch14">Chapter 14</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Athlone.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch15">Chapter 15</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Fortunate Recognition.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch16">Chapter 16</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Peace.</td> +</tr> +</table> +</center> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a id="Preface" name="Preface">Preface.</a></h2> +<p>The subject of Ireland is one which has, for some years, been a +very prominent one, and is likely, I fear, for some time yet to +occupy a large share of public attention. The discontent, +manifested in the troubles of recent years, has had its root in an +old sense of grievance, for which there was, unhappily, only too +abundant reason. The great proportion of the soil of Ireland was +taken from the original owners, and handed over to Cromwell's +followers, and for years the land that still remained in the hands +of Irishmen was subject to the covetousness of a party of greedy +intriguers, who had sufficient influence to sway the proceedings of +government. The result was the rising of Ireland, nominally in +defence of the rights of King James, but really as an effort of +despair on the part of those who deemed their religion, their +property, and even their lives threatened, by the absolute +ascendency of the Protestant party in the government of the +country. I have taken my information from a variety of sources; +but, as I wished you to see the matter from the Irish point of +view, I have drawn most largely from the history of those events by +Mr. O'Driscol, published sixty years ago. There is, however, but +little difference of opinion between Irish and English authors, as +to the general course of the war, or as to the atrocious conduct of +William's army of foreign mercenaries towards the people of +Ireland.</p> +<p>G. A. Henty.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch1" name="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: A Shipwreck.</h2> +<p>A few miles to the south of Bray Head, on the crest of a hill +falling sharply down to the sea, stood Castle Davenant, a +conspicuous landmark to mariners skirting the coast on their way +from Cork or Waterford to Dublin Bay. Castle Davenant it was +called, although it had long since ceased to be defensible; but +when it was built by Sir Godfrey Davenant, who came over with +Strongbow, it was a place of strength. Strongbow's followers did +well for themselves. They had reckoned on hard fighting, but the +Irish were too much divided among themselves to oppose any serious +resistance to the invaders. Strongbow had married the daughter of +Dermid, Prince of Leinster, and at the death of that prince +succeeded him, and the greater portion of Leinster was soon divided +among the knights and men-at-arms who had followed his standard. +Godfrey Davenant, who was a favourite of the earl, had no reason to +be dissatisfied with his share, which consisted of a domain +including many square miles of fertile land, stretching back from +the seacoast.</p> +<p>Here for many generations his descendants lived, for the most +part taking an active share in the wars and disturbances which, +with scarcely an interval of rest, agitated the country.</p> +<p>The castle had continued to deserve its name until forty years +before the time this story commences, when Cromwell's gunners had +battered a breach in it, and left it a heap of smoking ruins. +Walter Davenant had died, fighting to the last, in his own hall. At +that time, the greater part of his estate was bestowed upon +officers and soldiers in Cromwell's army, among whom no less than +four million acres of Irish land were divided.</p> +<p>Had it not been that Walter Davenant's widow was an +Englishwoman, and a relation of General Ireton, the whole of the +estate would have gone; but his influence was sufficient to secure +for her the possession of the ruins of her home, and a few hundred +acres surrounding it. Fortunately, the dowry which Mrs. Davenant +had brought her husband was untouched, and a new house was reared +within the ruins of the castle, the new work being dovetailed with +the old.</p> +<p>The family now consisted of Mrs. Davenant, a lady sixty-eight +years old; her son Fergus, who was, when Cromwell devastated the +land, a child of five years; his wife Katherine, daughter of +Lawrence McCarthy, a large landowner near Cork; and their two sons, +Walter, a lad of sixteen, and Godfrey, twelve years old.</p> +<p>Two miles west of the castle stood a square-built stone house, +surrounded by solidly-constructed barns and outbuildings. This was +the abode of old Zephaniah Whitefoot, the man upon whom had been +bestowed the broad lands of Walter Davenant. Zephaniah had fought +stoutly, as lieutenant in one of Cromwell's regiments of horse, and +had always considered himself an ill-treated man, because, although +he had obtained all the most fertile portion of the Davenant +estate, the old family were permitted to retain the castle, and a +few hundred acres by the sea.</p> +<p>He was one of those who contended that the Amalekites should be +utterly destroyed by the sword, and he considered that the +retention of the corner of their domains, by the Davenants, was a +direct flying in the face of the providence who had given them into +the hands of the faithful. Not that, had he obtained possession of +the ruined castle, Zephaniah Whitefoot would have repaired it or +set up his abode there. The followers of Cromwell had no eyes for +the beautiful. They were too much in earnest to care aught for the +amenities of life, and despised, as almost sinful, anything +approximating to beauty, either in dress, person, or surroundings. +The houses that they reared, in this land of which they had taken +possession, were bare to the point of ugliness, and their interior +was as cold and hard as was the exterior. Everything was for use, +nothing for ornament. Scarce a flower was to be seen in their +gardens, and laughter was a sign of levity, to be sternly +repressed.</p> +<p>Their isolation, in the midst of a hostile population, caused +them no concern whatever. They cared for no society or +companionship, save that of their own households, which they ruled +with a rod of iron; and an occasional gathering, for religious +purposes, with the other settlers of their own faith. They regarded +the Irish as Papists, doomed to everlasting perdition, and indeed +consigned to that fate all outside their own narrow sect. Such a +people could no more mix with the surrounding population than oil +with water. As a rule, they tilled as much ground in the immediate +vicinity of their houses as they and their families could manage, +and the rest of the land which had fallen into their possession +they let, either for a money payment, or, more often, for a portion +of the crops raised upon it, to such natives as were willing to +hold it on these terms.</p> +<p>The next generation had fallen away somewhat from their fathers' +standards. It is not in human nature to stand such a strain as +their families had been subjected to. There is an innate yearning +for joy and happiness, and even the sternest discipline cannot keep +man forever in the gloomy bonds of fanaticism. In most cases, the +immediate descendants of Cromwell's soldiers would gladly have made +some sort of compromise, would have surrendered much of their +outlying land to obtain secure and peaceful possession of the rest, +and would have emerged from the life of gloomy seclusion, in which +they found themselves; but no whisper of any such feeling as this +would be heard in the household of Zephaniah Whitefoot, so long as +he lived.</p> +<p>He was an old man now, but as hard, as gloomy, and as unlovable +as he had been when in his prime. His wife had died very many years +before, of no disease that Zephaniah or the doctor he called in +could discover, but, in fact, of utter weariness at the dull life +of repression and gloom which crushed her down. Of a naturally meek +and docile disposition, she had submitted without murmuring to her +husband's commands, and had, during her whole married life, never +shocked him so much as she did the day before her death, when, for +the first time, she exhibited the possession of an opinion of her +own, by saying earnestly:</p> +<p>"You may say what you like, Zephaniah, but I do think we were +meant to have some happiness and pleasure on earth. If we were +intended to go through life without laughing, why should we be able +to laugh? Oh, how I should like to hear one hearty, natural laugh +again before I die, such as I used to hear when I was a girl!"</p> +<p>Jabez Whitefoot inherited his mother's docility of disposition, +and, even when he grew to middle age, never dreamt of disputing his +father's absolute rule, and remained strictly neutral when his +wife, the daughter of an old comrade of his father, settled a few +miles away, fought stoutly at times against his tyranny.</p> +<p>"You are less than a man, Jabez," she would say to him, +indignantly, "to put up, at your age, with being lectured as if you +were a child. Parental obedience is all very well, and I hope I was +always obedient to my father; but when it comes to a body not being +permitted to have a soul of his own, it is going too far. If you +had told me that, when I became your wife, I was to become the +inmate of a dungeon for the rest of my existence, I wouldn't have +had you, not if you had been master of all the broad lands of +Leinster."</p> +<p>But, though unable to rouse her husband into making an effort +for some sort of freedom, Hannah Whitefoot had battled more +successfully in behalf of her son, John.</p> +<p>"You have had the management of your son, sir, and I will manage +mine," she said. "I will see that he does not grow up a reprobate +or a Papist, but at least he shall grow up a man, and his life +shall not be as hateful as mine is, if I can help it."</p> +<p>Many battles had already been fought on this point, but in the +end Hannah Whitefoot triumphed. Although her husband never, +himself, opposed his father's authority, he refused absolutely to +use his own to compel his wife to submission.</p> +<p>"You know, sir," he said, "you had your own way with my mother +and me, and I say nothing for or against it. Hannah has other +ideas. No one can say that she is not a good woman, or that she +fails in her duty to me. All people do not see life from the same +point of view. She is just as conscientious, in her way, as you are +in yours. She reads her Bible and draws her own conclusions from +it, just as you do; and as she is the mother of the child, and as I +know she will do her best for it, I shall not interfere with her +way of doing it."</p> +<p>And so Hannah won at last, and although, according to modern +ideas, the boy's training would have been considered strict in the +extreme, it differed very widely from that which his father had had +before him. Sounds of laughter, such as never had been heard within +the walls of the house, since Zephaniah laid stone upon stone, +sometimes issued from the room where Hannah and the child were +together alone, and Zephaniah was out with Jabez about the farm; +and Hannah herself benefited, as much as did the child, by her +rebellion against the authorities. Jabez, too, was conscious that +home was brighter and pleasanter than it had been, and when +Zephaniah burst into a torrent of indignation, when he discovered +that the child had absolutely heard some fairy stories from its +mother, Jabez said quietly:</p> +<p>"Father, I wish no dispute. I have been an obedient son to you, +and will continue so to my life's end; but if you are not satisfied +with the doings of my wife, I will depart with her. There are +plenty who will be glad to let me a piece of land; and if I only +work there as hard as I work here, I shall assuredly be able to +support her and my boy. So let this be the last word between +us."</p> +<p>This threat put an end to the struggle. Zephaniah had, like most +of his class, a keen eye to the main chance, and could ill spare +the services of Jabez and his thrifty and hard-working wife; and +henceforth, except by pointed references, in the lengthy morning +and evening prayers, to the backsliding in his household, he held +his peace.</p> +<p>Between the Castle and Zephaniah Whitefoot there had never been +any intercourse. The dowager Mrs. Davenant hated the Cromwellite +occupier of her estate, not only as a usurper, but as the +representative of the man who had slain her husband. She never +alluded to his existence, and had always contrived, in her rides +and walks, to avoid any point from which she could obtain so much +as a distant view of the square, ugly house which formed a blot on +the fair landscape. She still spoke of the estate as if it extended +to its original boundaries, and ignored absolutely the very +existence of Zephaniah Whitefoot, and all that belonged to him. But +when her son and Jabez grew to man's estate, at about the same +period, they necessarily at times crossed each other's paths; and +as in them the prejudices and enmities of their elders were +somewhat softened, they would, when they met on the road, exchange +a passing nod or a brief "Good morning."</p> +<p>Another generation still, and the boys of the two houses met as +friends. Thanks to his mother's successful rebellion, John +Whitefoot grew up a hearty, healthy boy, with a bright eye, a merry +laugh, and a frank, open bearing.</p> +<p>"One would think," his grandfather remarked angrily one day, as +the boy went out, whistling gaily, to fetch in a young colt Jabez +was about to break, "that John was the son of a malignant, or one +of the men of Charles Stuart, rather than of a God-fearing tiller +of the soil."</p> +<p>"So long as he fears God, and walks in the right way, he is none +the worse for that, father," Jabez said stoutly; "and even you +would hardly say that his mother has failed in her teachings in +that respect. I do not know that, so long as one has the words of +Scripture in his heart, he is any the better for having them always +on his lips; in other respects, I regret not that the boy should +have a spirit and a fire which I know I lack myself. Who can say +what may yet take place here! The Stuarts are again upon the +throne, and, with James's leaning towards Papacy, there is no +saying whether, some day, all the lands which Cromwell divided +among his soldiers may not be restored to their original +possessors, and in that case our sons may have to make their way in +other paths of life than ours; and, if it be so, John will +assuredly be more likely to make his way than I should have +done."</p> +<p>"We would never surrender, save with our lives, what our swords +have won. We will hold the inheritance which the Lord has given +us," the old man said fiercely.</p> +<p>"Yes, father; and so said those whose lands we have inherited. +So said Walter Davenant, of whose lands we are possessed. It will +be as God wills it. He has given to us the lands of others, and it +may be that he will take them away again. The times have changed, +father, and the manners; and I am well pleased to see that John, +while I am sure he is as true to the faith as I am myself, will +take broader and, perhaps, happier views of life than I have +done."</p> +<p>Zephaniah gave a snort of displeasure. He grieved continually at +the influence which his daughter-in-law exercised over her son, and +which now extended clearly to her husband; but Jabez was now a man +of five-and-forty, and had lately shown that, in some respects at +least, he intended to have his way, while Zephaniah himself, though +still erect and strong, was well-nigh eighty.</p> +<p>"Remember, Jabez," he said, "that it goes hard with those who, +having set their hands to the plough, turn aside."</p> +<p>"I shall not turn aside, father," Jabez said quietly. "I have +gone too long along a straight furrow to change now; but I am not +ill pleased that my son should have a wider scope. I trust and +believe that he will drive his furrow as straight as we have done, +although it may not be exactly in the same line."</p> +<p>But neither Zephaniah nor old Mrs. Davenant knew that their +respective grandsons had made friends, although both the boys' +fathers knew, and approved of it, although for somewhat different +reasons.</p> +<p>"The Whitefoot boy," Mr. Davenant had said to his wife, "is, I +fancy from what I have seen of him, of a different type to his +father and grandfather. I met him the other day when I was out, and +he spoke as naturally and outspokenly as Walter himself. He seems +to have got rid of the Puritanical twang altogether. At any rate, +he will do Walter no harm; and, indeed, I should say that there was +a solid good sense about him, which will do Master Walter, who is +somewhat disposed to be a madcap, much good. Anyhow, he is a better +companion for the boy than the lads down in the village; and there +is no saying, wife, how matters may go in this unhappy country. It +may be that we may come to our own again. It may be that we may +lose what is left to us. Anyhow, it can do no harm to Walter that +he should have, as a friend, one in the opposite camp."</p> +<p>Somewhat similar was the talk between Hannah and Jabez, +although, in their case, the wife was the speaker.</p> +<p>"John has told me, Jabez, that he has several times met young +Davenant, and that the boy is disposed to be friendly with him; and +he has asked me to speak with you, to know whether you have any +objection to his making a friend of him."</p> +<p>"What do you say, Hannah?" Jabez asked cautiously. "My father, I +fear, would not approve of it."</p> +<p>"Your father need know nothing about it, Jabez. He is an old man +and a good man, but he clings to the ways of his youth, and deems +that things are still as they were when he rode behind Cromwell. I +would not deceive him did he ask; but I do not see that the matter +need be mentioned in his presence. It seems to me that it will be +good for John to be friends with this boy. He is almost without +companionship. We have acquaintance, it is true, among the other +settlers of our faith, but such companionship as he has there will +not open his mind or broaden his views. We are dull people here for +a lad. Had we had other children it might have been different.</p> +<p>"I have heard my mother speak of her life as a girl, in England, +and assuredly it was brighter and more varied than ours; and it +seems not to me that the pleasures which they had were sinful, +although I have been taught otherwise; but, as I read my Bible, I +cannot see that innocent pleasures are in any way denied to the +Lord's people; and such pleasure as the companionship of the young +Davenant can give John will, I think, be altogether for his +good."</p> +<p>"But the lad is a Papist, Hannah."</p> +<p>"He is, Jabez; but boys, methinks, do not argue among themselves +upon points of doctrine; and I have no fear that John will ever be +led from the right path, nor indeed, though it is presumption for a +woman to say so, do I feel so sure as our ministers that ours is +the only path to heaven. We believe firmly that it is the best +path, but others believe as firmly in their paths; and I cannot +think, Jabez, that all mankind, save those who are within the fold +of our church, can be condemned by the good Lord to perdition."</p> +<p>"Your words are bold, Hannah, and I know not what my father and +the elders of the church would say, were they to hear them. As to +that I will not argue, but methinks that you are right in saying +that the companionship of the young Davenant will do our boy no +harm.</p> +<p>"But the lad must have his father's consent. Though I reckon +that we could count pounds where they could count shillings, yet, +in the opinion of the world, they assuredly stand above us. +Moreover, as it is only in human nature that they should regard us +as those who have despoiled them, John must have no dealings with +their son without their consent. If that be given, I have nought to +say against it."</p> +<p>And so John told Walter, next time they met, and learned in +reply that Walter had already obtained his father's consent to +going out rambles with him; so the boys became companions and +friends, and each benefited by it. To John, the bright, careless +ease and gaiety of Walter's talk and manner were, at first, strange +indeed, after the restraint and gloom of his home; but in time he +caught something of his companion's tone, until, as has been said, +his altered manner and bearing struck and annoyed his +grandfather.</p> +<p>On the other hand, the earnestness and solidity of John's +character was of benefit to Walter; and his simple truthfulness, +the straightforwardness of his principles, and his blunt frankness +in saying exactly what he thought, influenced Walter to quite as +large an extent as he had influenced John.</p> +<p>So the companionship between the lads had gone on for two years. +In fine weather they had met once or twice a week, and had taken +long rambles together, or, throwing themselves down on the slopes +facing the sea, had talked over subjects of mutual interest. +Walter's education was far in advance of that of his companion, +whose reading, indeed, had been confined to the Scriptures, and the +works of divines and controversialists of his own church, and whose +acquirements did not extend beyond the most elementary +subjects.</p> +<p>To him, everything that Walter knew was novel and strange; and +he eagerly devoured, after receiving permission from his mother, +the books which Walter lent him, principally histories, travels, +and the works of Milton and Shakespeare. As to the latter, Hannah +had at first some scruples; and it was only after setting herself, +with great misgivings as to the lawfulness of the act, to peruse +the book, that she suffered her son to read it. The volume only +contained some ten of Shakespeare's plays; and Hannah, on handing +the book to her son, said:</p> +<p>"I do not pretend, John, to understand all that is written +there, but I cannot see that there is evil in it. There are +assuredly many noble thoughts, and much worldly wisdom. Did I think +that your life would be passed here, I should say that it were +better for you not to read a book which gives a picture of a life +so different from what yours would be; but none can say what your +lot may be. And, although I have heard much about the wickedness of +the stage, I can see no line in this book which could do harm to +you. I do not see it can do you much good, John, but neither do I +see that it can do you any harm; therefore, if you have set your +mind on it, read it, my boy."</p> +<p>It was a stormy evening in the first week of November, 1688. The +wind was blowing in fierce gusts, making every door and casement +quiver in Davenant Castle, while, between the gusts, the sound of +the deep roar of the sea on the rocks far below could be plainly +heard. Mrs. Davenant was sitting in a high-backed chair, on one +side of the great fireplace, in which a pile of logs was blazing. +Her son had just laid down a book, which he could no longer see to +read, while her daughter-in-law was industriously knitting. Walter +was wandering restlessly between the fire and the window, looking +out at the flying clouds, through which the moon occasionally +struggled.</p> +<p>"Do sit down, Walter," his mother said at last. "You certainly +are the most restless creature I ever saw."</p> +<p>"Not always, mother; but I cannot help wondering about that ship +we saw down the coast, making for the bay. She was about ten miles +out, and seemed to be keeping her course when I saw her last, half +an hour ago; but I can see, by the clouds, that the wind has drawn +round more to the north, and I doubt much whether she will be able +to gain the bay."</p> +<p>"In that case, Walter," his father said, "if her captain knows +his business, he will wear round and run down for Waterford.</p> +<p>"I agree with you," he continued, after walking to the window +and watching the clouds, "that a vessel coming from the south will +hardly weather Bray Head, with this wind."</p> +<p>He had scarcely spoken when the door opened, and one of the +servants entered.</p> +<p>"Your honour, a boy has just come up from the village. He says +that John Considine sent him to tell you that a large ship is +driving in to shore, and that he thinks she will strike not far +from the village."</p> +<p>"Why, on earth," Mr. Davenant exclaimed, "doesn't he tack and +stand out to sea!"</p> +<p>"The boy says her foremast is gone, and they have lost all +management of her."</p> +<p>"In that case, God help them! There is little chance for them on +this rocky coast. However, I will go down at once, and see if +anything can be done.</p> +<p>"Katherine, do you see that there are plenty of hot blankets +ready, in case any of the poor fellows are washed ashore. I shall, +of course, send them up here.</p> +<p>"I suppose, Walter, you will come down with me."</p> +<p>But Walter had already disappeared, having slipped off as soon +as he had heard the message.</p> +<p>"Don't let that boy get into mischief, Fergus," old Mrs. +Davenant said.</p> +<p>"I am afraid, mother, he is beyond me," her son said, with a +smile. "No Davenant yet could ever keep out of mischief, and Walter +is no exception. However, fortunately for us, we generally get out +of scrapes as easily as we get into them."</p> +<p>"Not always, Fergus," she said, shaking her head.</p> +<p>"No, not always, mother; but exceptions, you know, prove the +rule."</p> +<p>"Well, Godfrey, do you want to go?" he asked the younger boy, +who had risen from the table, and was looking eagerly at him. "Of +course you do; but, mind, you must keep close to me.</p> +<p>"Ah, Father John!" he broke off, as an ecclesiastic, muffled up +to the throat in wrappings, entered the room. "Are you going down, +too?"</p> +<p>"Assuredly I am, Fergus. You don't think a trifle of wind would +keep me from doing my duty?"</p> +<p>In another two minutes, the two men and Godfrey sallied out. +They staggered as the wind struck them, and Godfrey clung to his +father's arm. Not a word was spoken as they made their way down the +steep descent to the village, which consisted of about a dozen +fishermen's huts. Indeed, speaking would have been useless, for no +word would have been heard above the howling of the storm.</p> +<p>The vessel was visible to them, as they made their way down the +hill. She was a complete wreck. The light of the moon was +sufficient for them to see that she had, as the boy said, lost her +foremast. Her sails were in ribbons, and she was labouring heavily +in the sea, each wave that struck her breaking over her bows and +sweeping along her deck. There was no hope for her. She could +neither tack nor wear, and no anchor would hold for a moment on +that rocky bottom, in such a sea.</p> +<p>On reaching the village, they joined a group of fishermen who +were standing under the shelter of the end of a cottage.</p> +<p>"Can nothing be done, Considine?" Mr. Davenant shouted, in the +ear of one of the fishermen.</p> +<p>"Not a thing, yer honour. She has just let drop one of her +anchors."</p> +<p>"But they could not hope it would hold there," Mr. Davenant +said.</p> +<p>"Not they, your honour, onless they were mad. They hoped it +would hoult so as to bring her head round; but the cable went, as +soon as the strain came. I saw her head go sharp up to the wind, +and then fall off again; not that it would have made much +difference in the end, though it would have given them half an hour +longer of life."</p> +<p>"Could we get a boat off with a line, if she strikes?"</p> +<p>"Look at the sea, yer honour. Mr. Walter has been asking us; but +there's no boat could get through that surf, not if all Ireland +dipinded on it."</p> +<p>"Where is Walter?"</p> +<p>"Sure and I can't tell ye, yer honour. He was here a few minutes +since; but what's come of him is more nor I can tell ye."</p> +<p>"He went off with Larry Doolan," a boy, who was standing next to +the fisherman, shouted.</p> +<p>"Then, as sure as fate, they are up to some mischief," Mr. +Davenant said. "Walter is bad enough by himself, but with Larry to +help him, it would take a regiment to look after them."</p> +<p>"They can't be in much mischief tonight, yer honour," the +fisherman said.</p> +<p>"Look, sir, she's coming in fast. She draws a power of water, +and she will strike in a minute or two."</p> +<p>"She seems crowded with men. Can nothing be done to help them?" +the priest asked.</p> +<p>"Nothing, your reverence. Praying for them is the only thing +that can help the poor sowls now."</p> +<p>"You are sure it's not possible to launch a boat, +Considine?"</p> +<p>"Look for yourself, yer honour. There's not a boat on the coast +that could get through them breakers."</p> +<p>"There she goes."</p> +<p>Even above the noise of the storm, a loud cry was heard, and the +crash of breaking timber as, with the shock, the main and mizzen +masts, weakened by the loss of the foremast, went over the sides. +The next great wave drove the vessel forward two or three +fathoms.</p> +<p>"That's her last move," Considine said. "The rocks will be +through her bottom, now."</p> +<p>"They are off," a boy shouted, running up.</p> +<p>"Who are off?" Considine asked.</p> +<p>"The young squire and Larry Doolan."</p> +<p>"Off where?" Mr. Davenant exclaimed.</p> +<p>"Off in the curragh, yer honour. Me and Tim Connolly helped them +carry it round the Nose, and they launched her there. There they +are. Sure you can see them for yourself."</p> +<p>The party rushed out from the shelter, and there, a quarter of a +mile along on the right, a small boat was seen, making its way over +the waves.</p> +<p>"Be jabers, yer honour, and they have done it," the boatmen +said, as Mr. Davenant gave a cry of alarm.</p> +<p>"I didn't think of the curragh, and if I had, she could not have +been launched here. Mr. Walter has hit on the only place where +there was a chance. Under the shelter of the Nose it might be done, +but nowhere else."</p> +<p>The Nose was a formidable reef of rocks, running off from a +point and trending to the south. Many a ship had gone ashore on its +jagged edge, but, with the wind from the northeast, it formed +somewhat of a shelter, and it was under its lee that Walter and +Larry had launched the curragh.</p> +<p>The curragh is still found on the Irish coast. It is a boat +whose greatest width is at the stern, so much so that it looks like +a boat cut in two. The floor is almost flat, and rises so much to +the bow that three or four feet are entirely out of water. They are +roughly built, and by no means fast, but they are wonderfully good +sea boats, for their size, and can live in seas which would swamp a +boat of ordinary build.</p> +<p>Walter had, with the assistance of Larry Doolan, built this boat +for going out fishing. It was extremely light, being a mere +framework covered with tarred canvas. As soon as Walter had reached +the village, and found that the fishermen considered that no boat +could possibly be put out, he had found and held a consultation +with Larry.</p> +<p>"Do you think the curragh could go out, Larry?"</p> +<p>"Not she, yer honour. She would just be broke up like an +eggshell with them breakers."</p> +<p>"But she might float, if we got beyond them, Larry."</p> +<p>"She might that," Larry agreed, "seeing how light she is."</p> +<p>"Well, will you go with me, Larry?"</p> +<p>"Sure and I would go anywhere with yer honour, but she could +never get out."</p> +<p>"I am thinking, Larry, that if we carry her along beyond the +Nose, we might find it calmer there."</p> +<p>"Well, we might," Larry agreed. "At any rate, we can try."</p> +<p>So, calling together two or three other boys, they had lifted +the light boat and carried it with its oars along the shore, until +they got beyond the Nose; but even here, it was a formidable +business to launch her, for, although the rocks broke the full +force of the seas, throwing the spray hundreds of feet up in the +air, the waves poured through the intervals, and dashed over the +lower rocks in such masses that formidable waves rolled in to the +shore.</p> +<p>After much consultation, the boys agreed that their best plan +was to scramble out on the rocks as far as possible, so as to +launch the boat beyond the break of the surf.</p> +<p>It was a hazardous enterprise, and the whole party were, several +times, nearly washed into the water as they struggled out. At last, +they reached a spot beyond which they could go no farther, as a +deep passage was here broken in the rock. But they were now beyond +the line of breakers.</p> +<p>After several vain efforts to launch the boat, in each of which +she narrowly escaped destruction, they agreed that the only plan +was, after a wave passed, to drop her on to a flat rock, which then +showed above the water, and to jump into her.</p> +<p>The two boys on shore were to hold the head rope, to prevent her +being dashed towards the land by the next wave, while Larry worked +with the oars to get her away from the ridge. The moment the wave +had passed under them, the head rope was to be thrown off.</p> +<p>This plan was carried out. The two boys had but just time to +jump into the boat and get out their oars, when the next wave +lifted the boat high on its crest. The lads holding the rope were +nearly torn from the rock, but they held on till the strain ceased, +then they threw in the rope, and Walter and Larry bent to their +oars.</p> +<p>"Row easy, Larry," Walter said, as the next wave passed under +them, "and put her head to each wave."</p> +<p>Terrible as was the sea, the curragh floated buoyantly over it, +though several times, as she rose to the steep waves, Walter +thought that she would be thrown right over. The worst part of +their task was over, when they got beyond the end of the Nose, for +up to that point they were forced to row across the course of the +waves, and continually to turn the boat, to face the great masses +of water which ran between the rocks. But once beyond the end of +the reef they turned her head north, and rowed straight towards the +ship.</p> +<p>"She has struck, Master Walter," Larry said, glancing over his +shoulder, "and her masts are gone."</p> +<p>"Lay out, then, Larry, there's no time to lose."</p> +<p>But, in spite of their efforts, the boat moved but slowly +through the water, for the wind caught her high bow with such force +that, at times, it needed all their strength and skill to keep her +head straight. At last they were close to the ship, which already +showed signs of breaking up. They ranged up alongside of it.</p> +<p>"Fasten a line to a keg and throw it in," Walter shouted.</p> +<p>In a minute, a keg was thrown overboard with a line attached. As +soon as it drifted a little way from the vessel's side, they hauled +it into the boat.</p> +<p>"Now, back, Larry; these waves would sink us in a moment, if we +turn our stern to them."</p> +<p>The wreck lay within a hundred yards of the shore, and the boat +backed until close to the line where the waves toppled over in a +torrent of foam.</p> +<p>"Now, Larry, keep her steady. We are as near as we dare go."</p> +<p>Then Walter stood up in the boat, took the keg and a foot or two +of line in his hand, and waited till the next wave passed under the +boat. He swung the keg round his head, and hurled it towards the +shore. Then he dropped into his seat, and gave two or three +vigorous strokes, and, when safely beyond the line of breakers, sat +quiet and watched the result.</p> +<p>"They have missed it the first time," he said. "Look! They are +going to run into the surf for it."</p> +<p>The group on the shore joined hands, and the next time the keg +was borne forward, in the tumble of foam, Considine ran forward and +seized it. The back rush took him from his feet, but the others +held on, and before the next wave came, the line was safely on the +beach. A strong cable was soon pulled ashore and firmly fixed. A +light line was attached to it, and the sailors at once began to +pass along.</p> +<p>"Shall we turn back now, Master Walter?"</p> +<p>"We will keep near the wreck for a few minutes longer, Larry. +She can't hold together long, and maybe we can pick somebody +up."</p> +<p>The vessel was indeed breaking up fast. Her stern was burst in, +and the waves, as they poured in at the opening, smashed up the +deck. Many of the crew had been washed overboard, and had instantly +disappeared.</p> +<p>As the boat approached the wreck, an officer, who had climbed +the shrouds, shouted out:</p> +<p>"Will your boat hold another?"</p> +<p>"Yes," Walter shouted back. "She will hold two more."</p> +<p>"I will try and swim to you," the officer said.</p> +<p>He threw off the long cloak, in which he was wrapped, and +unbuckled his sword and let it drop, unbuttoned and took off his +military coat, and, with some difficulty, got rid of his high +boots.</p> +<p>"Can you come a bit nearer?" he shouted.</p> +<p>"We daren't," Walter said. "A touch from one of those floating +timbers would send us to the bottom."</p> +<p>The officer waved his hand, and then sprang head foremost into +the sea. So long was he in the water, that Walter began to think he +must have struck against something, and was not coming up again; +when suddenly he appeared, within twenty yards of the boat. They +rowed towards him, instantly.</p> +<p>"You must get in over the stern," Walter said.</p> +<p>The officer was perfectly cool, and, placing his hands on the +stern, drew himself partly over it, and Walter, grasping his hand, +dragged him in. No sooner was he in, than Walter again hailed the +wreck.</p> +<p>"We can carry one more."</p> +<p>But those who were still on board were huddled up in the bow, +waiting their turn for the rope.</p> +<p>"There is a big un coming now," Larry exclaimed. "That will +finish her."</p> +<p>A wave, towering far above its fellows, was indeed approaching. +Higher and higher it rose. There was a wild cry from the wreck as +it surged over it. When it had passed, the sea was covered with +floating timbers, but the vessel was gone.</p> +<p>"We can do nothing now," Walter said. "We daren't go in among +that wreckage, and any who get hold of floating planks will drift +ashore.</p> +<p>"Now, Larry, back quietly, and let her drift down round the +Nose. We must keep her head to the waves."</p> +<p>Ten minutes, and they were abreast of the reef. As soon as they +were past it, Walter gave the word, and they rowed along, under its +shelter, to the point where they had embarked.</p> +<p>"Now, sir," Walter said, "we will back her up to that rock. When +we are close enough, you must jump."</p> +<p>This was safely accomplished.</p> +<p>"Now, Larry, row alongside when the next wave comes. We must +both scramble out as well as we can."</p> +<p>But by this time help was at hand. The boat had been anxiously +watched from the shore, and when, on the disappearance of the +wreck, she was seen to be making her way back to the Nose, Mr. +Davenant, with Considine and the priest, and the boys who had +assisted in getting her afloat, hurried along the shore to meet +her, the rest of the fishermen remaining behind, to aid any who +might be washed up from the wreck.</p> +<p>As soon as it was seen that they intended to land at the spot +where they had started, Considine and Mr. Davenant made their way +along the rock, and joined the officer just as he leapt ashore. The +boat came alongside on the top of the wave, and as this sank it +grazed the rock and capsized, but Walter and Larry grasped the +hands stretched out to them, and were hauled on to the rock, while +the next wave dashed the curragh in fragments on the beach.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch2" name="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: For James Or William.</h2> +<p>"My dear Walter," his father exclaimed as he embraced his son, +as he scrambled on shore, "you have behaved like a hero, indeed, +but you oughtn't to have done it.</p> +<p>"And you too, Larry. You both deserve a sound thrashing for the +fright you have given us."</p> +<p>"They may have frightened you, sir," the officer said; "but +assuredly, I owe my life to these brave lads. I have scarcely +thanked them yet, for indeed, until I felt my foot on the rock, I +had but small hopes of reaching shore safely in that cock boat of +theirs. After feeling that great ship so helpless against the +waves, it seemed impossible that a mere eggshell could float over +them.</p> +<p>"My name, sir, is Colonel L'Estrange, at your service."</p> +<p>"My name is Davenant, colonel, and I am truly glad that my son +has rescued you; but the sooner you are up at my place, the better, +sir. This is no weather for standing talking in shirtsleeves."</p> +<p>They now made their way along the rock back to the shore, and +then hurried to the village. There they learned that six men had +succeeded in getting to shore along the rope, before the vessel +broke up.</p> +<p>Telling Larry he had best have a glass of hot spirits, and then +turn into bed at once, and that he was to come up to the house the +first thing in the morning, Mr. Davenant, with the priest, Colonel +L'Estrange, and Walter made his way up to the house, to which the +men who had reached the shore had been already taken.</p> +<p>The party were met at the door by Mrs. Davenant, who had been +extremely anxious, for Godfrey had been sent home by his father as +soon as the wreck went to pieces, and had brought the news of +Walter's doings, up to that time.</p> +<p>"He is quite safe, Katherine," Mr. Davenant said, "but you +mustn't stop, either to scold him or praise him, at present.</p> +<p>"Hurry off, Walter, and get between the blankets. I will bring +you up some hot spiced wine directly.</p> +<p>"Katherine, this is Colonel L'Estrange, whom Walter has brought +ashore in his boat. You will excuse him, at present, for he has +been for hours exposed to the storm, and must be half frozen as +well as half drowned.</p> +<p>"Now, colonel, if you will come along with me, you will find a +bed with hot blankets ready, and, I doubt not, a blazing fire.</p> +<p>"Ah, here is the spiced wine. Take a draught of that before you +go upstairs. You can have another, after you are in bed."</p> +<p>Three more survivors from the wreck were presently brought up. +They had been washed ashore on planks, as indeed had many others, +but the rest had all been beaten to death against the rocks by the +breakers.</p> +<p>Walter slept late the next morning, and, when he came +downstairs, found that the others had already finished breakfast. +When he had eaten his meal, and listened to the gentle scolding +which his mother gave him for risking his life, he joined his +father, who was, with Colonel L'Estrange, pacing backwards and +forwards on the terrace in front of the house. The first fury of +the storm was over, but it still blew strongly, and a very heavy +sea was running.</p> +<p>"Ah, my young friend," Colonel L'Estrange said, advancing, "I am +glad to see you, and to be able to thank you more warmly than I was +able to do last night, when the very words seemed frozen on my +lips, for having saved my life. It was a gallant deed, and one +which your father may well be proud of. It showed not only bravery +of the highest kind, but coolness and judgment, which are virtues +even more rare. I predict a brilliant future for you, and if, in +any way, my aid may be of use to you, believe me, it will be at +your service."</p> +<p>"It was well you were a good swimmer, sir," Walter said, "for we +could not have helped you, if you had not been able to help +yourself, for the sea was covered with pieces of wreck, and as the +boat was only covered with canvas, the slightest touch from one of +the jagged ends would have made a hole in it. I am very much +obliged to you for your kind offer of assistance; but, at present, +we have not made up our minds what I am to be.</p> +<p>"Have we, father?"</p> +<p>"No, indeed, Walter. You have told me that you would like, at +any rate for a time, to see something of the world before settling +down here for life; but it is no easy matter to say what is best +for you to do. Ireland offers but little field for anyone's +ambition. Since King James came to the throne, and especially since +Tyrconnell became governor, things have been a little more +favourable for us; and I have hopes, yet, that justice will be done +to the Catholic population of this unhappy country.</p> +<p>"Is it not monstrous, Colonel L'Estrange, that the very men who +had a hand in the rebellion against King Charles the First, should +still be in possession, during the reign of his son, of the lands +which were taken from my father because he was loyal to his king? +And so it is all over Ireland. The descendants of Cromwell's men +lord it in the homes of those who were faithful to King +Charles."</p> +<p>"It certainly seems so, sir," Colonel L'Estrange said; "but I am +no politician. I am simply a soldier, and obey orders; but I own +that it does seem a cruel injustice, that the great portion of the +lands of this country should be held by the descendants of +Cromwell's soldiers, while the lawful owners, whose only fault was +that they were loyal to their king, should still be dispossessed of +it."</p> +<p>"But I think better times are coming," Mr. Davenant said. "There +can be no doubt of the king's leaning towards our religion. He has +been restrained from carrying his goodwill towards us into effect, +by his privy councillors and by the English party here, whose +interest it is to prevent any change being made, and who constantly +misrepresent the feelings of this country. From the days when +Strongbow first landed, this island has been the prey of +adventurers, whose only object has been to wrest the land from the +native population."</p> +<p>"But you are yourself a descendant of one of the early English +settlers, Mr. Davenant."</p> +<p>"That is true enough," Mr. Davenant said smiling, "and, no +doubt, he was as bad as the rest of them; but, you see, we have +held the land for some centuries now, and, like the other +descendants of Strongbow's men, have come to look at matters from +the Irish point of view, rather than the English. However, I hope +for better times."</p> +<p>"You haven't heard the news, then, about the Prince of +Orange?"</p> +<p>"No; what is the news?" Mr. Davenant asked. "There have been +rumours, for years, that he intended to make a bid for the English +throne; but I have heard nothing else."</p> +<p>"There was a report, before I left London, that he has already +sailed from Holland," Colonel L'Estrange replied; "and, indeed, I +have no doubt the rumour is well founded."</p> +<p>"But he will never succeed," Mr. Davenant said eagerly. "He will +be put down as easily as Monmouth was."</p> +<p>"I do not know," Colonel L'Estrange said gravely. "The +Protestant feeling in England is very strong. Monmouth was vain and +empty headed, and he wrecked his own cause. The Dutchman is a +different sort of man altogether, and one thing is certain: if King +James can make a mess of matters, he is sure to do so. The Stuarts +have always been feeble and indecisive, and James is the most +feeble and indecisive of them. If William succeeds in effecting a +landing, I think his chance of success is a good one."</p> +<p>"He may reign in England," Mr. Davenant broke in passionately, +"but he will not reign in Ireland.</p> +<p>"But forgive me," he broke off. "I forgot, for a moment, that +you are an Englishman, and my guest."</p> +<p>"You need not apologize, Mr. Davenant. As I said, I am a soldier +and no politician. My ancestors were royalists, and I have no great +love for the Dutch stadtholder, who will be supported in England by +the class who rose against King Charles. At the same time, it is +difficult to feel much enthusiasm for the Stuarts. The first was a +pedant. The second threw away his chances, over and over again, by +his duplicity and want of faith. The third was utterly selfish and +unprincipled. The fourth is a gloomy bigot. Charles was, and James +is, a pensioner of France. How can men be ready to sacrifice +everything for such a race as this?"</p> +<p>"That is not the way in which we look at it in Ireland," Mr. +Davenant said. "The wars here are waged under various pretences. +Someone is goaded into rebellion, false charges are preferred +wholesale, or there is a religious pretext; but we all know what is +at the bottom of them all, simply the greed of English adventurers +for Irish land; and, not content with having dispossessed the +ancient owners of three-fourths of the cultivated land of the +country, they want the remainder, and under the pretence that we, +the descendants of the early settlers, are in sympathy with our +Irish neighbours, they have marked us out for destruction, and +already a great portion of our estates is in the hands of +Cromwell's men. So gross have been the abuses, that the commission, +which the king appointed to inquire into the seizure of our +estates, only ventured to sit one day, for the proofs brought +forward were so overwhelmingly strong that it was seen at once +that, did the inquiry continue, it would be made manifest to all +the world that justice could be satisfied by nothing less than a +clear sweep of all those men who have seized our estates.</p> +<p>"If Ireland rises in favour of King James, it will not be for +any love for the Stuarts; but it will be to recover the land which +has been illegally wrested from us, and which, if Dutch William and +his Whig adherents gain the upper hand, will be taken from us +forever. The religious element will, of course, count for much. +Already we have suffered persecution for our religion; and, if the +Whigs could have their way, they would stamp it out utterly, with +fire and sword. Things have looked better, during the last five or +six years, than they have done since Cromwell first put foot in +Ireland. We have begun to hope for justice. Tyrconnell has stood up +for us, and, with the goodwill of James, has gained many +concessions. We have now what we never had before, an Irish army. +The land thieves have been fairly alarmed, for they have seen that +the long delayed justice will be done us at last. Many have sold +back their lands to the original owners, and have left the country. +Others are only holding out for better terms. Another ten years of +James's reign, and things would have righted themselves; but, if +the Dutchman ascends the throne of England, there is no hope for +Ireland, save in the sword."</p> +<p>"Well, we must hope it will not come to that," Colonel +L'Estrange said. "I am ready to fight the battles of England on the +Continent, but civil war, with all its horrors, sickens me; and +civil war here is not like our civil war in England. There were no +race animosities there, no memory of cruel wrongs on one side or +the other. Men fought for a principle, but there were no atrocities +committed, on either side, like those which have devastated +Germany. The peasant ploughed the land, and the trader kept open +his shop unmolested. It is true that, towards the end, there were +confiscations of the property of those who still continued the +strife, and a few executions of individuals; but, taking it as a +whole, no war has ever caused so little suffering, to the people at +large, as did the civil war in England; but assuredly, a war in +Ireland now, like those which have gone before, would be marked by +the foulest atrocities, massacres, and destruction on both +sides."</p> +<p>"Yes," Mr. Davenant said, "I must own that, for downright brutal +and bloody ferocity, the wars in Ireland rival those of the +Huns."</p> +<p>Walter had listened in silence to this conversation. His father +now turned to him.</p> +<p>"Have you heard whether Larry has recovered from his adventure +of yesterday as well as you have?"</p> +<p>"No, father, I have not heard anything about it. I came out here +directly I finished my breakfast. How are the people who were +brought up here?"</p> +<p>"They are going on well, Walter, but they were all so bruised, +as they were being drawn up through the surf, that it will be some +days before any of them can leave their beds.</p> +<p>"How many had you on board, colonel?"</p> +<p>"I did not see the list of passengers, but there were twelve or +fourteen aft, and, from what I saw, I should think as many more +forward. There were twenty-three men in the crew. I suppose, +altogether, there were some fifty on board."</p> +<p>"Are you going to make a long stay in Ireland?"</p> +<p>"No; I shall only remain here a week or two. I am the bearer of +some letters from the king to Tyrconnell; and that reminds me that +I must be making my way on to Dublin."</p> +<p>"I will ride in with you," Mr. Davenant said. "I must tell my +friends this news that you bring. It seems to me to be most +serious. I will have a horse round for you here, in half an hour, +if that will suit you."</p> +<p>"Perfectly," Colonel L'Estrange replied. "That will just give me +time to walk round to the village, to see the lad you call Larry, +for I could not go without thanking him for the share he had in +preserving my life.</p> +<p>"Perhaps you will go down with me, Walter, and show me his +house?"</p> +<p>When they reached the shore, they found the whole population of +the village engaged in dragging up the spars, planks, and pieces of +timber with which the rocks were strewn.</p> +<p>"There is Larry," Walter said. "It is evident that there's +nothing the matter with him."</p> +<p>Larry was, indeed, just coming up, dragging a piece of timber +behind him; while, in his left hand, he held a large bundle of +fragments of wood, of different sizes, which, as well as the +timber, he was taking home for firing.</p> +<p>"Larry, come here. The English gentleman wants to speak to +you."</p> +<p>The boy dropped his wood, and came up.</p> +<p>"My lad," Colonel L'Estrange said, "I am greatly indebted to you +for your work of last night. Take this," and he placed a purse of +ten guineas in Larry's hand.</p> +<p>"And remember that I am still greatly your debtor, and that if, +at any future time, you should be in a position in which my aid may +be useful, you have only to let me know, and I will stand your +friend."</p> +<p>The sum appeared to Larry to be enormous.</p> +<p>"Long life to yer honour, and it's proud I am to have been of +service to such a grand gentleman. It's thankful I am for your +kindness, and if ever you want a boy to do a job for you, it's +myself that will be proud to do it. As to yesterday, I just came +because the young squire tould me to, and thankful I am that he got +back safe to shore, for, if we had been drowned, I don't know +whatever I should have said to the squire."</p> +<p>Two days after the shipwreck, Walter and John Whitefoot met at +the place which they had agreed on, when they last saw each other +four days before.</p> +<p>"I heard of your brave deed on the night of the storm, Walter. +Everyone is talking of it; and even my grandfather, who has seldom +a good word for any of you at the Castle, said that it was a noble +deed. It was as much as I could do not to say, 'Yes, he is a friend +of mine;' for I felt proud of you, I can tell you."</p> +<p>"It is all nonsense, John. I have often been out in a curragh in +bad weather, though never in quite such a storm as that; but, once +launched, she rode lightly enough, and scarce shipped a spoonful of +water."</p> +<p>"I should like to have been there," John said; "but I should +have been no use. My people have always been against my going down +to the sea, deeming it a pure waste of time, except that they let +me go down to swim. I can do that well, you know; but they have +always forbidden my going out in boats. Now, you see, it is proved +that it is not a waste of time, for you have been able to save many +lives. The thought must make you very happy."</p> +<p>"Well, I don't know that it does, particularly," Walter said +carelessly. "Of course, I was glad at the time, but I have not +thought much about it one way or the other, since. You see, the +news that has come has driven everything else out of our +heads."</p> +<p>"Is it true, then, the report that we heard yesterday, that +William of Orange has set out for England?"</p> +<p>"Yes, it is true enough; and I am afraid, by what I hear, that +it is likely to cause all sorts of troubles."</p> +<p>"I suppose," John said gravely; "and of course, in this matter +my people think differently from yours. You know we agreed that we +would never talk on these subjects, but I am afraid the time is +coming when there will be nothing else to be talked of."</p> +<p>"I am afraid so, too, John. My father thinks that there will be +civil war again."</p> +<p>"Of course my grandfather is delighted," John said quietly. "He +has been greatly disturbed in his mind, for some months, owing to +the leanings of King James towards the Irish, which seem to point +to his having to give up no small portion of the lands."</p> +<p>"We thought so too, John; and although it is your father who +would lose, and mine who would gain, I don't think that even you +can deny that it would be reasonable. Your grandfather got the land +from mine because he fought for Cromwell against the king, and +Cromwell got the best of it. Well, it seems only reasonable that, +when the king again came to the throne, those who fought for him +should get their own again."</p> +<p>"It does seem so, Walter, I must own; and I am sure I should not +have cared, for myself, if the land was given back again to your +father tomorrow. Then I suppose we should go back to England; and, +as I know my grandfather has done well, and has laid by a good deal +of money, they could take a farm there; and there would be more +chance of their letting me enter upon some handicraft. I would +rather that, by a great deal, than farming. All these books you +have lent me, Walter, have shown me what great and noble deeds +there are to be done in the world--I don't mean in fighting, you +know, but in other ways. And they make the life here, toiling on +the farm from sunrise to sunset, with no object save that of laying +by every year more money, seem terribly empty and worthless.</p> +<p>"By the way, my grandfather was, yesterday evening, rating my +father because, instead of always keeping me hard at work, he +allowed me once or twice a week to be away for hours wasting my +time--which means, though he didn't know it, going about with you. +My father said stoutly that he did not think the time was +altogether wasted, for that, in the last two years, I had made a +notable advance in learning, and he was satisfied that I had +benefited much by these intervals of recreation. Thereupon my +grandfather grumbled that I was too fond of reading, and that I was +filling my mind with all sorts of nonsense, whereas true wisdom was +to be found in one book only.</p> +<p>"My father said that was true of religious wisdom, but that, for +the advancement of the world, it was needed that men should learn +other things. Of course, my grandfather had three or four texts +ready at hand; but my father had him by saying: 'You see, father, +all the commands issued to the Jews are not strictly applicable to +us--for example, they were ordered not to use horses; and I do not +remember that Cromwell felt that he was doing wrong, when he raised +his ironsides.' That was a poser, and so the matter dropped."</p> +<p>Ten days later, when the boys met, John said:</p> +<p>"This is the last time we shall meet for some time, Walter, for +I am going up to Derry to stay with a cousin of my father, who is +settled there and exercises the trade of a currier. I said, some +months ago, that I should like to learn a trade, but everyone was +against it, then. They seemed to think that, as I should some day +have the land, it was flying in the face of Providence to think of +anything else. But I suppose the fact that everything is so +unsettled now, and that there is no saying what may come of these +events in England, may have made them think differently.</p> +<p>"At any rate, my father said to me yesterday: 'We have been +talking over what you said, about wishing to learn a trade. If all +goes on well, there is no occasion for you to learn any business +save that of farming; but none can say what the Lord may not have +in store for us, or what troubles may come upon us. In any case, it +will do you no harm to see a little of the world outside our farm; +and, therefore, your grandfather and I have settled that you shall +go for a few months to my cousin, who, as you know, is a currier in +Derry. He has often written, asking you to go and stay with him, +seeing that he has no children of his own. Learn what you can of +his business; and if it should be that you find it more to your +liking than farming, I should not be one to hold you back from +following the bent of your inclinations.</p> +<p>"'But this is between ourselves. My father's ideas on these +subjects you know, and it would cause much trouble, did he think +that you had any idea of not following in the path in which he and +I have trod. But to me it seems better that each should go on the +path towards which his mind is turned--that is, when he has made +quite sure, after long reflection and prayer, that it is no idle +whim but a settled earnest desire. If, then, after your visit to +your uncle, you feel that you are truly called to follow a life +other than that you would lead here, I shall not oppose you. The +Lord has blessed our labours. The land is fertile, and I can well +provide the moneys that will be needful to start you, either in +business with my cousin, or in such way as may appear best.'</p> +<p>"I thanked him gravely, but indeed, Walter, I had difficulty in +restraining myself from shouting with joy, for a life like that of +my father and grandfather here would be very grievous to me. I have +no desire to gain greater wealth than we have, but I long for a +higher life than this."</p> +<p>"I don't know, John," Walter said doubtfully. "Unless, as you +say, these troubles make a difference, you will be a large +landowner some day; and these bitternesses will die out in time, +and you will take a very different position from that which your +grandfather holds. Of course, we regard him as a usurper, but you +know, in the third generation the grandson of a usurper becomes a +legitimate monarch. My ancestors usurped the land from the native +Irish by the sword, just as your grandfather did from us; but we +came, in time, to be regarded as the natural lords of the soil, and +so will you. But to be a currier! That strikes me as a tremendous +come down!"</p> +<p>"I care nothing about coming up or coming down," John said +simply. "I long only for an honest mode of life, in which, instead +of dwelling solitary, and seeing no one from year to year save at +our Sabbath meetings, I may mix with others and take part in a more +active and busy life. In itself, I do not suppose that the trade of +a currier is a very pleasant one; but that matters little if, when +work is done, one has leisure for some sort of communication with +others, and for improving one's mind. It will be to me something +like what going to court in London would be to you, Walter. I am +most grieved about my mother. She will miss me sorely.</p> +<p>"She said to me last night, 'I fear somewhat, John, that the +course I have taken with you has greatly unfitted you for settling +down here, as we have done before you; but although I shall miss +you sadly, I do not blame myself for what I have done. I think +myself, my son, that there are higher lives than that spent in +tilling the soil from boyhood to old age. It is true the soil must +be tilled. There must be ever hewers of wood and drawers of water; +but God has appointed for each his place, and I think, my son, that +you have that within you which would render the life with which +your father and grandfather have been well contented an irksome one +for you.</p> +<p>"'I have no fear that we shall be always separated. Your +grandfather is an old man, and when the Lord pleases to take him, +your father and I will be free to do as we choose, and can, if we +like, dispose of this land and quit this troubled country, and +settle in England or elsewhere, near where you may be. It is true +that we shall get little for the land; for, broad as are its acres, +who will give much for a doubtful title? But there is ample laid by +for our old age, and I see not the sense of labouring incessantly, +as does your grandfather, merely to lay up stores which you will +never enjoy. Did I see any signs of a decrease in the bitter +animosity which parties feel towards each other here, I might think +differently; but there is no prospect of peace and goodwill +returning in your time, and therefore, no object in your father and +I toiling on for the rest of our lives, when the return of our +labour will be of little worth to you. Such being so, I do not +regret that your thoughts turn to the world of which you have read +in books. The world is but a secondary consideration to us, 'tis +true, but I can see no special goodness in a life of dull +monotony.'"</p> +<p>"I wonder where your mother got hold of her ideas, John. She is +so different from most of your people."</p> +<p>"She is indeed," John agreed. "It was from her mother that she +received her teaching. I know she was not happy with her husband, +who was as gloomy and fanatical as is my grandfather, and she ever +looked back to the happy days of her girlhood in England. I think +she did for my mother just what my mother has done for me, only the +difference is that she never had sufficient influence with her +husband to enable her to carry out her views for her daughter, +while my mother--"</p> +<p>"Has managed to have her own way," Walter laughed.</p> +<p>"I suppose so, and that in spite of my grandfather. Certainly I +owe everything to her, for I am sure, if it hadn't been for her, my +father would never have ventured to oppose the old man, even so far +as to let me know you. It makes one sad to think, Walter, that +religion should sometimes make those who think most of it tyrants +in their families. My grandfather is terribly earnest in his +religion. There is no pretence or mistake about it; but, for all +that, or rather because of it, he would, if he could, allow no one +else to have a will or opinion of his own."</p> +<p>"I don't think it's the religion, John, but the manner of the +religion. My mother and grandmother are both as religious as anyone +could be; but I don't think I ever heard either of them say a hard +word of a soul. Their religion is a pleasure to them, and not a +task, and I know that some years ago, when we had a priest who was +always denouncing the Protestants, they very soon managed to get +him changed for another.</p> +<p>"What a funny thing it is, to be sure, that people should +quarrel about their religion! After all, we believe all the same +important things; and as to others, what does it matter, provided +we all do our best in the way that seems right to us?"</p> +<p>But this was too liberal for John. He had been brought up in too +strait a sect to subscribe to such an opinion as this.</p> +<p>"I do think it makes a difference, Walter," he said slowly.</p> +<p>"I don't," Walter said. "It's just a matter of bringing up. If +you had been born in the Castle, and I had been born in your place, +you would have thought as I do, and I should have thought as you +do; and of course, still more if you had been born in a Catholic +country like Italy, where you would never have heard of +Protestantism, and I had been born in a Protestant country like +Holland, where I should never have had a chance of becoming a +Catholic. Very few people ever change their religion. They just +live and die as they have been born and educated."</p> +<p>"It seems so," John said after a pause; "but the question is too +deep for us."</p> +<p>"Quite so," Walter laughed, "and I don't want to argue it.</p> +<p>"Well, when are you going to start?"</p> +<p>"I am off tomorrow morning. My father has an acquaintance in +Dublin who is starting for Derry, and I am to go in his +charge."</p> +<p>For another hour the boys chatted together, and then, with +mutual promises of writing regularly, whenever they had the chance, +they said goodbye; and the following morning John started with his +father to Dublin, and next day journeyed north towards Derry.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch3" name="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: The King In Ireland.</h2> +<p>On the 12th of November, a vessel arrived in Dublin with the +news that William of Orange had landed at Torbay on the 5th. The +news created the wildest excitement. The Protestants, who had been +deeply depressed, by the apparent intention of James to hand back, +to their original owners, the land which had been wrested from +them, now took heart and began openly to arm. Upon the other hand, +the Catholics felt that, if William and the Whigs succeeded to the +chief power in England, their faith, their remaining property, and +their lives were alike menaced, and they, too, prepared to fight to +the last for all they held dear.</p> +<p>Walter rode several times with his father into Dublin. The +streets presented a strange spectacle. They were crowded with +Protestant fugitives from the country districts. These had forsaken +all, and flocked into Dublin, fearing that the Irish would +retaliate for past grievances by a general massacre. The banks of +the Liffey were crowded by these fugitives, who, with tears and +cries, besought the captains of the vessels lying there to give +them passage to England. All sorts of rumours of bloodshed, +massacre, and destruction circulated through the city. The +Protestants in the north were said to have fallen upon the Catholic +population, and to have put them to the sword, while in the south +and west it was said the Catholics had taken the same measures +against the Protestants. Both reports were equally false, but they +were generally believed, and added to the panic and dismay.</p> +<p>In fact, however, both parties were waiting. The Protestants +dared not commence hostilities until assured that William was +firmly seated on the English throne, and ready to come to their +assistance. The Catholics were equally desirous to maintain the +peace, until assured that no hope remained save the sword.</p> +<p>A month after John Whitefoot had left, Walter received a letter +from him:</p> +<p>Dear Friend Walter:</p> +<p>You will have heard, no doubt, of the troubles that have arisen +here. My father sent me here to learn a trade, but at present, all +men's minds are so agitated that there is no talk save of arms and +of fighting. My kinsman is as bad as the others. He spends the day +going hither and thither among the townsfolk, and has been made an +officer in one of the six companies which have been raised here, +and pays no further heed to business. The town is mightily divided: +the younger and more zealous spirits are all for fighting, while +almost all the older and wealthier citizens are opposed to +this.</p> +<p>"This is how the trouble began. The Earl of Tyrconnell sent, as +you know, three thousand soldiers to help King James, at the first +news of the landing of the prince, and to do so he withdrew the +regiment which was in garrison in this town. On the 7th of this +month of December, the people here heard that the regiment of the +Earl of Antrim was approaching the town to take the place of those +troops. When the news arrived, there was a sort of panic in the +town, and the news was spread that this regiment was intended to +massacre the people.</p> +<p>"Why this should be I do not know, and I cannot but think that +the alarm was a false one. However, the regiment arrived on the +river bank, and some of its officers crossed and entered the city. +When they were in council with some of the leading citizens, a +party of apprentices, with some of the rabble, shut the gates. For +some time there was great debate. The older citizens were mostly in +favour of admitting the earl's regiment. Why, they asked, should +Derry alone defy the power of Tyrconnell and King James? If King +William made his cause good, and came over to Ireland to aid the +Protestants, it would be time enough for the men of Derry to join +him, and to fight for their faith; but if they now stood alone, +they could do no good to the cause of King William, and would bring +destruction on themselves and their city.</p> +<p>"But these arguments were of no avail. The apprentices and all +the young men of the town, and the fugitives who had come in from +the country round, were all for fighting, and so the gates were +kept shut; and Lord Antrim, seeing that he could do nothing against +such a strong place as Derry, marched away with his regiment. This +seems to me a fair account of what has happened. What will come of +it I know not; but, being a Protestant, my feelings would incline +me to the side of William. Yet it seems to me that his friends here +have acted hastily, in thus adventuring themselves against all the +forces of King James, and that sore trouble is like to come upon +the town. However, it is not for me to judge. I am as warm as any +of them in defence of our religion, and shall try to do my best in +case of need. I am sorry, dear Walter, that we have to take +different sides in this quarrel, but of course we are each of the +opinion of our elders, and must not blame each other for what is +indeed not of our own choosing.</p> +<p>"This is a fair city, standing on rising ground by a stately +river, and with strong walls; and at any other time life would be +very pleasant here, although living among so many people seems +strange to me, after my life on the farm. I hear all sorts of tales +about fighting in other parts, and of the slaughter of Protestants +by rapparees, but know not whether they are true. As my cousin, who +is an earnest man, is wholly taken up with the present affairs, and +all business is at a stand, I have little to do, and spend much of +my time by the river side, and have taken to fishing, which I like +mightily, and yesterday I caught a fish weighing three pounds, and +we had him for dinner. I often wish you were with me. Write me a +long letter, and tell me all that you are doing.</p> +<p>"Your affectionate friend,</p> +<p>"John Whitefoot."</p> +<p>Indeed, throughout all Ireland preparations for war were going +on. All over the north, the Protestants were banding themselves in +arms; and, under the excuse of some outrages, committed by a few +isolated parties of peasants known as rapparees, were everywhere +harrying the Catholics, carrying fire and sword into quiet +villages, burning, slaying, and carrying off their grain and +cattle. Throughout the whole of Ulster, Charlemont and +Carrickfergus alone remained in the hands of King James's +troops.</p> +<p>England and Scotland had now accepted William as their king, and +James had fled to France. With the exception of Ulster, Ireland +remained staunch to King James. In the south Lord Inshiquin, and in +Connaught Lord Kingston, had each raised corps among the Protestant +settlers for William, and were the first to commence hostilities, +and the latter, marching north, made an attack on +Carrickfergus.</p> +<p>Tyrconnell now issued commissions to several of the Catholic +nobility and gentry, to raise troops for the king's service, and as +the people responded to the call readily, some fifty regiments of +foot and several troops of horse were soon raised. But though men +were forthcoming in abundance, there was a great want of arms and +all munitions of war. There were, in the government stores, only +twenty thousand arms, and most of these were old weapons, that had +been returned to store as unserviceable, and only about a thousand +muskets were found to be of any use. There was no artillery or +ammunition, and no money with which these necessaries could be +purchased abroad. The gentry would have willingly contributed, but +all had been well-nigh ruined by the confiscation of their +property, and could do little towards filling the treasury.</p> +<p>Never did a nation enter upon a war so badly provided with all +necessaries as did Ireland, when she resolved to adhere to the +cause of her king, and to resist the power of England and Scotland, +aided by that of Holland and the Protestant States of Germany.</p> +<p>Mr. Davenant had been one of the first to respond to the +invitation of Tyrconnell, and had set about raising a troop of +horse. He had no difficulty in getting the number of men in Bray +and the surrounding villages, and the difficulty in mounting them +was overcome by the patriotism of sundry gentlemen and citizens of +Dublin, who willingly contributed their spare horses to the king's +service.</p> +<p>Their arms were various. Some had swords, some short pikes, +while a few only had pistols; but the smiths everywhere toiled hard +converting scythes and reaping hooks into swords and pikes, and +before they were ready to take the field, the whole troop were +provided with swords.</p> +<p>Walter had eagerly begged his father to appoint him cornet of +the troop, and Mr. Davenant might have yielded, had it not been for +his wife's entreaties. Even old Mrs. Davenant, intensely loyal as +she was to the cause of James, sided with her daughter in law.</p> +<p>"Of course, Fergus, you will do your duty to the king. It would +indeed be a shame for a Davenant to hold back; but, at Walter's age +there can be no occasion for him, as yet, to take a commission. I +am ready to give my son, as I gave my husband, to the king; and +when Walter becomes a man, he too must go, if duty demands it; but +for the present, assuredly there is no reason why such a boy should +mix himself up in this unhappy struggle. Besides, if aught befalls +you, it is to him that his mother will have to look in the future. +There are hundreds and thousands of strong and active men in +Ireland, and the necessity has not yet come for boys to take the +field."</p> +<p>So Walter, to his intense disappointment, was refused the +cornetcy of the troop, but his father, who fully entered into his +feelings, finally told him that, when the troop took the field, he +should accompany him.</p> +<p>"You are not to carry arms, Walter, or to mix yourself up in any +way with it. You will be a sort of camp follower, you know; but you +will see all that goes on, and will be able to prepare yourself to +take your place in the ranks, if the war should, unhappily, go on +for any time."</p> +<p>With this Walter had to be satisfied; and, indeed, although +somewhat disappointed at not being, at once, allowed to join the +troop, he felt sure that it would not be very long before his +father, once away from the influence of his wife and mother, would +allow him to join.</p> +<p>"May I take Larry with me, father? He would look after my horse, +and would be useful to you for running messages, and all sorts of +things. He wants to go very much. You see, his uncle and two or +three of his cousins have joined the troop, and he would have +joined, too, if you had not thought him too young."</p> +<p>"The worst of you and Larry is, that you are always getting into +some scrape together," Mr. Davenant said, with a smile.</p> +<p>"But I should not get into scrapes on such a business as this," +Walter said indignantly. "This is a serious affair, and of course, +going with you, I should be very particular."</p> +<p>"Yes, as long as I was close by, Walter. However, I don't mind +your taking Larry. He would, as you say, be useful, and you will +want somebody to look after your horse and act as your servant. We +may be separated, sometimes, for the troop may be sent on detached +service, when I could not take you with me."</p> +<p>The permission to take Larry quite reconciled Walter to the +downfall of his hopes of going as cornet, and, in high spirits, he +hastened down to the village, to tell Larry that his father had +consented to his accompanying him.</p> +<p>All through January, Mr. Davenant was busy drilling his troop. +Throughout all Ireland, both parties were preparing for the storm +which was soon to burst. Lord Mountjoy, a Protestant nobleman, was +sent with his regiment, which consisted for the most part of +Protestants, to Derry. He held a meeting with the leading +townspeople, who agreed to admit the Protestant soldiers, upon the +condition that no more troops were sent. Accordingly, the +Protestant troops, under Colonel Lundy, entered the town, and Lord +Mountjoy assumed the governorship.</p> +<p>Tyrconnell soon perceived that he had made a mistake in sending +Mountjoy to Derry, for instead of overawing the inhabitants, his +regiment had, in fact, become a part of the rebel garrison. He +therefore recalled Mountjoy and sent him over to France, on the +pretence of an embassy to King James, but, as soon as he arrived +there, he was treacherously thrown into prison.</p> +<p>The people of Derry received quantities of powder and arms from +Scotland, and, on the 20th of February, the Prince of Orange was +formally proclaimed king in Derry; and this example was followed +throughout Ulster. This was, in fact, the beginning of the war. +Anxious to save Ireland from the horrors of civil war, Lord +Granard, and other Protestant noblemen of the council, joined +Tyrconnell in issuing a proclamation, ordering the Protestant corps +to lay down their arms; and as they did not obey, Lieutenant +General Hamilton was despatched to the north, with a thousand +regular troops and a considerable number of irregulars.</p> +<p>These came up with the insurgents at Dromore, and defeated them +with great slaughter. They rallied at Hillsborough, but again were +defeated and scattered. Hamilton divided his force, and, marching +through the north, reduced Ulster to submission, with the exception +only of the fortified towns of Enniskillen and Derry. In the south +General M'Carty was equally successful in clearing Munster of +William's adherents, and defeated Lord Inshiquin in every +encounter.</p> +<p>On the 14th of March, Mr. Davenant, who had ridden into Dublin, +returned in the evening with the news that the king had landed at +Kinsale, two days before, with fifteen hundred Irish troops in the +pay of France, and a hundred French officers, intended to aid in +drilling the new levies.</p> +<p>"I am glad, indeed, that he has arrived, for had he been met on +the seas by the English fleet, all our hopes might have been dashed +at a blow. Now that he is with us, it will rouse the enthusiasm of +the people to the utmost. If he is wise, he will surely be able to +unite all Ireland under him; save of course the fanatics of the +north, who, however, can do nothing against the whole strength of +the country, since Hamilton's little force, alone, has been +sufficient to put down all opposition, save where they remain shut +up behind the walls of Derry and Enniskillen.</p> +<p>"It is not with them that we have to cope alone--they would be +utterly powerless--it is with the army of England and Scotland we +shall have to fight. Unfortunately we have no fleet, and they can +land wherever they choose; but now the king is really among us, all +who have hitherto wavered will join. Let England and Scotland +choose their king as they will, but there is no reason why Ireland +should desert its rightful monarch at their bidding."</p> +<p>"When will the king arrive at Dublin, father?"</p> +<p>"He goes first to Cork, Walter. Tyrconnell has set out, and will +meet him there. They say he will be here in about ten days' time. +The French ambassador, the Marquis d'Avaux, comes with him, and +many French nobles."</p> +<p>"Do you think, father, he will at once order that his friends +shall receive the land again which was taken from them by +Cromwell's soldiers?"</p> +<p>"I hope not, my boy. It is his interest and not our own we must +think of now; and if Ireland is to resist, successfully, the +English and continental troops of Dutch William, we must be +united--we must be Irishmen first, Catholics and Protestants +afterwards. I trust that he will issue such proclamations as will +allay the alarm of the Protestants, and bind us all together.</p> +<p>"King James is not like his father. In no single case, since he +came to the throne, has he broken his royal word once given; +therefore, all may feel confidence in any promises he may make. I +have, of course, no hope that anything he can say will influence +the fanatics of Derry and Enniskillen, but we can afford to +disregard them. They are entailing misery and suffering upon +themselves, without the slightest benefit to the cause they +advocate. If we beat the English, of course those places must +finally surrender. If the English beat us, they will get their +Dutch William as king, without any effort on their part. I think, +myself, that it will be very unwise to attempt anything against +those two places. The people there can shut themselves up in their +walls, as long as they like, and by so doing can in no way harm us. +If we take their towns, it will only add to the bad blood that +already exists. Better by far leave them to themselves, until the +main battle is fought out."</p> +<p>On the 23rd, the news came that the king was to arrive in Dublin +the next day, and Mr. Davenant, or, as he was now called, Captain +Davenant, went over, with all the gentry of the neighbourhood, to +meet him.</p> +<p>King James was received with enthusiasm. Addresses were +presented to him by the several public bodies, and by the clergy of +the Established Church. His answer to these addresses gave +satisfaction to all. He promised favour and protection to the +Established Protestant Church; issued an invitation to the +Protestants who had fled the kingdom to return to their homes, and +assured them of safety and his particular care; and he commanded +that, with the exception of the military, no Catholics should carry +arms in Dublin. Finally, he summoned a parliament to meet him in +Dublin on the 7th of May.</p> +<p>One day, a messenger arrived with a despatch for Captain +Davenant.</p> +<p>"We are to move into Dublin, tomorrow, Walter," he said when he +read it. "We are to take the field at once. The king himself is +going to march in command of us against Derry. I think his majesty +is wrong; and I know that Tyrconnell has argued strongly against +his intention. There are three reasons against it. First, as I told +you, I think it were better to leave Derry alone, until the main +issue is settled. Secondly, King James has no military experience +whatever, and if ought goes wrong with the expedition, he will lose +prestige. Thirdly, although it were well for him to be with the +army when it fights a foreign foe, it were better that he should +not lead it against men who are, however much they may rebel +against him, his own subjects.</p> +<p>"I know Tyrconnell has set forth these objections to him; but, +unhappily, obstinacy is a fault of all the Stuart race, and it +generally happens that they are most obstinate when most wrong. +However, I trust that when Derry sees so strong a force marching +against it, it will open its gates without resistance. A siege can +only entail horrible suffering on the town; and that suffering +will, in the end, tell against James's cause, for it will excite +the sympathy of the Protestants in England and Scotland, and make +them all the hotter to conquer Ireland."</p> +<p>The following day, the troop was mustered in front of the +castle, and, after a tender farewell to his wife and mother, +Captain Davenant placed himself at their head and rode off. A +quarter of an hour later Walter, with Larry Doolan on a rough +little pony by his side, rode after the troop.</p> +<p>Dublin was reached in the afternoon. The town presented a +festive appearance. The principal streets were still draped with +the flags which had been hung out at the king's entry, five days +before. The streets were thronged with people, for loyalists had +come in from all parts of the country to welcome the king.</p> +<p>Large numbers of men, belonging to the newly raised regiments, +wandered among the crowd, and with these were mingled the French +uniforms of the Irish troops who had come over with James. The +troop was loudly cheered by the crowd, as it passed through the +town to the spot assigned to it in the camp of the force gathered +near the city. Walter and Larry rode a short distance behind the +troop, and joined it as soon as it reached the ground allotted to +it.</p> +<p>"It was a brave sight, father, was it not, to see the city +decked out, and all the people cheering for the king? Dublin is +setting a fine example--isn't it?"</p> +<p>"You must not set much weight upon the cheering of a crowd, +Walter. I do not say that the people of Dublin may not, at the +present moment, be loyal to the king; but if he were defeated, and +William were to march in, you would see that they would cheer him +just as heartily. The mob of London cheered King James, as he +passed through it, a week before he was so ill advised as to fly; +and they threw up their hats for joy, a fortnight later, for +William. No, my boy--there is no dependence on a mob. They worship +success, and the king who is present is sure to be vastly more dear +to them than the king who is absent.</p> +<p>"And now you had better help Larry picket your horses. Put them +by the side of mine. See how the troopers fasten theirs, and do +yours the same. When that is done, send Larry to get hold of some +wood, and light a fire. It will be cold when the sun goes down. As +for food, we have brought enough with us for tonight. Tomorrow, I +suppose, we shall get rations."</p> +<p>Captain Davenant now posted a certain number of men to look +after the horses, and the rest set off to cut firewood; and, in an +hour, four or five great fires were blazing. Forage was served out +for the horses, from the stores which had been collected, and also +a truss of straw to every three soldiers, as bedding.</p> +<p>Walter had, in the meantime, strolled away among the other +camps, and was greatly amused at the various shifts and +contrivances that the men had made to make themselves comfortable. +A few only of the officers had tents; for these, as well as all +other necessaries of war, were wanting; and the troops who had, for +some little time, been in camp there, had raised all sorts of +shelter from the weather. Some had constructed little huts of turf, +thatched with straw or rushes; others had erected little tents, +some of sailcloth obtained from the shipping, others of blankets, +coarse linen cloaks, or any other articles on which they could lay +hands. All were in high spirits at the prospect of the termination +of the monotony of continued drill, and of the commencement of +active campaigning. Huge fires blazed everywhere, and the country, +for some distance round, had been completely stripped of its +wood.</p> +<p>Everywhere was life and bustle. Men were cleaning their arms, +preparatory to the march of next day. Others were cooking at the +fires. Troopers were grooming their horses. Snatches of song, and +loud laughter, rose in the air.</p> +<p>After wandering about for an hour, Walter rejoined his father. +Captain Davenant was sitting with the two officers of his troop, +Lieutenant O'Driscoll and Cornet Heron, by a fire, the materials +for which the three troopers who acted as their servants had +collected. There was no cooking to be done, for sufficient cold +provisions had been brought with the troop.</p> +<p>"You are just in time, Walter," his father said. "We are going +to fall to, at once, at our meal.</p> +<p>"Hand over that cold chicken, Larry; and do you, Tim Donelly, +broach that keg of claret. Give me the bread, Fergus--that's +right.</p> +<p>"Now, gentlemen, here's a hunk each. Plates are a luxury which +we must do without, in the field. Now let us fall to."</p> +<p>Walter seated himself on a truss of straw beside his father, and +thought he had never enjoyed a meal so much, in his life, as the +bread and cold chicken, eaten as they were in the open air in front +of the crackling fire. Each was provided with a horn, and these +were filled from the keg.</p> +<p>"Here's to the king, gentlemen. Success to his arms!"</p> +<p>All stood up to drink the toast, and then continued their meal. +Three chickens vanished rapidly, and the troopers kept their horns +filled with claret.</p> +<p>"If we always do as well as that," Captain Davenant said, as +they finished the meal, "we shall have no reason to grumble. But I +fear that's too much to expect.</p> +<p>"Bring me my pipe and tobacco, Larry. You will find them in the +holsters of my saddle.</p> +<p>"Fergus, do you undo these trusses, and lay the straw out +even--that will do.</p> +<p>"Now, lads, you will find plenty more provisions in the wallet. +Do you go and get your own suppers, then give an eye to the horses. +We shall not want anything more."</p> +<p>For two or three hours, the three officers and Walter sat +chatting by the fire, occasionally piling on fresh logs. Gradually +the din of voices in the camp died away, and the bright fires +burned down.</p> +<p>"I think we had better turn in," Captain Davenant said at last. +"We must be astir an hour before daylight, for we march as soon as +it's light."</p> +<p>Rolling themselves in their long cloaks, they lay down upon the +straw. It was some time before Walter got to sleep. The novelty of +the situation, and the strangeness of lying with the night air +blowing in his face, made him unusually wakeful. Occasionally, too, +a laugh, from some party who were sitting late round their fire, +attracted his attention, and the sound of the snorting and pawing +of the horses also kept him awake; but at last he, too, went off to +sleep.</p> +<p>In spite of his warm cloak, he felt stiff and chilled when the +sound of the trumpets and drums roused the camp.</p> +<p>"Well, Walter, how do you like sleeping in the open?" his father +said, as he rose to his feet and shook himself.</p> +<p>"I don't mind the sleeping, father, but the waking is not so +pleasant. However, I shall soon get accustomed to it, I suppose. +But I always did hate getting up in the dark, even when we were +going out fishing."</p> +<p>"You won't always get as comfortable a bed as this, Walter; so +don't expect it. The time will come, ere long, when you will look +back upon this as absolute luxury. We are not likely to get straw +another night, I can tell you.</p> +<p>"Now, Fergus, bring that wallet here. We must breakfast before +we get in the saddle."</p> +<p>Walter came to the conclusion that breakfast, eaten in the dark, +was a very inferior meal to dinner before a great fire. However, he +kept his thoughts to himself, and, as soon as he had finished, went +to aid Larry in saddling the horses.</p> +<p>"I suppose I can ride with you today, father?" he said, as he +mounted.</p> +<p>"Yes; there will not be any military display by the way. Many of +the soldiers have got nothing in the way of uniform at present. So +you can ride with me. But if any general officer comes along, you +must draw off a little, and drop behind with Larry, who will follow +in the rear of the troop."</p> +<p>As soon as daylight appeared, the bugles gave the signal, and +the force, preceded by its cavalry, started on its march towards +the north.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch4" name="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: The Siege Of Derry.</h2> +<p>There was an air of excitement in the streets of Derry. Knots of +people were gathered, talking excitedly. Women stood at the doors +of all the houses, while men moved aimlessly and restlessly about +between the groups, listened for a time to a speaker, and then +moved on again. The work of strengthening the defences, which had +gone on incessantly for the last three months, had ceased, while +numbers of persons were gathered on the walls, looking anxiously +towards the south. A general air of gloom and despondency hung over +the place. The storm which Derry had braved was gathering around it +at last. King James and his troops were advancing against it.</p> +<p>Opinion was strongly divided in the city. Almost without +exception, the older citizens deprecated resistance. The walls, +indeed, were strong, and the position formidable. The king had no +artillery worth speaking of, and the walls, manned by brave men, +might well, for a definite time, resist assault; but the stores of +food could not long support the large population now gathered in +the town, and there seemed no possibility, whatever, of assistance +from England before the horrors of famine would be upon them. To +what purpose, then, oppose resistance, which must, even if +successful, cause frightful sufferings to the inhabitants, and +which, if unsuccessful, would hand over the city to the vengeance +of James.</p> +<p>The garrison had been strengthened by two regiments and a vast +quantity of supplies. But, including everything, there were but +provisions for ten days, and as many weeks might elapse before +assistance could come.</p> +<p>The younger and more ardent spirits were for resistance to the +last.</p> +<p>"Better," they said, "die of hunger, than surrender the +Protestant stronghold to the Papists."</p> +<p>Every hour brought crowds of fugitives, the inhabitants of all +the villages deserting their homes at the approach of the royal +forces, and flying, with what goods they could carry, to Derry.</p> +<p>Archdeacon Hamilton had arrived with a message from the king, +offering that if the city would, within four days, surrender, there +should be an amnesty to all for past offences, and that the +property of all the inhabitants should be respected. This +proposition was now being considered by the governor and his +council, together with all the principal officers of the English +regiments.</p> +<p>John Whitefoot had been out all day, and had just returned to +his cousin's house, which was crowded with fugitives, as the tanner +had friends and connections in all the villages, and had opened his +doors to all who sought shelter, until every room was filled. It +was a pitiful sight to see women, with their babies in their arms +and their children gathered round them, sitting forlornly, almost +indifferent to the momentous consultation which was going on, and +thinking only of their deserted homes, and wondering what had +befallen them. The men had, for the most part, been out in the +streets gathering news. The tanner's wife, assisted by two or three +of the women, was busy at the great fire on the hearth, over which +hung some huge pots in which broth and porridge were being +prepared.</p> +<p>One by one, the men dropped in. No news had yet been heard as to +the decision of the council. It was dark when the tanner himself +entered. His face was stern and pale.</p> +<p>"It is settled," he said shortly. "The council have broken up. I +have just spoken to one of the members. They and the officers are +unanimously in favour of accepting the terms of James."</p> +<p>Exclamations of anger broke from some of the men.</p> +<p>"I cannot say aught against it," the tanner said, "though my +heart feels well-nigh broken. Had we only men here, I should say +let us fight to the last, but look at all these women and children! +Think what thousands and thousands of them are in the town. Truly, +I cannot blame the council that they have decided not to bring this +terrible suffering upon the city."</p> +<p>"The Lord will provide for his own," a minister, who had come in +with his flock, said. "Friend, I had looked for better things from +you. I thought that you were steadfast in the cause of the Lord, +and now that the time of trouble comes, you fall away at once. +Remember how Sennacherib and his host died before Jerusalem. Cannot +the Lord protect Londonderry likewise?"</p> +<p>"The age of miracles is past," the tanner said. "Did we not see, +in Germany, how Magdeburg and other Protestant cities were +destroyed, with their inhabitants, by the Papists? No, Brother +Williams, the wicked are suffered to work their will here, when +they are stronger than the godly, and we must look for no miracles. +I am ready to fight, and, had the council decided otherwise, would +have done my share to the last; but my heart sickens, as I look +round on the women, the weak, and ailing. Did James demand that we +should renounce our religion, I would say let us all die by sword +or Famine rather than consent; but he has offered toleration to +all, that none shall suffer for what has been done, and that the +property as well as the lives of all shall be respected.</p> +<p>"Truly, it seems to me that resistance would be not bravery, but +a sort of madness. There are promises of aid from England; but how +long may we have to wait for them? And there are but ten days' +provisions in the town. If these English officers of King William +think that resistance is hopeless, why should I, who know nought of +war, set myself against them?"</p> +<p>"Because they have not faith," the minister said, "and you +should have faith; because they think only of carnal weapons, and +you should trust to the Lord. Remember Leyden, how help came when +all seemed lost."</p> +<p>"I do," the tanner replied, "and I remember how the women and +children suffered and died, how they dropped in the streets and +perished with famine in their houses. I remember this, and I shrink +from saying 'let us resist to the end.' I should rejoice if they +had decided that Derry should be deserted, that the women and +children should be sent away to shelter in the mountains of +Donegal, and that every man should march out and do combat with the +army of James. We are numerous, and far better armed than the +Papists, and victory might be ours; but, were it otherwise, were +every man fated to fall on the field, I would still say let us +march forward. It is not death that I fear, but seeing these weak +and helpless ones suffer. I should not envy the feelings of the men +who decided on resistance, when the time came that the women and +children were dying of hunger around them. There is a time to +fight; and a time to sheath the sword, and to wait until a chance +of drawing it successfully again arrives; and methinks that, having +such good terms offered, the present is the time for waiting."</p> +<p>The preacher waved his hand impatiently, and, wrapping himself +in his cloak, left the house without another word. The next day the +capitulation was signed, and the following day the army of James +was seen approaching, and presently halted, on a hill within cannon +shot of the town.</p> +<p>Londonderry stands in a bend of the river Foyle, and the +position which the army took up at once isolated it from the +surrounding country. The offer of capitulation had already been +sent out to General Hamilton by Captain White, the bearer receiving +instructions to stipulate that the army should not advance within +four miles of the town, until all was ready to hand over the city. +In the meantime, General Rosen, who was in chief command of the +army, stationed it so as to extend from one corner of the bend of +the river to the other, and so to cut off all communication between +the city and the surrounding country; but, in the course of the +day, a country gentleman named Murray made his way through their +lines, with a body of cavalry, and rode up to the gate of the +town.</p> +<p>The governor refused to open it, but, in spite of his orders, +some of the townspeople opened the gate, and Murray rode into the +town, and, going from point to point, exhorted the people not to +surrender but to resist to the last, accusing the governor and +council of foul treachery, in thus handing over the city.</p> +<p>The confusion and excitement in the streets was now great, and, +while this was going on, the governor sent a trumpeter to the king, +requiring one hour's time before the city should surrender.</p> +<p>Rosen took no notice of this, and, believing that all was +arranged, rode forward with the king and a portion of the army. But +Murray's exhortations and passionate harangues had their effect. A +number of the townspeople ran to the walls, and, loading the +cannon, opened, with these and their muskets, a heavy fire on the +approaching troops. Several of the soldiers were killed, and among +them was Captain Troy, who was riding close to the king.</p> +<p>Astonished at this unexpected resistance, the troops drew back, +as they were entirely without means of making an assault upon the +city. The governor and council at once sent Archdeacon Hamilton to +the royal camp, to excuse themselves for what had happened, and to +explain that the firing was the action of a turbulent body of men, +whom they were unable to restrain, and whom they represented as +drunken rebels. The better class of citizens, they said, were all +resolved to surrender dutifully, and were doing all they could to +persuade the common people to do the same.</p> +<p>As the royal artillery had not yet arrived, James drew off his +troops to Saint Johnston. Murray, with a body of horse, went out +and skirmished with them, but returned into the town on hearing +that the council still intended to surrender, and again harangued +the people.</p> +<p>Eight thousand men assembled on the parade, and, after listening +to a passionate harangue, declared that they would resist to the +last. They at once chose a preacher named Walker, and a Mr. Baker, +as joint governors, appointed Murray as general in the field, +divided themselves into eight regiments, and took the entire +control of the city into their hands. Archdeacon Hamilton, Lundy, +and several of the principal citizens at once left the town, in +disguise, and were allowed to pass through the besieging army.</p> +<p>John Whitefoot had been present at all the events which had +taken place that day, and, although he had quite agreed with his +cousin that resistance would do no good to the cause, and would +entail fearful sufferings on the besieged, he was carried away by +the general enthusiasm, and shouted as loudly as any in reply to +the exhortations of Murray. The tanner was also present. John was +by his side, and saw that he was deeply moved by the speech, but he +did not join in the acclamations. When all was over, he laid his +hand on John's shoulder:</p> +<p>"The die is cast, my boy. I am glad that no act or voice of mine +has had aught to do with bringing it about, and that the weight of +what is to come will not rest upon my conscience. But, now that it +is decided, I shall not be one to draw back, but will do my share +with what strength the Lord has given me."</p> +<p>"May I join one of the regiments, too?" John asked. "I am young, +but I am as strong as many men."</p> +<p>"It were better not, at present, John. Before the end comes, +every arm that can bear weapon may be needed, but, at present, +there is no reason why you should do so. Doubtless, plenty of work +will be found for younger hands, besides absolute fighting, but I +think not that there will be much fighting, save against famine. +Our walls are strong, and we have well-nigh forty pieces of cannon, +while they say that James has but six pieces, and most of these are +small.</p> +<p>"Methinks, then, that they will not even attempt to take the +city by storm. Why should they waste men in doing so, when they can +starve us out? It is famine we have to fight, in this sort of war. +I do not think that James has, in all Ireland, cannon sufficient to +batter down our walls; but ten days will bring our provisions to an +end. It will be with us as with Leyden. We have only to suffer and +wait. If it be God's will, succour will come in time. If not, we +must even perish."</p> +<p>With his spirits somewhat damped by his cousin's view of the +case, John returned with him to the house. He would willingly +enough have gone out, to fight against the besiegers, but the +thought of the long slow agony of starvation was naturally terrible +to a lad of good health and appetite.</p> +<p>The mob of Derry had shown good sense in the choice which they +made of their governors. Baker, indeed, who was a military man, was +a mere cipher in the matter. Walker was, in reality, the sole +governor. He was a man of energy and judgment, as well as +enthusiastic and fanatical, and he at once gave evidence of his +fitness for the post, and set himself diligently to work to +establish order in the town.</p> +<p>He issued orders that all unable to bear arms, who wished to +leave the town, could do so, while the able-bodied men, now formed +into regiments, were assigned every man his place, and every +regiment its quarter, on the walls. No less than thirty thousand +fugitives, exclusive of the garrison, were shut up in the walls of +Derry, and the army which was besieging the town numbered twenty +thousand.</p> +<p>The guns of the besiegers soon opened fire, and those on the +walls replied briskly. The besiegers threw up works, but carried on +the siege but languidly, feeling sure that famine must, ere long, +force the town to surrender; and fearing, perhaps, to engage the +fresh and ill-trained levies against a multitude, animated by the +desperate resolution and religious fanaticism of the defenders of +the town.</p> +<p>Now that the die was once cast, there was no longer any +difference of opinion among the inhabitants, and all classes joined +enthusiastically in the measures for defence. All provisions in the +town were given into one common store, to be doled out in regular +rations, and so made to last as long as possible; and, as these +rations were, from the first, extremely small, the sufferings of +the besieged really began from the first day.</p> +<p>John Whitefoot found that there was but little for him to do, +and spent much of his time on the walls, watching the throwing up +of works by the besiegers.</p> +<p>A regular cannonade was now kept up on both sides; but, though +the shot occasionally fell inside the town, the danger to the +inhabitants from this source was but slight; for, of the six guns +possessed by the besiegers, five were very small, and one only was +large enough to carry shell. All day the various chapels were open, +and here the preachers, by their fiery discourses, kept up the +spirits and courage of the people who thronged these buildings. The +women spent most of their time there, and the men, when off duty +from the walls, however fatigued they might be with their labour, +flocked at once to the chapels, to pray for strength to resist and +for early succour. Never were the whole population of the town more +deeply animated by religious excitement, never a whole population +more thoroughly and unanimously determined to die, rather than +surrender.</p> +<p>When not upon the walls or in chapel, John spent much of his +time in amusing the children, of whom there were many in the +tanner's house. The change from their country quarters, the crowded +town, the privation of milk, and the scantiness and unfitness of +their rations, soon began to tell upon the little ones, and John +felt thankful, indeed, that his mind had been stored with stories +from his varied reading of the last two or three years. With these, +he was able to interest and quiet the children, who sat round him +with wrapt attention, while the booming of the guns and the +occasional rattling of musketry outside passed unheeded.</p> +<p>Scarce a day passed without active fighting, the initiative +being always taken by the besieged, for, in the royal army, the +policy of blockade rather than assault was steadily adhered to. The +besieged, however, continually sallied out, and attacked the +parties engaged in throwing up works. There was no settled plan of +operations; but the commander on each portion of the walls led out +his men against the enemy, whenever he thought he saw a favourable +opportunity. The fights which ensued were stoutly contested, and +many were killed, but no advantage was gained on either side. If it +was the intention of the besieged to incite the Royalists to make +an attack upon the city, they failed altogether, and, indeed, would +have served their purpose better had they remained quietly within +the walls, for the energy and desperation with which they fought +were well calculated to deter even the most energetic commander +from attacking a town defended by eight or nine thousand men, +animated by such fiery energy.</p> +<p>So confident, indeed, were the besieged, that the gates were +often left open, and taunting invitations to come on and take Derry +were shouted to the besiegers. The supply of provisions found to be +stored away was vastly greater than had been expected, for many of +the fugitives had brought in large stores, and a great number of +the inhabitants had been, for weeks, making preparation for the +siege, by buying up quantities of grain and storing it in their +cellars.</p> +<p>Thus, up to the end of the first month, although the allowance +of food was short, no real suffering was undergone by the +inhabitants; but, as time went on, the supplies doled out became +smaller and smaller, and dysentery and fever broke out in the +crowded town.</p> +<p>Fierce disputes arose between those belonging to the Established +Church and the Nonconformists, and it was with the greatest +difficulty that Governor Walker prevented the two parties from +engaging in open strife. Day and night, the besiegers' fire +continued, and many were killed by the shells which fell in the +city. The fighting men on the walls were far better off than those +who had nothing to do but to wait and suffer, and it was among the +women and children, chiefly, that disease at first made its +victims.</p> +<p>For a time, the children of the families who had taken refuge +with the tanner remained healthy. The visitors were lodged for the +most part in the cellars, so as to be in shelter from the fire of +the enemy's mortar; but John Whitefoot suggested to his cousin that +the children would soon pine and sicken, unless they had air. The +tanner gave his consent to John's establishing a shelter in the +yard. A corner was chosen, and a number of casks were placed along +by either wall; on these beams were laid, for it happened that the +tanner had intended, shortly before the siege, to build a large +shed, and had got the timber together for the purpose.</p> +<p>On the timber, bark from the now disused pits was heaped to a +depth of some feet, which would effectually break the fall of any +shell which might light upon it, and, along the front of this low +triangular building, two lines of sacks filled with tan were +placed. These would suffice to prevent any fragment of a shell, +which might fall and burst in the courtyard, from entering the +shelter; save by the opening, about a foot deep, between the top of +the sacks and the beams.</p> +<p>When the whole was completed, John gathered the children there, +and made it their headquarters, and established himself as captain +of the castle, as he called it.</p> +<p>The elders entered warmly into his plans. It was a great relief, +to them, to have the house cleared of the eighteen or twenty +children. Their mothers had no longer any anxiety for their safety, +and the children themselves looked upon it as great fun. There was +plenty of air here, and, in a short time, John persuaded the +parents to allow the children to sleep, as well as to pass the day, +in the shelter. Here he told them stories, constructed toys for +them, and kept them amused and quiet, appointing as his lieutenants +three or four of the oldest of the girls, who had the little ones +under their special charge. John was rewarded, for his pains, by +seeing that the children kept their health far better than did +those of their neighbours, and, up to the end of May, not one of +them had succumbed, although several of the parents had already +fallen victims to dysentery and fever.</p> +<p>Thus the month of May passed. With June, the hardships rapidly +increased; but, on the 13th, shouts of joy were heard in the +streets. John ran out to ascertain the cause, and learned that a +fleet of thirty ships had appeared in Lough Foyle, and was +approaching the city. The inhabitants, frantic with joy, ran to the +walls, and both sides suspended their fire to watch the approaching +fleet.</p> +<p>Suddenly, the ships were seen to turn and sail away. The people +could not believe that they were deserted; but, when they saw that +the fleet was really making off, curses and cries of lamentation +and grief rose from the crowd.</p> +<p>Why Major General Kirk, who commanded the force on board the +ships, which were laden with provisions, did not attempt to sail up +to Londonderry, which, as was afterwards proved, they could have +done without difficulty, was never satisfactorily explained. The +besiegers had erected two or three small forts on the banks of the +river, but these were quite incapable of arresting the passage of +the fleet, had it been commanded by a man of any resolution. Kirk +anchored in Lough Swilly, and contented himself with sending +messages to the town, to hold out to the last.</p> +<p>A fresh search was now made for provisions, and parties of men +entered houses which had been abandoned, or whose inmates had died, +and dug up the floors of the cellars. Several considerable deposits +of grain were discovered, and many inhabitants, moved by the +intensity of the general suffering, voluntarily brought out hoards +which they had hitherto kept secret.</p> +<p>Early in the siege, the water in the wells had become turbid and +muddy, partly owing, it was thought, to the concussion of the +ground by the constant firing, partly by the extra supplies which +were drawn from them. As the time went on, many of them dried +altogether, and the water in the others became so muddy that it had +to be filtered through cloth or sacking, before it could be +drunk.</p> +<p>During fishing expeditions, previous to the commencement of the +siege, John had more than once had a drink of water from the well +of a peasant, living in a little hut near the river bank. This hut +lay between the outposts of the two parties, and had, at the +commencement of the siege, been deserted by its owner. After the +water became bad, John set out every evening with a bucket, leaving +the town just before the gates were shut, and making straight down +to the river. When it became dark, he crawled along under the +shelter of the banks, unperceived by the outposts of either party, +until close to the hut. Then he filled his bucket at the well, and +returned as he had come, lying down to sleep on the bank, well in +the rear of the Protestant outposts, until morning; when, as soon +as the gates were opened, he carried home the precious supply.</p> +<p>It was this, as much as the light and air, which kept the +children in comparative health; but, on the further diminution of +rations which took place after Kirk's fleet retired, they began to +fade rapidly.</p> +<p>The horses had now been killed for food. The sufferings of the +besieged inhabitants became greater daily, and numbers died from +sheer starvation. The little inhabitants of John Whitefoot's castle +were mere skeletons. Most of their parents were dead, and a +mournful silence pervaded the town, save when the bells of the +chapels called to prayer, or the yells of the mob announced that +the lower orders were breaking into houses in search of food.</p> +<p>John could stand the sight of the faces of the suffering +children no longer. He was himself faint and ill from hunger, for +he had, each day, given a portion of his own scanty rations to the +weakest of the children, and he determined to try and get them some +food, or to die in the attempt.</p> +<p>He set out at his usual hour in the evening. The tide was high, +but just running out, and, entering the river, he floated down with +the stream. Keeping close under the bank, he passed the batteries +which the besiegers had erected there without notice, dived under +the great boom which they had constructed across the river, +directly Kirk's expedition had retired, and continued to float down +to the mouth of the river, where he landed and boldly struck across +the country, for he was now beyond the lines of the besiegers. He +knew that his friend Walter was in the Royalist army, for one of +the last mails which entered the city had told him that he was to +accompany his father, and that Captain Davenant's troop would most +likely form part of any army that might march for the north.</p> +<p>By the morning, his clothes had dried upon him, and he then +boldly entered the Royalist camp, mingling with the peasants who +were bringing in provisions for sale. He soon learned where Captain +Davenant's troop was stationed, and made his way thither. He stood +watching for some time until he saw Walter come out of a tent, and +he then approached him. Walter looked up, but did not recognize, in +the thin and pallid lad before him, his former companion.</p> +<p>"Do you want anything?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Don't you know me, Walter?" John said.</p> +<p>Walter started, and gazed at him earnestly.</p> +<p>"Good heavens!" he exclaimed at last. "Why, it can't be +John!"</p> +<p>"It is what remains of me," John replied, with a faint +smile.</p> +<p>"Why, what on earth have you been doing to yourself, John?"</p> +<p>"I have been starving, in there," John said, pointing to the +city.</p> +<p>"Come into the tent, John," Walter said, grasping his friend's +arm, and then letting it fall again, with an exclamation of horror +at its thinness. "You needn't be afraid. My father is out--not that +that would make any difference."</p> +<p>John entered the tent, and sat exhausted upon a box. Walter +hastened to get some food, which he set before him, and poured out +a large cup of wine and water, and then stood, looking on in awed +silence, while John devoured his meal.</p> +<p>"I have wondered, a thousand times," he said at last, when John +had finished, "what you were doing in there, or whether you left +before the siege began. How did you get out?"</p> +<p>"I floated down the river to the mouth, beyond your lines, last +night; and then worked round here. I thought I might find you."</p> +<p>"Well, I am glad indeed that you are out," Walter said. "Every +time the mortar sent a shell into the town, I was thinking of you, +and wishing that I could share meals with you, for, of course, we +know that you are suffering horribly in the town."</p> +<p>"Horribly!" John repeated. "You can have no idea what it is, +Walter, to see children suffer. As for men, if it is the will of +God, they must bear it, but it is awful for children. I have had +eighteen of them under my charge through the siege, and to see them +getting thinner and weaker, every day, till the bones look as if +they would come through the skin, and their eyes get bigger and +bigger, and their voices weaker, is awful. At last I could stand it +no longer, and I have come out to fetch some food for them."</p> +<p>"To fetch food!" Walter repeated. "Do you mean to say you are +thinking of going back again?"</p> +<p>"That I am," John said. "I am going to take some food in to +them. You will help me, won't you, Walter? It isn't for the men +that fight, but for little children, who know nothing about King +James, or King William, or the Protestants, or the Catholics, but +who are just God's creatures, and are dying of hunger. No one could +grudge food to infants like these."</p> +<p>"I will help you, of course, John," Walter said, "if I can; but +now, tell me all about it."</p> +<p>John then gave an account of all he had been doing throughout +the siege.</p> +<p>"And now what have you been doing, Walter? Fighting?"</p> +<p>"No. I have not been doing any fighting, except that, once or +twice, I was out with the troop, when they had a skirmish with your +horsemen, but I kept in the rear. I hope, ere long, my father will +let me enter, but he is waiting to see what comes of it. No. I have +been idle enough. Well, of course, I know all the officers in the +cavalry now, and pretty nearly all the officers in the camp, and +then, with these constant skirmishes and attacks by your people and +ours, there is always plenty to interest one. General Hamilton has +been conducting the siege lately, but General Rosen returned +yesterday and took the command; but there's really not much to do. +We know you cannot hold out much longer."</p> +<p>"I don't know," John said quietly. "I think that, as long as a +man has strength enough to hold his arms, Derry will not surrender. +When you march in, it will be to a city of dead people. We had such +hopes when the fleet came. If the people could have caught Kirk, +they would have torn him in pieces. He had five thousand soldiers +on board, and, if he had landed them, we could have sallied out and +fought, instead of dying of hunger."</p> +<p>"Yes," Walter agreed, "we should have retired at once. We have +only seven or eight thousand men here now, and if five thousand +English soldiers had landed, we must have raised the siege at once. +I can tell you that, though he is on the other side, I was almost +as angry at Kirk's cowardice as you must have been. I shall be glad +when this awful business is over. I knew it was bad enough before, +but after what you have told me about the women and children, I +shall never think of anything else, and I will gladly help you in +any way I can. There can't be any treason in trying to prevent +children from starving to death. What do you want me to do?"</p> +<p>"What would do the children more good than anything, the women +say, would be milk. If I could get a keg that would hold two or +three gallons--and a watertight box with about twenty pounds of +bread, I could swim back with them just as I came. I would show you +the exact spot where I landed, and would come out again in four +days. If you could put a supply ready for me, every fourth night, +among the bushes at the mouth of the river, with a little lantern +to show me the exact spot, I could come down with the tide, get the +things, and float back again when the tide turns."</p> +<p>"I could do that, easily enough," Walter said. "The mouth of the +river is quite beyond our lines. But it is very risky for you, +John. You might get shot, if a sentry were to see you."</p> +<p>"I do not think that there is much fear of that," John said. +"Just floating along as I do, without swimming at all, there is +only just my face above water, and it would be hardly possible for +a sentry to see me; but if I were shot, I could not die in a better +cause."</p> +<p>"I think, John, if you don't mind, I should like to tell my +father. I am quite sure he would not object, and, in case you +should happen to get caught, you could refer at once to him to +prove that you were not a spy. They make very short work of spies. +But if you were to demand to be brought to Captain Davenant, and +say you were acting in accordance with his knowledge, no doubt they +would bring you."</p> +<p>"Do as you think best, Walter, but don't tell him, unless you +feel almost sure that he will not object."</p> +<p>"There is no fear of that," Walter said. "He is constantly +lamenting over the sufferings of the people of Derry, and has, all +along, been in favour of attempting to storm the place by force, so +as to put a stop to all this useless suffering. Now, John, you had +better lie down on that straw bed of mine, and get a sleep. After +that, you will be ready for another meal. I will tell Larry to go +out among the market people, and buy three gallons of milk and +twenty pounds of bread. There are plenty of small spirit kegs +about, which will do capitally for the milk, and I don't think that +we can have anything better than one of them for the bread. We can +head it up, and make it watertight. How do you mean to get into the +town? I should have thought that they were likely to be +seized."</p> +<p>"So they would be," John said. "I shall hide them in some bushes +at the foot of the walls, at the side of the town facing the river. +There are only a few sentries there. Then, when it is light, I +shall go in and tell my cousin; and get him, after dark, to lower a +rope from the wall. I shall of course be below, to tie on the kegs. +He can then walk with them boldly through the street to our house, +which is only a short distance from that part of the walls. If +anyone saw him, they would only suppose he was taking home water +from one of the wells."</p> +<p>John was soon fast asleep. Walter sat watching him until, two +hours later, his father returned with his troop. John still slept +on, while Walter told his father the errand on which he had +come.</p> +<p>"He is a brave lad," Captain Davenant said, "and I honour him +for his conduct. It is not many men who, at a time like this, would +risk their lives for a number of children who are not any relation +to them. Certainly, I will gladly assist him. I am sick at heart at +all this. My only consolation is, that it is brought on solely by +the acts of these men, who, though comparatively a handful, set +themselves up against the voice of all Ireland. If they had risen +when an English army arrived to their assistance, I should say +nothing against it. As it is, without doing any good to their +cause, they are entailing this horrible suffering upon thousands of +women and children.</p> +<p>"By all means, help the poor lad, and if he should fall into the +hands of our people, let him mention my name. Rosen would no doubt +disapprove of it, but I cannot help that. All the Irish gentlemen +in the army would agree that I had done rightly, and, even if they +didn't, my own conscience would be quite sufficient for me to act +upon. I am fighting against the king's enemies, not warring against +women and children.</p> +<p>"How soundly the poor lad sleeps, and how changed he is! He is a +mere skeleton. I should not have known him in the least. If this is +the condition into which a strong, healthy lad has fallen, what +must the women and children have suffered! I wish Kirk had not +turned coward, but had landed his troops. We could then have +brought up our scattered forces, and could have fought them in a +fair field, with something like equal forces. That would have been +vastly more to my taste than starving them, like rats in a +hole."</p> +<h2><a id="Ch5" name="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: The Relief Of Derry.</h2> +<p>It was late in the afternoon before John woke. He started up, as +his eyes fell upon Captain Davenant.</p> +<p>"You have had a good sleep, and I hope you are all the better +for it," Captain Davenant said, kindly. "My son has been telling me +all about your expedition, and I honour you very much, for the +courage you have shown in thus risking your life to get food for +those starving children. I quite approve of the promise Walter has +given to assist you, and if you should, by any chance, be taken +prisoner, I will stand your friend."</p> +<p>John expressed his gratitude warmly.</p> +<p>"It is a sad thing, in these civil wars, when friends are +arrayed against friends," Captain Davenant said. "Who would have +thought, three months ago, that you and Walter would be arrayed on +opposite sides? It is true you are neither of you combatants, but I +have no doubt you would gladly have joined in some of the sallies, +just as Walter is eager to be riding in my troop. If we must fight, +I wish, at any rate, that it could be so managed that all the +suffering should fall upon the men who are willing to take up the +sword, and not upon the women and children. My heart bleeds as I +ride across the country. At one time, one comes upon a ruined +village, burned by the midnight ruffians who call themselves +rapparees, and who are a disgrace to our cause. At another, upon a +place sacked and ruined by one of the bands of horsemen from +Enniskillen, who are as cruel and merciless as the rapparees. Let +the armies fight out their quarrels, I say, but let peaceful people +dwell in quiet and safety. But wholesale atrocities have ever been +the rule on both sides, in warfare in Ireland, and will, I suppose, +remain so to the end.</p> +<p>"And now, we are just going to have dinner, and another hearty +meal will do you good. Each night, when my son brings down the +supplies for you, he will bring a substantial meal of cold meat and +bread, and you must give me your promise, now, that you will eat +this at once. You will need it, after being so long in the water, +and having another swim before you, besides. Although I approve of +sending in milk for the children, I can be no party to the supply +of food for the garrison. Do you promise?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, I promise," John said, "though I would rather save +all but a mouthful or two for the people who are starving at home. +Still, of course, if you insist upon it, I will promise."</p> +<p>"I do insist upon it, John. The lives of these children of yours +depend on your life, and even one good meal, every four days, will +help you to keep enough strength together to carry out the kind +work you have undertaken."</p> +<p>Larry now brought in the dinner. He had been told by Walter of +John's arrival, but he otherwise would have failed to recognize, in +him, the boy who had sometimes come down to the village with +Walter.</p> +<p>"Are you quite well, Larry?" John asked him.</p> +<p>"I am," Larry replied; "but I need not ask the same question of +yourself, for you are nothing but skin and bone, entirely. Dear, +dear, I wouldn't have known you at all, at all, and such a foine +colour as ye used to have."</p> +<p>"I don't think starving would suit you, Larry," Captain Davenant +said with a smile.</p> +<p>"Sure an' it wouldn't, yer honour. It's always ready to eat I +am, though, as mother says, the victuals don't seem to do me much +good, anyway."</p> +<p>"You won't be able to come out and go back again the same night +next week, John," Captain Davenant said, presently. "The tide won't +suit, so you must come up here, as you have done today. You will +always find a hearty welcome, and Walter shall go down and meet you +early in the morning, near the mouth of the river, so you can come +up with him; and then, if you fall in with any of the other +parties, no questions will be asked. I think everyone in camp knows +him now.</p> +<p>"I wonder what your grandfather would say, if he saw you sitting +here at dinner with Walter and me?"</p> +<p>John laughed.</p> +<p>"I am afraid he would disown me, then and there, without +listening to explanations."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt it's a sore grievance to him that he is not in +Derry, at present," Captain Davenant said.</p> +<p>"I am sure it is," John replied; "but the fasting would be a +great trial to him. My grandfather is a capital trencherman. Still, +I am sure he would have borne his part."</p> +<p>"That he would," Captain Davenant agreed. "He and the men of his +class are thorough, fanatics as I consider them. Hard and pitiless +as they proved themselves, to those against whom they fought, one +cannot but admire them, for they were heart and soul in their +cause. There was no flinching, no half measures, no concessions for +the sake of expediency. On the ground on which they took their +stand, they conquered or died. Would that a like spirit animated +all my countrymen!"</p> +<p>After nightfall, Larry brought round Walter's horse, saddled, +and his own rough pony. Walter mounted the former, and John the +latter. The two kegs were slung across Walter's horse.</p> +<p>"Will you meet me at the clump of trees, half a mile out of +camp, Larry?" Walter said. "In the dark, no one will notice the +difference between you and John."</p> +<p>Captain Davenant had furnished Walter with a password, and now +walked beside the two boys till they were well beyond the camp, and +then returned to his tent. The lads made their way, without meeting +with anyone, down to the mouth of the river. The kegs were then +taken off the horse and placed in the water--they floated just +above the surface.</p> +<p>"That is exactly right," John said. "They will not show any more +than will my face. When I come down next time, I shall fill them +with water, so as to keep them just at this level."</p> +<p>"I am afraid the moon will be up next time, John."</p> +<p>"Yes, it will. I shall lay some boughs of bush across my face +and the kegs, so that there will be no fear of my face showing; and +if a sentry should happen to catch sight of it, he will suppose +that it is merely a bush drifting in the stream."</p> +<p>"Well, goodbye, John, and may you get through without +trouble."</p> +<p>"I have no fear, Walter. I am in God's hands, and He will take +me safely through, if He thinks fit."</p> +<p>The journey was achieved without detection, the only difficulty +being the sinking of the kegs under the boom; this, however, was +successfully accomplished, and by midnight, the kegs were safely +hidden in some bushes at the foot of the wall, and there John lay +down and waited for morning.</p> +<p>As he entered the yard, the children ran out to meet him. There +were no loud rejoicings; they had no longer strength or spirit to +shout and laugh; but the joy in the thin worn faces was more +eloquent than any words could have been.</p> +<p>"We have missed you so, John. We have wanted you so much. Lucy +and Kate and Deby were so bad yesterday, and they did cry so for +you. We were all so hungry. We don't mind so much, when you are +here to talk to us and tell us stories. Why did you stop away, +John, when we wanted you so?"</p> +<p>"I went away to see if I could manage to get you something to +eat."</p> +<p>"And did you?" was the anxious cry.</p> +<p>"I have got a little; but you must wait till evening, and then +you will each have--" and he stopped.</p> +<p>"What, John? Oh, do tell us!"</p> +<p>"You will each have some milk and bread.</p> +<p>"Not much, dears," he went on, as there was a cry of gladness, +which was pitiful from the intensity of joy it expressed, "but +there will be some for tonight, and a little curds and whey and +bread for you tomorrow and next day, and I hope always, as long as +this lasts. Now go, dears, into your castle. I will come to you +presently. I have brought you some water, as usual."</p> +<p>"I am heartily glad to see you back, John," his cousin said, as +he entered the house. "The children were in a sad state without +you, yesterday. I suppose you can tell me, now, what you have been +doing. You told me you would be away two nights, and begged me not +to ask any questions; but, although I know you to be discreet and +prudent, I have been worrying."</p> +<p>"I will tell you now," John said, and he recounted the details +of the expedition which he had accomplished.</p> +<p>"And you have swum the river twice, and been in the camp of the +Papists. Truly it is surprising, John, and I know not what to do. +Should your visit there be discovered, you will assuredly be +accused of treachery."</p> +<p>"They may accuse me of what they like," John said quietly. "I +have done it, and I am going to do it again, every fourth night, +and there is the milk and bread at the foot of the wall, ready for +you to haul up as soon as it gets dark."</p> +<p>"It ought to be fairly divided," the tanner said.</p> +<p>"It will be fairly divided, between our children," John said; +"but nobody else will get a drop or a crumb. I have risked my life +to get it for them. If other people want to get it, let them do the +same. Besides, as I told you, Captain Davenant and his son both +procured it for me for the sake of the children, and them only, and +I should be breaking faith with them if any others touched it, save +those for whom it was given me. It is little enough among eighteen +children for four days--a pound of bread and a little over a pint +of milk, each. They must each have a quarter of a pint, when you +bring it in tonight, and the rest had better be curdled. That way +it will keep, and they can have a portion each day of curds and +whey, and a fourth share of their bread. It is little enough; but I +trust that it may keep life in them."</p> +<p>"Well, John, I will do as you say," the tanner said, after a +pause. "It goes somewhat against my conscience; but, as you say, it +will make but a meagre portion for each of them, and would be +nothing were it fairly divided; besides, you have brought it with +the risk of your life, and I know not that any save you have a +right to a voice in its partition."</p> +<p>Before the gates were closed, John went out, and presently had +the satisfaction of hearing a small stone drop from the wall above +him, followed presently by the end of a rope. He sent up the kegs, +and then lay down among the bushes, and enjoyed the satisfaction of +thinking of the joy of the little ones, when the milk and bread +were served out to them. As soon as the gates were open in the +morning, he went in.</p> +<p>"Thank you, oh, so much, for the milk and bread last night. We +heard how you had swum so far, and gone into danger to get it for +us, and we're going to have some more for breakfast."</p> +<p>"It was not much, dears," John said.</p> +<p>"Oh, no, it was not much; but it was so nice, and we did all +sleep so well last night--even little Lucy didn't waken and cry +once--and Ruth Hardy said we ought to call you the Raven; but we +don't like that name for you."</p> +<p>"The Raven, Ruth!" John said, mystified. "Why did you want to +call me the Raven?"</p> +<p>"I wouldn't do it if you didn't like it, dear John; but you know +that chapter that Master Williams read us, the other day, about the +ravens that fed somebody in a cave, and we have been wishing the +ravens would feed us; and so you see, when you sent us the milk +last night, I thought you ought to be called the Raven. I did not +mean any harm."</p> +<p>"No, my dear, of course not, and you can all call me the Raven, +if you like."</p> +<p>"No, no, John. You are John, and that's much better than the +Raven. They brought the man food, but they didn't nurse him and +tell him stories, as you do."</p> +<p>"Now, run inside the castle," John said, "and I will go in and +get your breakfasts."</p> +<p>John soon returned, with a great bowl of curds and whey, a +platter piled up with slices of bread and a score of little mugs, +and the feast began. Scarce a word was said while the children were +eating. Their hunger was too keen, and their enjoyment too intense, +to admit of speech. When each had finished their portion, there was +a general exclamation.</p> +<p>"Oh, John, you haven't had any. Why didn't you have some, +too?"</p> +<p>"Because there is only enough for you," he said. "If I were to +have some, and Cousin Josiah, and all the others, there would be a +very little share for you; besides, when I went out the day before +yesterday, I had as much as I could eat."</p> +<p>"Oh, dear, that must have been nice," one of the boys said. +"Only think, having as much as one can eat. Oh, how much I could +eat, if I had it!"</p> +<p>"And yet I daresay, Tom," John said, "that sometimes, before you +came here, when you had as much as you could eat, you used to +grumble if it wasn't quite what you fancied."</p> +<p>"I shall never grumble again," the boy said positively. "I shall +be quite, quite content with potatoes, if I can but get enough of +them."</p> +<p>"The good times will come again," John said cheerily. "Now we +will have a story. Which shall it be?"</p> +<p>As the children sat round him, John was delighted to see that +even the two scanty meals they had had, had done wonders for them. +The listless, hopeless look of the last few days had disappeared, +and occasionally something like a hearty laugh broke out among +them, and an hour later the tanner came to the entrance.</p> +<p>"Come to the walls with me, John."</p> +<p>"What is it? What is the matter?" John said, as he saw the look +of anger and indignation on the wasted features of his cousin.</p> +<p>"Come and see for yourself," the latter said.</p> +<p>When they reached the walls, they found them crowded with the +inhabitants. Outside were a multitude of women, children, and old +men. These General Rosen, with a refinement of cruelty, had swept +in from the country round and driven under the walls, where they +were left to starve, unless the garrison would take them in, and +divide their scanty supply of food with them.</p> +<p>"It is monstrous," John cried, when he understood the meaning of +the sight. "What are we to do?"</p> +<p>"We can do nothing," the tanner replied. "The council have met, +and have determined to keep the gates closed. We are dying for the +cause. They must do so too; and they will not die in vain, for all +Europe will cry out when they hear of this dastardly act of +cruelty."</p> +<p>The people outside were animated by a spirit as stern as that of +the besieged, and the women cried out, to those on the walls, to +keep the gates shut and to resist to the last, and not to heed +them.</p> +<p>The ministers went out through the gates, and held services +among the crowd, and the people on the walls joined in the hymns +that were sung below. So, for three days and nights, the people +within and without fasted and prayed. On the third day, a messenger +arrived from King James at Dublin, ordering General Rosen at once +to let the people depart.</p> +<p>The indignation, among the Irish gentlemen in the camp, at +Rosen's brutal order had been unbounded, and messenger after +messenger had been sent to Dublin, where the news excited a burst +of indignation, and James at once countermanded the order of the +general. The gates were opened now, and the people flocked out and +exchanged greetings with their friends. A few able-bodied men in +the crowd entered the town, to share in its defence, while a +considerable number of the women and children from within mingled +with them, and moved away through the lines of the besiegers.</p> +<p>John had, the day before, gone out when the gates were opened +for the preachers, and at night had again safely made the passage +to the mouth of the river and back. He found the lantern burning +among the bushes, and two kegs placed beside it, with a bountiful +meal of bread and meat for himself.</p> +<p>So the days went on, each day lessening the number of the +inhabitants of the town. Fever and famine were making terrible +ravages, and the survivors moved about the streets like living +skeletons, so feeble and weak, now, that they could scarce bear the +weight of their arms.</p> +<p>On the 30th of July, three ships were seen approaching the mouth +of the river. They were part of Kirk's squadron, which had all this +time been lying idle, almost within sight of the town. The news of +his conduct had excited such anger and indignation in England that, +at last, in obedience to peremptory orders from London, he prepared +to make the attempt; although, by sending only two store ships and +one frigate, it would almost seem as if he had determined that it +should be a failure.</p> +<p>The besiegers as well as the besieged saw the three ships +advancing, and the former moved down to the shore, to repel the +attempt. The batteries on either side of the boom were manned, and +from them, and from the infantry gathered on the banks, a heavy +fire was opened as the ships approached.</p> +<p>So innocuous was the fire of the artillery, that it has been +supposed that Kirk had previously bribed the officers commanding +the forts. At any rate, the ships suffered no material damage, and, +returning the fire, advanced against the boom. The leading store +ship dashed against it and broke it, but the ship swerved from her +course with the shock, and struck the ground. A shout of dismay +burst from those on the walls, and one of exultation from the +besiegers, who rushed down to board the vessel.</p> +<p>Her captain, however, pointed all his guns forward, and +discharged them all at the same moment, and the recoil shook the +vessel from her hold on the ground, and she floated off, and +pursued her way up the river, followed by her consorts.</p> +<p>The delay of Kirk had cost the defenders of Londonderry more +than half their number. The fighting men had, either by disease, +famine, or in the field, lost some five thousand, while of the +non-combatants seven thousand had died. The joy and exultation in +the city, as the two store ships ranged up under its walls, were +unbounded. Provisions were speedily conveyed on shore, and +abundance took the place of famine.</p> +<p>Five days later, General Rosen raised the siege and marched away +with his army, which had, in the various operations of the siege, +and from the effect of disease, lost upwards of three thousand +men.</p> +<p>"This has been a bad beginning, Walter," Captain Davenant said, +as they rode away from the grounds on which they had been so long +encamped. "If the whole force of Ireland does not suffice to take a +single town, the prospect of our waging war successfully against +England is not hopeful."</p> +<p>"It seems to me that it would have been much better to have left +Derry alone, father," Walter said.</p> +<p>"It would have been better, as it has turned out, Walter; but +had the king taken the place, as he expected, without difficulty, +he would have crossed with a portion of the army to Scotland, where +a considerable part of the population would at once have joined +him. The defence of Derry has entirely thwarted that plan, and I +fear now that it will never be carried out.</p> +<p>"However, it has had the advantage of making soldiers out of an +army of peasants. When we came here, officers and men were alike +ignorant of everything relating to war. Now we have, at any rate, +learned a certain amount of drill and discipline, and I think we +shall give a much better account of ourselves, in the open field, +than we have done in front of a strong town which we had no means +whatever of storming. Still, it has been a frightful waste of life +on both sides, and with no result, beyond horribly embittering the +feeling of hatred, which unfortunately prevailed before, between +the Catholic and Protestant populations."</p> +<p>The mortification and disgust, caused by the failure of +Londonderry, was increased by a severe defeat of a force under +General Justin McCarthy, Lord Mountcashel, at Newtown Butler, on +the very day that Derry was relieved. General McCarthy had been +detached, with a corps of six thousand men, against the +Enniskilleners. He came up with them near Newtown Butler. Although +but two thousand strong, the Enniskilleners, who were commanded by +Colonel Wolseley, an English officer, at once attacked the Irish, +only a portion of whom had come upon the ground.</p> +<p>McCarthy, who was a brave and experienced officer, sent orders +to the cavalry to face to the right, and march to the support of +the wing that was attacked. The officer gave the order +"right--about face," and the cavalry turned and trotted towards the +rear. The infantry, believing that they were deserted by the horse, +at once lost heart and fell into confusion.</p> +<p>McCarthy, while endeavouring to remedy the disorder, was wounded +and taken prisoner, and the flight became general. The +Enniskilleners pursued with savage fury, and during the evening, +the whole of the night, and the greater part of the next day, +hunted the fugitives down in the bogs and woods, and slew them in +cold blood. Five hundred of the Irish threw themselves into Lough +Erne, rather than face death at the hands of their savage enemies, +and only one of the number saved himself by swimming.</p> +<p>After leaving Derry, the army returned to Dublin, where the +parliament which James had summoned was then sitting. Most of the +soldiers were quartered on the citizens; but, as the pressure was +very great, Captain Davenant easily obtained leave for his troop to +go out to Bray, where they were within a very short distance of his +own house.</p> +<p>The day after his return home, Walter went over to give Jabez +Whitefoot and his wife news of John, from whom they had heard +nothing, since a fortnight before the siege had begun.</p> +<p>"Your son is alive and well," were his first words. "He has been +all through the siege of Derry, and has behaved like a hero."</p> +<p>"The Lord be praised!" Jabez said, while his wife burst into +tears of relief, for she had gone through terrible anxiety during +the long weeks that Derry had been suffering from starvation.</p> +<p>"But how do you know, Master Walter?" Jabez asked. "Seeing that +you were on the side of the besiegers, how could you tell what was +passing on the inside of the walls? How do you know John is +alive?"</p> +<p>"Because I saw him first, a month before the end of the siege, +and because he came regularly afterwards, to fetch away some +provisions which I had placed for him."</p> +<p>And Walter then gave a full account of John's visit to the camp, +in search of food for the children who were sheltered in the +tanner's house.</p> +<p>"That is just like John," his mother said. "He was ever +thoughtful for others. I am more pleased, a hundred times, that he +should have so risked his life to obtain food for the little ones, +than if he had taken part in the fighting and proved himself a very +champion of Derry."</p> +<p>Parliament had met on the 7th of May. The session had been +opened by a speech from the throne, in which the king commended the +loyalty of his Irish subjects, declared his intention to make no +difference between Catholics and Protestants, and that loyalty and +good conduct should be the only passport to his favour. He stated +his earnest wish that good and wholesome laws should be enacted, +for the encouragement of trade and of the manufactures of the +country, and for the relief of such as had suffered injustice by +the Act of Settlement; that is, the act by which the lands of the +Catholics had been handed over, wholesale, to Cromwell's soldiers +and other Protestants.</p> +<p>Bills were speedily passed, abolishing the jurisdiction of +English courts of law and of the English parliament in Ireland, and +other bills were passed for the regulation of commerce and the +promotion of shipbuilding. The bill for the repeal of the Act of +Settlement was brought up on the 22d of May. It was opposed only by +the Protestant bishops and peers, and became law on the 11th of +June. Acts of attainder were speedily passed against some two +thousand Protestant landed proprietors, all of whom had obtained +their lands by the settlement of Cromwell.</p> +<p>A land tax was voted to the king, of twenty thousand pounds a +month, and he proceeded to raise other levies by his private +authority. The result was that the resources of Ireland were +speedily exhausted, money almost disappeared, and James, being at +his wits' end for funds, issued copper money stamped with the value +of gold and silver; and a law was passed making this base money +legal tender, promising that, at the end of the war, it should be +exchanged for sterling money.</p> +<p>This was a measure which inflicted enormous loss and damage. At +first, the people raised the prices of goods in proportion to the +decrease in the value of the money, but James stopped this, by +issuing a proclamation fixing the prices at which all articles were +to be sold; and having done this, proceeded to buy up great +quantities of hides, butter, corn, wood, and other goods, paying +for them all with a few pounds of copper and tin, and then shipping +them to France, where they were sold on his own account. It need +hardly be said that conduct of this kind speedily excited great +dissatisfaction, even among those who were most loyal in his +cause.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant was shocked at the state of things he found +prevailing in Dublin.</p> +<p>"I regret bitterly," he said, when alone with his wife and +mother, "that I have taken up the sword. Success appears to me to +be hopeless. The folly of the Stuarts is incredible. They would +ruin the best cause in the world. With a spark of wisdom and +firmness, James might have united all Ireland in his cause, instead +of which he has absolutely forced the Protestants into hostility. +His folly is only equalled by his rapacity, and both are +stupendous."</p> +<p>This was said, one evening, when he had just returned from a +visit to Dublin, depressed and disheartened by all he heard +there.</p> +<p>"I am astonished, Fergus," his mother said sharply, "to hear you +speak in that way. Who would have thought that it was a Davenant +who was speaking! Doubtless there have been mistakes, as was only +natural, but everything will come right, in time. I have been +longing for you to come home, looking forward with such joy to +welcome you as the possessor of the broad lands of the Davenants. +Thank God I have lived to see the restoration of my dear husband's +lands, and the discomfiture of those Cromwellian knaves, who have +so long possessed them. It was a grand day when the act was passed, +repealing all Cromwell's grants handing over the best part of +Ireland to his soldiers; and I saw in the Gazette, among the two +thousand grants specially mentioned as cancelled, was that of the +Davenant estate to Zephaniah Whitefoot. I am told that the old man +and his son have taken no notice of the act, but go about their +work as if they were still the owners of the land; but of course, +now that you are back, there will soon be an end of this."</p> +<p>Captain Davenant was silent.</p> +<p>"I shall be in no hurry, mother," he said, after a pause. "It is +true that an act of the Irish parliament has cancelled the +iniquitous work of Cromwell, and restored the land to its rightful +possessors. I do not say that this is not just, but I am quite sure +that it is not politic. These men have been planted on the soil for +two generations. They have built houses and tilled the fields, and +made homes for themselves. It was essentially a case for +arrangement, and not for setting right the first act of +confiscation by another as sweeping. It has rendered the +Protestants desperate. It has enlisted the sympathy of the +Protestants of England in their behalf, and has done much to +popularize the war there. It would have been vastly wiser, had a +commission been ordered to examine into the circumstances of each +case.</p> +<p>"In the great proportion of cases, the estates which the +Cromwellites took possession of were vastly larger than they were +able to till themselves; and, as in the case of Zephaniah +Whitefoot, they let out the greater portion to tenants. All these +lands I would have restored to their former owners, leaving to the +Cromwellites the land they till themselves, and the houses they +have built upon it.</p> +<p>"As to turning the Whitefoots out, I shall certainly take no +step that way, at present. It will be time enough to do so, when +King James is firmly established on the throne. As things go at +present, I have but very faint hopes that will ever be. He has +utterly failed to conquer the Protestants of the north of Ireland, +and we have all the strength of England to cope with, yet. It will +be well, mother, if, at the end of this strife, we can keep +Davenant Castle over our heads, with the few acres that still +remain to us."</p> +<p>Two days afterwards, Captain Davenant mounted his horse and rode +over to the Whitefoots. Zephaniah and Jabez came to the door.</p> +<p>"I suppose you have come over to turn us out, Fergus Davenant," +the old man said; "but I warn you, that it will not be for long. +The triumph of the ungodly is short, and the Lord will care for his +own people."</p> +<p>"You are mistaken," Captain Davenant said quietly. "I have come +over for no such purpose. I am, of course, aware that parliament +has passed a law, reinstating me in my father's lands; but I came +over to tell you that, at present, I do not propose to take +advantage of that law. I shall do nothing, until this war is at an +end. If King William's cause triumphs, the act will remain a dead +letter. If King James's wins, and the act is upheld, I wish to tell +you that I shall never disturb you in the land which you, +yourselves, occupy. Your tenants, on the other hand, will be my +tenants; but in the house which you have built, and in the fields +which you have tilled, you will remain masters.</p> +<p>"I have thought the matter over, and this appears to me to be a +just settlement, and one which I give you my word that I will hold +to, should King James triumph in the end. I think that the law +turning out the Protestant settlers, from the land which they have +held for forty years, is well nigh as unjust as that which gave it +to them."</p> +<p>"I will take no gifts at the hands of the wicked," Zephaniah +began, but Jabez interrupted him.</p> +<p>"Hush, father!" he said. "It is not thus that kindness should be +met."</p> +<p>Then he stepped forward, leaving his father too surprised, at +this sudden assumption of command on the part of his son, to +interrupt him.</p> +<p>"Captain Davenant," he said, "I thank you most sincerely, on the +part of myself, my wife and son, and, I may say, of my father, too, +although at present he may not realize the kindness of your offer. +I do not think it likely that, if James Stuart prevails, and +Ireland is rent from England, we shall avail ourselves of your +offer, for we have more than sufficient of this world's goods to +remove to England, and there settle ourselves and our son, for +assuredly Ireland would be no place where a Protestant could dwell +in peace and quietness. Nevertheless, I thank you heartily, and +shall ever gratefully bear in mind the promise you have made, and +the fact that, although you have the power to turn us from our +home, you have stayed from doing so. There has been much wrong done +on both sides; and, from a boy, when I have seen you ride into or +from your home, I have felt that I and mine wronged you, by being +the possessors of your father's lands."</p> +<p>"They were the spoil of battle," Zephaniah broke in +fiercely.</p> +<p>"Yes, they were the spoil of battle," his son repeated; "but +there are limits, even to the rights of conquerors. I have read +history, and I know that nowhere but in Ireland did conquerors ever +dispossess whole peoples, and take possession of their lands."</p> +<p>"The Israelites took the land of Canaan," Zephaniah +interrupted.</p> +<p>"I am speaking of modern wars, father. For centuries, no such +act of wholesale spoliation was ever perpetrated; and considering, +as I do, that the act was an iniquitous one, although we have +benefited by it, I consider the offer which Captain Davenant has +made to us to be a noble one.</p> +<p>"I have to thank you, sir, also, for your kindness to my son--a +kindness which doubtless saved his life, as well as that of many +others in Londonderry; and believe me that, whatever comes of this +horrible war, I and mine will never forget the kindnesses we have +received at your hands."</p> +<p>"The affair was my son's, rather than mine," Captain Davenant +said; "but I was glad to be able to assist him in aiding your brave +boy. He is a noble fellow, and you have every reason to be proud of +him."</p> +<p>"I must add my thanks to those of my husband," Hannah said, +coming out from the house, having listened to the conversation +through an open window. "We had suffered so, until your son brought +us news of John, two days since. It is strange, indeed, that your +son should have been the means of saving one of a household whom he +cannot but have learnt to regard as the usurpers of his father's +rights. It was but last night I was reading of Jonathan and David, +and it seemed to me that, assuredly, the same spirit that they felt +for each other was in our sons."</p> +<p>"The boys are very fond of each other, Mrs. Whitefoot, and I am +glad of it. They are both manly fellows, and there is no reason why +the feuds of the fathers should descend to the children."</p> +<p>With a cordial goodbye, Captain Davenant rode off.</p> +<p>"Jabez," Zephaniah said, as they turned into the house, "I had +not thought to hear a son of mine rise in rebellion against his +father."</p> +<p>"Father," Jabez said, "for forty-five years I have been a good +son to you; but it is time that I took my stand. It seems to me +that the principles upon which the soldiers of Cromwell fought, +were the principles which animated the Israelites of old. Exodus, +Judges, and Kings were the groundwork of their religion, not the +Gospels. It has gradually been borne upon me that such is not the +religion of the New Testament, and, while I seek in no way to +dispute your right to think as you choose, I say the time has come +when I and my wife will act upon our principles."</p> +<p>"It is written, Honour thy father and thy mother," Zephaniah +said sternly.</p> +<p>"Ay, father, I have honoured you, and I shall honour you to the +end; but a man has no right to give up his conscience to his +father; for it is written, also, that a man shall leave father and +mother, and wife and home to follow the Lord. I have heard you, +father, and the elders of our church, quote abundant texts from +Scripture, but never one, that I can recall, from the New +Testament. Hitherto, I have been as an Israelite of Joshua's time. +Henceforward, I hope to be a Christian. I grieve to anger you, +father, and for years I have held my peace rather than do so; but +the time has come when the spirit within me will no longer permit +me to hold my peace. In all worldly matters, I am still your +obedient son, ready to labour to my utmost to gather up wealth +which I do not enjoy, to live a life as hard as that of the poorest +tenant on our lands; but, as touching higher matters, I and my wife +go our own way."</p> +<p>Without a word, Zephaniah took his hat and strode away from the +house, and, after much angry communing with himself, went to the +minister and deacons of his chapel, and laid the facts of the +rebellion before them, and asked their advice.</p> +<p>They were in favour of peace, for two of them were his tenants, +and they knew that the time could not be very far off when Jabez +would take the old man's place, and it would be a serious matter, +indeed, to the chapel, were he to be driven from its fold.</p> +<p>"We cannot expect that all shall see with our eyes, Zephaniah," +the minister said, "and, indeed, the offer, which thou sayest the +man Davenant made, was a generous one. It would be well, indeed, +for our brethren throughout Ireland, did all the original owners of +their lands so treat them. Thousands who, but a few months since, +were prosperous men, are now without a shelter wherein to lay their +heads. The storm is sweeping over us, the elect are everywhere +smitten, and, should James Stuart conquer, not a Protestant in +Ireland but must leave its shores. Therefore, although I would +counsel no giving up of principle, no abandonment of faith, yet I +would say that this is no time for the enforcement of our views +upon weak vessels. I mourn that your son should, for the time, have +fallen away from your high standard, but I say it were best to be +patient with him."</p> +<p>At home, there were few words spoken after Zephaniah had gone +out. Hannah had thrown her arms round her husband's neck, and had +said:</p> +<p>"I thank God for your words, Jabez. Now I am proud of you, as I +have never been proud before, that you have boldly spoken out for +liberty of conscience. I feel like one who has for many years been +a slave, but who is, at last, free."</p> +<p>Jabez kissed her, but was silent. To him, it had been a great +trial to rebel. He knew that he was right, and would have done it +again, if necessary; but it was a terrible thing to him to have +openly withstood the father to whom he had, from childhood, +rendered almost implicit obedience.</p> +<p>On his return, Zephaniah did not renew the subject; but from +that time, there was a great change in the moral atmosphere of the +house. Zephaniah was still master in all matters of daily work; but +in other respects, Jabez had completely emancipated himself.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch6" name="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: Dundalk.</h2> +<p>After the failure before Derry, the utmost confusion prevailed +in the military councils, arising chiefly from the jealousies and +conflicting authorities of the French and Irish commanders. James +was entirely under the control of the French ambassador, who, +together with all his countrymen in Ireland, affected to despise +the Irish as a rude and uncivilized people; while the Irish, in +turn, hated the French for their arrogance and insolence. Many of +the Irish gentlemen, who had raised regiments at their private +expense, were superseded to make room for Frenchmen, appointed by +the influence of the French ambassador. These gentlemen returned +home in disgust, and were soon followed by their men, who were +equally discontented at being handed over to the command of +foreigners, instead of their native leaders.</p> +<p>Every day, the breach widened between the French and Irish, and +the discontent caused by the king's exactions was wide and general; +and if William, at this time, had offered favourable terms to the +Catholics, it is probable that an arrangement could have been +arrived at.</p> +<p>But William was busily at work, preparing an army for the +conquest of the country. Had Ireland stood alone, it is probable +that England would, at any rate for a time, have suffered it to go +its own way; but its close alliance with France, and the fact that +French influence was all powerful with James, rendered it +impossible for England to submit to the establishment of what would +be a foreign and hostile power, so close to her shores. Besides, if +Ireland remained under the dominion of James, the power of William +on the throne of England could never have been consolidated.</p> +<p>Although he had met with no resistance on his assumption of the +throne, he had the hearty support of but a mere fraction of the +English people, and his accession was the work of a few great Whig +families, only. His rule was by no means popular, and his Dutch +favourites were as much disliked, in England, as were James' French +adherents in Ireland.</p> +<p>In Scotland, the Jacobite party were numerous and powerful, and +were in open rebellion to his authority. Thus, then, if William's +position on the throne of England was to be consolidated, it was +necessary that a blow should be struck in Ireland.</p> +<p>Torn by dissension, without plan or leading, the Irish army +remained, for months, inactive; most of the regiments having, after +the northern campaign, returned to the districts in which they were +raised; and thus, no preparation was made to meet the army which +was preparing to invade the country.</p> +<p>This, ten thousand strong, under the command of General +Schomberg, who, although eighty years of age, was still an able, +active, and spirited commander, embarked on the 8th of August at +Chester, and on the 13th landed near Bangor, in Carrickfergus Bay. +There was no force there of sufficient strength to oppose him.</p> +<p>Schomberg found Antrim and Belfast deserted; but the garrison at +Carrickfergus, consisting of two regiments, prepared vigorously for +a siege. Schomberg at once prepared to invest it, and in a short +time attacked it by land and sea. The siege was pressed with +vigour, but the garrison, under M'Carty Moore, defended themselves +with the greatest skill and bravery. As fast as breaches were +battered in their walls, they repaired them, and repulsed every +attempt of the besiegers to gain a footing in the town. The +garrison were badly supplied with ammunition, but they stripped the +lead from the roofs of the castle and church to make bullets.</p> +<p>But all this time, no attempt whatever was made to relieve them. +The French and Irish generals were disputing as to what was the +best plan of campaign. The king was busy making money with his +trade with France; and, after holding out until they had burned +their last grain of powder, the gallant garrison were forced to +capitulate. Schomberg was too glad to get the place to insist on +hard terms, and the garrison marched out with all the honours of +war--drums beating, and matches alight--and were conveyed, with all +their stores, arms, and public and private property, to the nearest +Irish post.</p> +<p>The effect of this determined resistance, on the part of the +little garrison at Carrickfergus, was to impress Schomberg with the +fact that the difficulty of the task he had undertaken was vastly +greater than he had supposed. The success with which Londonderry +had defended itself against the Irish army had impressed him with +the idea that the levies of King James were simply contemptible; +but the fighting qualities of the garrison of Carrickfergus had +shown him that they were a foe by no means to be despised, and +convinced him that the force at his command was altogether +inadequate to his necessities.</p> +<p>He therefore moved south with extreme caution. He found the +country altogether wasted and deserted. The Protestants had long +since fled, and were gathered round Derry and Enniskillen. The +Catholics had now deserted their homes, at his approach; and the +troops, in their retreat, had burned and wasted everything, so that +he had no means of subsistence for his army, and was obliged to +rely upon the fleet, which he ordered to follow him down the +coast.</p> +<p>Schomberg was soon joined by three regiments of Enniskillen +horse. The appearance of these troops astonished the English. They +resembled rather a horde of Italian banditti than a body of +European cavalry. They observed little order in their military +movements, and no uniformity of dress or accoutrement. Each man was +armed and clad according to his own fancy, and accompanied by a +mounted servant, carrying his baggage. But, like the Cossacks, whom +they closely resembled, they were distinguished by an extreme +rapidity of movement, and a fierceness and contempt of all +difficulty and danger. They calculated neither chances nor numbers, +but rushed to the attack of any foe with a ferocity and fanaticism +which almost ensured success, and they regarded the slaughter of a +Papist as an acceptable service to the Lord. They plundered +wherever they went, and were a scourge to the Irish Protestants as +well as Catholics.</p> +<p>The troops furnished by Derry were similar in character to those +from Enniskillen. They could not endure the restraints of +discipline, and were little use in acting with the regular army, +and, like the Cossacks, were formidable only when acting by +themselves. Schomberg and his successor, and, indeed, the whole of +the English officers, soon came to abhor these savage and +undisciplined allies.</p> +<p>Still, the Irish army made no move. Report had magnified +Schomberg's strength to more than twice its real numbers, and the +military leaders could not believe that, after so many months of +preparation, William had despatched so small an army for the +conquest of Ireland.</p> +<p>Confusion and dismay reigned in Dublin. The French Marshal, De +Rosen, advised that Dublin and Drogheda should be abandoned, and +that the Irish army should be concentrated at Athlone and Limerick; +but Tyrconnell went to Drogheda, where the council of war was +sitting, and strenuously opposed this, promising that by the next +night twenty thousand men should be assembled there. Expresses were +sent out in all directions; and by forced marches, the Irish troops +stationed in Munster directed their course to Drogheda, in high +spirits and anxious to meet the enemy.</p> +<p>Schomberg, although he had been reinforced by six thousand men +from England, fell back at the news of the gathering, and formed an +intrenched camp in a strong position between Dundalk and the sea. +His approaches were covered by mountains, rivers, and morasses; his +communication was open to the sea, and here he resolved to wait for +reinforcements.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant became more and more despondent as to the cause +in which he had embarked.</p> +<p>"Without the king, and without his French allies," he said +bitterly to his wife, "we might hope for success; but these are +enough to ruin any cause. Were the king's object to excite +discontent and disgust among his subjects, he could not act +otherwise than he is now doing. His whole thoughts are devoted to +wringing money out of the people, and any time he has to spare is +spent upon superintending the building of the nunneries, in which +he is so interested. As to the French, they paralyse all military +operations. They regard us as an inferior race, and act as if, with +their own five or six thousand troops, they could defeat all the +power of England. It is heartbreaking seeing our chances so +wasted.</p> +<p>"Had advantage been taken of the enthusiasm excited when King +James landed; had he himself been wise and prudent, disinterested +for himself, and desirous of obtaining the affections of all +classes; and had he brought with him none of these French +adventurers, he would, long ere this, have been undisputed King of +Ireland from end to end, and we should have stood as one people in +arms, ready to oppose ourselves to any force that England could +send against us. Never were chances so frittered away, never such a +succession of blunders and folly. It is enough to break one's +heart."</p> +<p>"I do hope, father, that when the troop marches again you will +take me as cornet. I am six months older than I was, and have +learned a lot in the last campaign. You have not filled up the +place of Cornet O'Driscoll. I did think, when he was killed in that +last fight you had before Derry, you would have appointed me."</p> +<p>"In some respects I am less inclined than ever, Walter," Captain +Davenant said; "for I begin to regard success as hopeless."</p> +<p>"It will make no difference, father, in that way, for if we are +beaten they are sure to hand all our land over to the Protestants. +Besides, things may turn out better than you think; and whether or +no, I should certainly like to do my best for Ireland."</p> +<p>"Well, we will think about it," Captain Davenant said; and +Walter was satisfied, for he felt sure that his father would +finally accede to his wishes.</p> +<p>It was late at night, when the mounted messenger dashed up to +the door of the castle and handed in an order. Captain Davenant +opened it.</p> +<p>"We are to march, in half an hour's time, to Drogheda. The whole +army is to assemble there."</p> +<p>"Hurray!" Walter shouted. "Something is going to be done, at +last."</p> +<p>A man was sent down to the village at once, to order the twenty +men quartered there to saddle and mount instantly, and ride up to +the castle; while another, on horseback, started for Bray to get +the main body under arms. Mrs. Davenant busied herself in packing +the wallets of her husband and son. She was very pale, but she said +little.</p> +<p>"God bless you both," she said, when all was finished, "and +bring you back again safely. I won't ask you to take care of +yourselves, because, of course, you must do your duty, and with all +my love I should not wish you to draw back from that. When home and +religion and country are at stake, even we women could not wish to +keep those we love beside us."</p> +<p>There was a last embrace, and then Captain Davenant and his son +sprang on their horses, which were waiting at the door, took their +place at the head of the party which had come up from the village, +and rode away into the darkness, while the two Mrs. Davenants gave +free vent to the tears which they had hitherto so bravely +restrained.</p> +<p>At Bray, Captain Davenant found the rest of his troop drawn up +in readiness, and after a brief inspection, to see that all were +present with their proper arms and accoutrements, he started with +them for Dublin, and after a few hours' rest there continued his +way towards Drogheda.</p> +<p>The army then proceeded north to Dundalk, and bitter was the +disappointment of the troops when, on arriving there, they found +that Schomberg, instead of advancing to give battle, had shut +himself up in the intrenchments he had formed, and could not be +induced to sally out.</p> +<p>In vain King James, who accompanied his army, formed it up in +order of battle within sight of the invaders' lines. Schomberg was +not to be tempted out, and, as the position appeared to be too +strong to be attacked, the Irish were forced to endeavour to reduce +it by the slow process of starvation. The English army was soon +reduced to pitiable straits--not from hunger, for they were able to +obtain food from the ships, but from disease. The situation of the +camp was low and unhealthy. Fever broke out, and swept away vast +numbers of the men.</p> +<p>The Dutch and Enniskilleners suffered comparatively little--both +were accustomed to a damp climate. But of the English troops, +nearly eight thousand died in the two months that the blockade +lasted. Had James maintained his position, the whole of the army of +Schomberg must have perished; but, most unfortunately for his +cause, he insisted on personally conducting operations, and when +complete success was in his grasp he marched his army away, in the +middle of November, to winter quarters; thereby allowing Schomberg +to move, with the eight thousand men who remained to him, from the +pest-stricken camp to healthier quarters.</p> +<p>The disgust, of those of James's officers who understood +anything of war, at this termination of the campaign was extreme. +The men, indeed, were eager to return to their homes, but would +gladly have attempted an assault on the English camp before doing +so; and, as the defenders were reduced to half their original +strength, while most of the survivors were weakened by disease, the +attack would probably have been successful. James himself was +several times on the point of ordering an attack, but his own +vacillation of character was heightened by the conflicting counsels +of his generals, who seemed more bent on thwarting each other than +on gaining the cause for which they fought.</p> +<p>The cavalry were not idle, while the blockade of Schomberg's +camp continued, frequently making excursions over the country to +bring in cattle for the army; for the villagers had, for the most +part, deserted their homes, and herds of cattle were grazing +without masters. One day, Captain Davenant's troop had ridden some +thirty miles out of camp, and had halted for the night in a +village. In the morning, they broke up into small parties and +scattered round the country. Walter, with fifteen of the troopers, +had collected some cattle and stopped for an hour, to feed and rest +the horses, in a deserted village. He took the precaution to place +two or three men on sentry round it.</p> +<p>The men were sitting on the doorsteps, eating the food they had +brought with them, when one of the outposts dashed in at full +gallop, shouting that the enemy were upon them; but his warning +came too late, for, close behind him, came a body of wild-looking +horsemen, shouting and yelling. There was a cry of "The +Enniskilleners!" and the men ran to their horses.</p> +<p>They had scarcely time to throw themselves in the saddle, when +the Enniskilleners charged down. For a minute or two there was a +confused medley, and then three or four of the troopers rode off at +full speed, hotly pursued by the Enniskilleners.</p> +<p>Walter had discharged his pistols and drawn his sword, but +before he had time to strike a blow, his horse was rolled over by +the rush of the enemy, and, as he was falling, he received a blow +on the head from a sabre which stretched him insensible on the +ground. He was roused by two men turning him over and searching his +pockets. A slight groan burst from his lips.</p> +<p>"The fellow is not dead," one of the men said.</p> +<p>"We will soon settle that," the other replied.</p> +<p>"Don't kill him," the first speaker said. "Wait till the captain +has spoken to him. We may be able to get some information from him. +We can finish him afterwards."</p> +<p>Walter lay with his eyes closed. He well knew that the +Enniskilleners took no prisoners, but killed all who fell into +their hands, and he determined to show no signs of returning +consciousness. Presently, he heard the sound of a party of horsemen +returning, and by the exclamations of disappointment which greeted +the news they gave, he learned that some, at least, of his men had +made their escape.</p> +<p>Some time later, several men came up to him. One leaned over +him, and put his hand to his heart.</p> +<p>"He is alive."</p> +<p>"Very well," another voice said. "Then we will take him with us. +He is an officer, and will be able to tell us all about their +strength.</p> +<p>"Watkins, you have a strong beast, and do not weigh much. Do you +mount, and then we will tie him to your back."</p> +<p>A minute later Walter was lifted up, and felt that he was placed +on a horse with his back to that of the rider. A rope was wound +several times round his body. He remained perfectly passive, with +his head hanging down on his breast. Then a word of command was +given, and the troop set off.</p> +<p>For a time, there was no need for him to pretend insensibility, +for the pain of his wound and the loss of blood overpowered him, +and for some time he was unconscious. After two hours' riding, the +troop was halted. Walter felt the rope taken off him. Then he was +lifted down, dragged a short distance, and thrown down on some +straw. Then a door shut, and he heard a key turned. He felt sure +that he was alone, but for some time lay perfectly quiet, as it was +possible that one of the men might have remained to watch him.</p> +<p>After a quarter of an hour, hearing not the slightest sound, he +opened his eyes and looked round. He was, as he supposed, alone. +The place in which he was lying was a stable, lighted only by a +small opening high up in the wall. Certain, therefore, that he was +not overlooked, he made an effort to rise to his feet, but he was +so weak and giddy that he was obliged, for some time, to remain +leaning against the wall. Seeing a bucket in one corner, he made to +it, and found, to his delight, that it was half full of water, for +he was parched with a devouring thirst.</p> +<p>After taking a deep draught he felt greatly revived, and then +made a thorough survey of his prison. It evidently formed part of +the house of a well-to-do man, for it was solidly built of stone, +and the door was strong and well fitted.</p> +<p>The opening in the wall was out of his reach. He could, at +ordinary times, by standing on the upturned bucket, have reached it +with a spring, and pulled himself up to it, but at present he was +wholly incapable of such exertion. He thought, however, that after +a night's rest he would be able to do it.</p> +<p>The door was so strong that he had no hope of escape in that +direction. As he might at any moment be disturbed, he returned to +the straw on which he had at first been thrown, laid himself down, +and in a very short time dropped off to sleep.</p> +<p>It was dark, before he was awoke by the turning of the key in +the lock, and two men entered, one of them bearing a horn +lantern.</p> +<p>"Where am I?" Walter asked, in a feeble tone, as they approached +him.</p> +<p>"Never mind where you are," one said roughly. "Get up."</p> +<p>Walter seemed to make an effort, and then fell back with a +groan.</p> +<p>The man repeated his order, emphasizing it with a kick. Walter +again made an effort, and, as before, sank back.</p> +<p>"Here, catch hold of him," the man said, impatiently, "it's no +use fooling here with him."</p> +<p>The men took Walter under the arms and lifted him up, and half +dragged, half carried him out of the stable and into the house +adjoining. He was taken into a room where four or five men were +sitting.</p> +<p>"Now, young fellow," one said sharply, "tell us what corps you +belong to."</p> +<p>Walter looked stupidly at his questioner, but made no +answer.</p> +<p>"Answer my question," the man said, levelling a pistol at him, +"or I will blow out your brains at once."</p> +<p>Still Walter stared at him stupidly, and made no reply, except +to mutter, "Water."</p> +<p>"It's no use," one of the other men said. "He hasn't got his +right senses yet. It's no use shooting him now, after we have had +the trouble of bringing him here. In the morning, he will be able +to answer you."</p> +<p>"He had better," the other said savagely, "or we will light a +fire and roast him over it. There, take him back to the stable, and +give him a drink of water. I don't want him to slip through our +fingers, after the trouble we have had with him."</p> +<p>Walter was taken back, as before, to the stable, and one of the +men brought him a mug of water, and held it to his lips. He drank +eagerly, and then the man placed the mug down beside him, the door +was again closed and locked, and Walter was alone. He rose at once +to his feet, and felt that his sleep had greatly refreshed and +strengthened him.</p> +<p>"I will have another sleep, before I try," he said to himself. +"It will not be light till six, and it must be eight or nine +o'clock now. I must make up my mind, before I doze off, to wake in +about three or four hours; but first, I must see what I can find, +here."</p> +<p>He felt round the walls, but failed to find anything like a +rope.</p> +<p>"I must trust to luck," he said; "I don't suppose they will post +many sentries. These fellows are not real soldiers, and no doubt +they will all be sound asleep in a couple of hours."</p> +<p>So saying, he again lay down, and was speedily asleep. When he +woke, he felt sure that he had not exceeded the time he had given +himself. He listened intently. He could hear a low, confused sound, +which he knew was made by horses feeding, but he could hear no +human voices. He drank the rest of the water in the mug, then he +turned up the bucket, placed it under the opening, and mounted on +it.</p> +<p>His first spring failed to reach the sill, and he stood for a +few minutes, before making another attempt. He knew that it was a +matter of life or death, for he had no doubt whatever that, even if +he gave the required information, which he was determined not to +do, however much he might suffer, he would be shot afterwards. He +braced himself to the utmost, took a long breath, and then sprang. +His fingers caught on the ledge of stonework, and, with a desperate +effort, he drew himself up, aided by his feet. He had, before +making the attempt, removed his boots, partly to avoid the scraping +noise which these would make, partly to enable him the better to +avail himself of the inequalities in the stonework.</p> +<p>It was a desperate struggle; and when he got his shoulders in +the opening, which was just wide enough to admit them, he lay for +three or four minutes, panting heavily, with the perspiration +streaming down his face. The aperture was too small to admit of his +turning in any way, and there was nothing for it, as he knew, but +to drop head foremost.</p> +<p>Gradually, he drew himself through the opening, lowering himself +as much as he could by holding on to the upper edge by his feet. +Then, stretching out his arms to save himself, he let go. +Fortunately, the ground was soft, for a garden adjoined the stable; +but the shock was a heavy one, and he lay for a minute or two +without moving, having some doubt whether he had not broken his +neck. Then he got up, and listened.</p> +<p>Everything was still and quiet, and, indeed, his fall had been +almost noiseless. He rose to his feet, felt along the wall until he +encountered a low paling, climbed over it, and was in the road.</p> +<p>He had, when he jumped for the window, tied his boots to his +back, and now carried them in his hand. The night was very dark; +but his eyes, accustomed to the greater darkness of the stable, had +no difficulty in following the road. He walked slowly, for the +exertion he had undergone and the shock of the fall had drawn +greatly from his small stock of strength.</p> +<p>After going a quarter of a mile, he put on his boots, and, +climbing a wall of sods which bordered the road, struck across +country. There were no stars to guide him, and a slight mist had +begun to fall. There was but little wind, but this was sufficient +to give a direction to the rain. Walter noticed this, and at once +struck out in a direction which kept the rain falling upon the +right side of his face; and he knew that, by so continuing, he was +going in a tolerably straight line. As near as he could tell he +walked for two hours, and then, utterly exhausted, lay down on the +lee side of a turf wall.</p> +<p>There was, as yet, no gleam of light in the sky, and in a very +few minutes he was again sound asleep. He woke up with a feeling of +bitter cold, and, on rising, found that his limbs were completely +stiffened by the wet. It was morning now, the wind had got up, and +a driving rain shut out the view on all sides. Walter stamped his +feet and swung his arms for some time to restore the +circulation.</p> +<p>He had no idea in which direction he had been travelling, for he +did not know whether the road from which he had started ran north, +south, east, or west. He noticed that the wind had changed; for, +whereas he had lain down under the lee of the wall, it was now the +weather side. He walked in the same direction as before for two +hours, and could then go no farther. He had seen no signs of human +habitation, and had not crossed a road or even a footpath. Since +starting in the morning he had passed no more walls or fences, and, +as far as his eye could reach through the driving rain, nothing was +to be seen save a desolate expanse of moor and bog. He was, at any +rate, free from pursuit for the time, and he thought more of +obtaining food and shelter than of the Enniskilleners.</p> +<p>It was useless pushing further on, even had he been able to do +so, while the rain lasted; for he might have passed within a +quarter of a mile of a habitation without seeing it. He accordingly +threw himself down beside some low bushes, which afforded him some +slight protection from the rain.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch7" name="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: The Coming Battle.</h2> +<p>Some hours passed, and he was on the point of dropping off to +sleep again, when he heard a whistle repeated once or twice, +followed by the sharp bark of a dog. It was but a short distance +away, and, leaping to his feet, he saw a peasant standing at a +distance of two or three hundred yards.</p> +<p>Walter hurried towards him at a speed of which, a few minutes +before, he would have thought himself incapable. The man continued +whistling, at short intervals, and did not notice Walter till he +was within twenty yards distant; then he turned sharply round.</p> +<p>"Who are you?" he asked, clubbing a heavy stick which he held in +his hand, and standing on the defensive.</p> +<p>The dress and appearance of the man assured Walter that he was a +Catholic, and therefore a friend, and he replied at once:</p> +<p>"I belong to one of the Irish troops of horse. The +Enniskilleners surprised a party of us, yesterday, and wounded me, +as you see. Fortunately, I escaped in the night, or they would have +finished me this morning. I have been out all night in the rain, +and am weak from loss of blood and hunger. Can you give me +shelter?"</p> +<p>"That I can," the man said, "and gladly. Those villains have +been killing and destroying all over the country, and there's many +a one of us who, like myself, have been driven to take refuge in +the bogs."</p> +<p>"Is it far?" Walter asked; "for I don't think I could get more +than a mile or two."</p> +<p>"It is not half a mile," the man said. "You do look nearly done +for. Here, lean on me, I will help you along; and if you find your +strength go, I will make a shift to carry you."</p> +<p>"It is lucky I heard you whistle," Walter said.</p> +<p>"It is, indeed," the man replied, "for it is not likely anyone +else would have come along today. My dog went off after a rabbit, +and I was whistling to him to come to me again.</p> +<p>"Ah! Here he is. He has got the rabbit, too. Good dog! Well +done!"</p> +<p>He took the rabbit and dropped it into the pocket of his coat. +Seeing that Walter was too exhausted to talk, he asked no +questions, and said nothing till he pointed to a low mound of +earth, and said: "Here we are."</p> +<p>He went round by the side; and Walter perceived that there was a +sharp dip in the ground, and that the hut was dug out in the face +of the slope; so that, if it were approached either from behind or +on either side, it would not be noticed, the roof being covered +with sods, and closely matching the surrounding ground.</p> +<p>The man went to the low door, and opened it.</p> +<p>"Come in, sir," he said; "you are quite welcome."</p> +<p>The hut contained two other men, who looked up in surprise at +the greeting.</p> +<p>"This is a young officer, in one of our horse regiments," the +man said. "He has been in the hands of the Enniskilleners, and has +got out from them alive--which is more than most can say. He has +had a bad wound, has been wet through for hours, and is half +starving. Look sharp, lads, and get something hot, as soon as +possible.</p> +<p>"Now, sir, if you will take off those wet things of yours, and +wrap yourself in that rug, you will find yourself the better for +it. When a man is in health, a few hours wet will not do him any +harm; but when he is weak from loss of blood, as you are, the cold +seems to get into his bones."</p> +<p>Fresh turfs were at once put on the smouldering fire, which one +of the men, leaning down before it, proceeded to blow lustily; and, +although much of the smoke made its way out through a hole in the +roof, enough lingered to render it difficult for Walter to breathe, +while his eyes watered with the sharp fumes. A kettle had been +placed on the fire, and in a very short time, a jar was produced +from the corner of the hut, and a horn of strong spirits and water +mixed.</p> +<p>"Here are some cold praties, sir. It's all we have got cooked by +us now, but I can promise you a better meal, later on."</p> +<p>Walter ate the potatoes, and drank the warm mixture. The change +from the cold damp air outside, to the warm atmosphere of the hut, +aided the effects of the spirits; he was first conscious of a warm +glow all over him, and then the voices of the men seemed to grow +indistinct.</p> +<p>"You had better stretch yourself on that pile of rushes," the +man said, as Walter gave a start, being on the point of rolling +over. "Two or three hours' sleep will make a man of you, and by +that time dinner will be ready, and your clothes dry."</p> +<p>Walter fell almost instantaneously off to sleep, and it was late +in the afternoon before he woke.</p> +<p>"I am afraid I must have slept a long time," he said, sitting +up.</p> +<p>"You have had a fine sleep, surely," one of the men replied; +"and it's dinner and supper, all in one, that you will have."</p> +<p>Walter found his uniform and underclothes neatly folded up by +his side, and speedily dressed himself.</p> +<p>"That sleep has done me a world of good," he said. "I feel quite +myself again."</p> +<p>"That's right, yer honour. When you've had your food, I will +make a shift to dress that wound at the back of yer head. Be +jabbers, it's a hard knock you have had, and a mighty lot of blood +you must have lost! Yer clothes was just stiff with it; but I +washed most of it out.</p> +<p>"And now, lads, off with the pot!"</p> +<p>A large pot was hanging over the fire, and, when the lid was +taken off, a smell very pleasant to Walter's nostrils arose. Four +flat pieces of wood served the purpose of plates, and, with a large +spoon of the same material, the man who had brought Walter to the +hut, and who appeared to be the leader of the party, ladled out +portions of the contents. These consisted of rabbit and pieces of +beef, boiled up with potatoes and onions. A large jug filled with +water, and a bottle of spirits were placed in the centre, with the +horn which Walter had before used beside it.</p> +<p>"We are short of crockery," the man said with a laugh. "Here are +some knives, but as for forks, we just have to do without +them."</p> +<p>Walter enjoyed his meal immensely. After it was finished, the +wooden platters were removed, and the jug replenished.</p> +<p>"Now, your honour, will you tell us how you got away from the +Protestant rebels, and how was it they didn't make short work of +you, when they caught you? It's a puzzle to us entirely, for the +Enniskilleners spare neither man, woman, nor child."</p> +<p>Walter related the whole circumstances of his capture, +imprisonment, and escape.</p> +<p>"You fooled them nicely," the man said, admiringly. "Sure your +honour's the one to get out of a scrape--and you little more than a +boy."</p> +<p>"And what are you doing here?" Walter asked, in return. "This +seems a wild place to live in."</p> +<p>"It's just that," the man said. "We belonged to Kilbally. The +Enniskilleners came that way, and burned it to the ground. They +murdered my wife and many another one. I was away cutting peat with +my wife's brother here. When we came back, everything was gone. A +few had escaped to the bogs, where they could not be followed; the +rest was, every mother's son of them, killed by those murdering +villains. Your honour may guess what we felt, when we got back. +Thank God I had no children! We buried the wife in the garden +behind the house, and then started away and joined a band of +rapparees, and paid some of them back in their own coin. Then, one +day, the Enniskilleners fell on us, and most of us were killed. +Then we made our way back to the old village, and came up here and +built us this hut. It's a wonder to us how you got here; for there +are bogs stretching away in all directions, and how you made your +way through them bates us entirely."</p> +<p>"Yours is a sad story, but unfortunately a common one. And how +have you managed to live here?"</p> +<p>"There are plenty of potatoes, for the digging of 'em," the man +said, "for there are a score of ruined villages within a day's +walk. As for meat, there are cattle for the taking, wandering all +over the country; some have lately strayed away; but among the +hills there are herds which have run wild since the days when +Cromwell made the country a desert. As for spirits, I brew them +myself. Barley as well as potatoes may be had for the taking. Then, +sometimes, the dog picks up a rabbit. Sometimes, when we go down +for potatoes, we light on a fowl or two; there's many a one of them +running wild among the ruins. As far as eating and drinking goes, +we never did better; and if I could forget the old cottage, and the +sight that met my eyes when I went back to it, I should do well +enough, but, night and day I am dreaming of it, and my heart is +sore with longing for vengeance."</p> +<p>"Why don't you join the army?" Walter asked. "There's plenty of +room for good men, and yesterday's affair has made some vacancies +in my own troop.</p> +<p>"What do you say, lads? You would have a chance of crossing +swords with the Enniskilleners, and you could always come back here +when the war is over."</p> +<p>"What do you say, boys?" the man asked his companions. "I am +just wearying for a fight, and I could die contented, if I could +but send a few of those murdering villains to their place, before I +go."</p> +<p>The other two men at once agreed. They talked well into the +night, and Walter heard many tales of the savage butchery of +unoffending peasants, by the men who professed to be fighting for +religious liberty, which shocked and sickened him.</p> +<p>It was arranged that they should start on the following morning. +The men said that they could guide him across country to Dundalk +without difficulty, and assured him that he would be little likely +to meet with the enemy, for that the whole country had been so +wasted, by fire and sword, as to offer but little temptation even +to the most insatiable of plunderers.</p> +<p>Accordingly, the next morning they set out, and arrived late +that evening at the camp. Walter found that his father and his +followers were absent. They had returned, much surprised at not +having been rejoined by Walter's party, but on their arrival they +had found there the survivors of his command, who had ridden +straight for Dundalk.</p> +<p>After a few hours' stay, to rest the horses, Captain Davenant, +with his own men and two of the troops of cavalry, had ridden out +in search of the Enniskilleners. Larry, who had been almost wild +with grief when the news of the surprise, and, as he believed, the +death of Walter, had been brought in, had accompanied the +cavalry.</p> +<p>It was late on the following afternoon before they rode into +camp. Larry was the first to come in, having received permission +from Captain Davenant to gallop on ahead. They had met the enemy, +and had inflicted a decisive defeat upon them, but the greater part +had escaped, by taking to the hills on their wiry little horses, +which were able to traverse bogs and quagmires impassable to the +heavy troopers.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant had closely questioned two or three wounded men +who fell into his hands. These all declared that a young officer +had been captured, in the previous fight, that he had been severely +wounded, and carried away senseless, but that he had, in some +extraordinary manner, managed to escape that night. This story had +greatly raised Captain Davenant's hopes that Walter might yet be +alive, a hope which he had not before allowed himself, for a +moment, to indulge in; and as he neared Dundalk, he had readily +granted leave for the impatient Larry to gallop on ahead, and +discover if any news had been received of Walter.</p> +<p>Larry's delight, at seeing his young master standing at the door +of the tent, was extreme. He gave a wild whoop, threw his cap high +up into the air, and then, without a word of greeting, turned his +horse's head and galloped away again, at the top of his speed, to +carry the good news to Captain Davenant. Half an hour later, the +column rode into camp, and Walter was clasped in his father's +arms.</p> +<p>That evening, Walter's three companions were enrolled in the +troop, and, hearing that there were vacancies for fifteen more, +volunteered to return to the hills, and to bring back that number +of men from the peasants hiding there. This mission they carried +out, and, by the end of the week, Captain Davenant's troop was +again made up to its full strength.</p> +<p>The unsuccessful result of the siege of Schomberg's camp greatly +damped Walter's enthusiasm. He had been engaged in two long and +tedious blockades, and, with the exception of some skirmishes round +Derry, had seen nothing whatever of fighting. Neither operation had +been attended by any decisive result. Both had inflicted extreme +misery and suffering upon the enemy, but in neither was the success +aimed at attained. At the same time, the novelty of the life, the +companionship of his father and the other officers of the regiment, +and, not least, the good humour and fun of his attendant, Larry, +had made the time pass far more cheerfully to him than to the +majority of those in the army.</p> +<p>As before, when the army arrived at Dublin, Captain Davenant's +troop was posted in and around Bray, the greater portion of it +being permitted to reside in their own homes, until again wanted +for active service. Walter, on his return, was glad to find that +his friend John Whitefoot had made his way home from Derry, and +their pleasant intercourse was at once renewed.</p> +<p>Schomberg's army, when moved to healthy quarters and bountifully +supplied with all kinds of food and necessaries from England, +speedily recovered their health and discipline, and, in a very +short time, were again in condition to take the field.</p> +<p>Early in February, 1690, Brigadier Wolseley, with a detachment +of Enniskilleners and English, marched against Cavan. James had no +longer an army with which he could oppose Schomberg's enterprises. +While the latter had been recovering from the effects of his heavy +losses, nothing had been done to put the Irish army in a condition +to take the field again. They lacked almost every necessary for a +campaign. No magazines had been formed to supply them, when they +should again advance; and so short of forage were they, that it was +considered impossible to make any move in force, until the grass +should grow sufficiently to enable the horses to get into +condition.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, the Duke of Berwick marched with eight hundred men +from Dublin, and Brigadier Nugent with a like force from West Meath +and Longford, and arrived at Cavan a few hours before the English +reached the town. The Irish force was composed entirely of +infantry, with the exception of two troops of cavalry. The English +force consisted of seven hundred foot, and three hundred +cavalry.</p> +<p>As Cavan did not offer any advantages in the way of defence, the +Duke of Berwick moved his army out into the open field. The English +lined the hedges, and stood on the defensive. The Irish horse +commenced the battle with a furious charge on the Enniskilleners +and dragoons, and drove them from the field; but the English +infantry maintained their position so stoutly that, after a +prolonged fight, the Irish retreated into a fort near the town. The +English and Enniskilleners entered Cavan, and at once began to +plunder the place.</p> +<p>Hearing what was going on, the Duke of Berwick sallied out from +his fort to attack them, and gained considerable advantage. +Brigadier Wolseley, being unable to restore discipline among the +Enniskilleners, who formed the great majority of his force, ordered +the town to be set on fire in several places. The troops then +collected, and repulsed the Irish with considerable loss.</p> +<p>The Duke of Berwick had two hundred killed, amongst whom were +Brigadier Nugent and many officers. As the Irish remained in +possession of the fort, and the town was almost entirely destroyed +by fire, Brigadier Wolseley returned with his force to Dundalk.</p> +<p>Shortly afterwards, the Fort of Charlemont was invested by a +strong detachment of Schomberg's army. Teigue O'Regan, the veteran +governor, defended the place with the greatest bravery, and did not +capitulate until the 14th of May, when the last ounce of provisions +was consumed. The garrison were allowed honourable terms, and the +eight hundred men who defended the place, with their arms and +baggage, and some two hundred women and children, were allowed to +march away. The Enniskilleners treated the Irish soldiers and their +families with great brutality, as they passed along, but Schomberg +humanely ordered that a loaf of bread should be given to each man +at Armagh. The Irish army were not in condition to render any +assistance to the hard pressed garrison of Charlemont, until after +they had capitulated.</p> +<p>In the meantime, a great army, which was to be led by King +William in person, was being collected in England. It consisted of +a strange medley, collected from almost every European +nation--English, Scotch, Irish Protestants, French Huguenots, +Dutch, Swedes, Danes, Brandenburghers, Swiss, Norwegians, and +Hessians. More than half, indeed, were foreigners. All were well +disciplined, armed, and clothed. In all, including the force under +Schomberg, the army amounted to forty-three thousand men, and fifty +cannon.</p> +<p>King William landed at Carrickfergus, on the 14th of June, and +the combined army at once began their southward march. Against this +force, King James collected but twenty thousand men. Of these, six +thousand were French. They had arrived, under the command of the +Count de Lauzun, in March, but they had not increased the numbers +of King James's troops, for he had been obliged to send, in +exchange, an equal number of his best-trained soldiers, under Lord +Mountcashel, for service in France. Of the fourteen thousand native +troops, the Irish horse, which was raised and officered by Irish +gentlemen, was excellent, but the infantry was composed for the +most part of raw levies, but half armed, and the only artillery +consisted of twelve guns, which had arrived with the infantry from +France.</p> +<p>It was a sad parting, when Captain Davenant and Walter left home +for the front. The former was filled with gloomy forebodings. He +could scarcely hope that the ill-trained levies of James could +succeed against the vastly superior force, of disciplined troops, +with whom they had now to cope; especially as the latter were led +by an able and energetic general, while the former were hampered by +the incompetence and vacillation of James.</p> +<p>The day before they started, Captain Davenant rode over to the +Whitefoots and had a talk with Jabez.</p> +<p>"I know not how the campaign will go," he said. "If we are +beaten, we shall probably retire to the west, and maintain the war +there. In that case, Dublin will of course fall into the hands of +William. Should this be so, I will ask you to reverse our late +position, and to extend what assistance you can to my wife and +mother. It may be that, if I do not return here, none will disturb +them. I have not made myself obnoxious to my Protestant neighbours, +and no one may take the trouble to bring it before the notice of +the English that I am absent, fighting with the army of King James. +If, however, they should do so, and the castle and what remains of +the estates be confiscated, will you lend what aid you can to the +ladies, and my younger boy, until I or Walter return from the +war?"</p> +<p>"That will I do, right gladly," Jabez said, heartily. "Should I +hear any talk of what you speak of, I will go up to Dublin with +some of our friends and ministers, and we will testify to the good +relations which have existed between you and your Protestant +neighbours, and entreat that no measures be taken against your +estate. Should we not prevail, be assured that I will look after +the comfort of the ladies, as if they were of my own family.</p> +<p>"I can well understand that Mrs. Davenant, the elder, would not +accept the shelter of our roof, whatever her extremity. She belongs +to the generation of my father, and cannot forget the past; but I +will see that they are well lodged in Bray, and have every +protection from molestation and annoyance there. Should I find, as, +alas! may be the case, that the spirit of religious persecution is +fiercely abroad, I will consult with them, as to whether they may +wish to cross the sea until you can join them, and will make +arrangements, as they may direct, for their passage."</p> +<p>"I am truly obliged to you," Captain Davenant said. "It will +make me comfortable to know that, whatsoever may befall me, they +will have a friend in these stormy times."</p> +<p>"Say nought about it," Jabez replied. "Did not you and your son +succour my boy in his extremity? If I do all, and more than all +that I can in this matter, I shall not deem that we are quits."</p> +<p>The Irish army moved forward to the Boyne, which William was +approaching from the north. James's officers endeavoured to +dissuade him from setting everything on the hazard of the battle. +They represented that his army, though now quite unequal to the +contest, was rapidly improving in skill and confidence in itself; +that reinforcements were every day expected from France, which +would at least make them equal to the enemy in numbers; that they +were in want of arms, artillery, and stores, all which might be +expected also from France, in a short period; and that their policy +was clearly to protract the war, and wear out the enemy by a +contest of posts and sieges.</p> +<p>Unskilled as his troops might be in the field, they had proved +themselves steady and resolute in the defence of fortified places. +They held all the great fortresses of the kingdom, and it would be +easy to provide for the defence of these, and to occupy William's +army in small affairs, till the winter, when the climate would do +execution upon the invaders, while the Irish would suffer little. +Then would be the time to fight.</p> +<p>In the meantime, it was urged, the intrigues the French were +actively carrying out in Britain would have produced some effect. +The French fleet was, every day, expected on the coast of England, +and William would soon be compelled to return to that country, if +not to recall the greater part of his army. In Scotland, too, the +French were busy; and there were materials in that country for +creating a powerful diversion. To fight now would be to forego +every advantage, and to meet the views of William, whose obvious +interest it was to bring the contest to an immediate decision, now, +while every circumstance was in his favour.</p> +<p>But James, who had hitherto shown nothing but timidity and +hesitation, was now seized with an impulse of valour. Having acted +with unfortunate cowardice before Derry, and Schomberg's camp at +Dundalk, he was, as unfortunately, now seized with ardour to fight, +when prudence and discretion would have been his best policy. But +while James was determining to fight, in the teeth of the opinion +and advice of his bravest officers, his true character was shown in +his taking every precaution for his personal safety. He sent off +his heavy baggage, and engaged a vessel, at Waterford, to convey +him to France.</p> +<p>William, on the other hand, was naturally eager for an early +engagement. He was still very insecurely seated upon the English +throne. The people were either discontented or indifferent. They +looked with impatience and indignation at the crowd of Dutch +officers and civilians, whom William had brought over with him; +while the cold and ungracious manner of the king contrasted, most +unfavourably, with the bearing to which they had been accustomed in +English monarchs.</p> +<p>In Scotland, the Jacobite spirit was gathering in strength, and +William knew that, unless he speedily broke the strength of James's +party in Ireland, he would very shortly be confronted with +difficulties and dangers on all sides.</p> +<p>The position which the Irish army occupied was a strong one. Its +right rested upon Drogheda, a strong town in their possession. In +front was the Boyne, with steep banks lined with thick hedges, with +cottages scattered here and there, offering an excellent position +for light troops. On the left, the Boyne turned almost at a right +angle, and formed a defence on this flank. To the rear, the Irish +position was covered by high hills and the village of Donore. +Further back was the pass of Duleek. The hedges and cottages by the +river side were occupied by the Irish infantry, and upon some +little hillocks, which ran along the water's edge, they erected +some light batteries.</p> +<p>King William reconnoitred the position with great attention, and +saw that it had been well chosen, and its advantages turned to +account. Notwithstanding the reports of deserters and others, he +showed much anxiety to determine the exact strength of the Irish. +After examining the position for some time from a height, he rode +down towards the river, accompanied by several of his officers. +When within musket shot of the bank, near the ford and village of +Old Bridge, he perceived that a small island in the Boyne was +occupied by a party of the Irish horse. Near the ford some field +works had been thrown up. It was at this point that the king +determined to cross the river, and he spent some time conversing +with his officers, as to the arrangements for the passage.</p> +<p>He then rode slowly along the river bank, until he arrived +nearly opposite the left of the Irish line. Here he alighted from +his horse, and sat down on rising ground, watching his own +battalions, which were marching, with the greatest regularity and +order, into the positions assigned to them.</p> +<p>While he was so engaged, some officers of James's army were +observed, riding quietly along the opposite bank of the river, and +also engaged in watching the movements of the British troops. These +were General Sarsfield, the Duke of Berwick, the Marquis of +Tyrconnell, the Count de Lauzun, and others. Some of the English +dragoons approached the river, and were fired upon by the Irish. +They returned the fire, and, while the attention of both sides was +engaged by the skirmish, a party of Irish cavalry moved slowly down +towards the river and halted behind a low hedge, and then, wheeling +about, again retired.</p> +<p>The movements of the king, and the group of officers +accompanying him, had been observed in the Irish army, and two +field pieces were sent down, concealed in the centre of the +cavalry. The guns had been placed behind the hedge when the +horsemen withdrew, and, when William rose from the ground and +mounted his horse, fire was opened. The first cannon shot killed +two horses, and a man by his side. The next grazed the king's right +shoulder, tearing away his coat and inflicting a slight flesh +wound. Had the aim been slightly more accurate, or had the gunners +fired with grape, instead of round shot, it is probable that the +whole course of history would have been changed.</p> +<p>The rumour spread through both armies that the king was killed; +but the wound was a slight one, and, having had it hastily bound +up, the king rode quietly through the camps, in order to show the +men that the hurt was not serious. In the evening, he called a +council of war. The Duke of Schomberg was strongly opposed to an +attack upon the enemy, while posted in so strong a position, and +urged that, by making a turning movement and marching straight upon +Dublin, the enemy would be obliged to fall back, and fight under +less advantageous circumstances. But the king, relying upon his +superior numbers and the discipline of his veteran troops, +determined to attack at once, knowing that it was all important to +bring the matter to a decision, as early as possible.</p> +<p>Schomberg then urged the necessity of occupying the pass of +Slane, upon the Boyne, considerably to the west of the Irish line, +as he would thus cut off their retreat, and, in the event of +victory, render their defeat a decided one; but the king saw that +he should require his whole force to dislodge the Irish from their +position, and that it was useless to occupy the pass of Slane with +a small detachment, as these would be overwhelmed by the retiring +Irish.</p> +<p>It was twelve o'clock at night, before the council terminated, +and then the king mounted his horse and rode through the camp. He +examined into the state and preparation of each regiment, saw that +the soldiers were abundantly supplied with food and refreshment for +the morning, and that sufficient ammunition for the day's work had +been served out. He directed the men to wear green branches in +their caps, and gave "Westminster" as the word for the day.</p> +<p>The order of the battle finally determined upon was that the +right wing of the army, under General Douglas and Count Schomberg, +son of the duke, should pass the river at Slane and endeavour to +turn the Irish left, between Slane and Duleek. The left wing were +to penetrate between the Irish right and Drogheda; the centre to +force the passage of the river, at the ford of Old Bridge.</p> +<p>A council was also held in James's camp, and here also there was +difference of opinion. Some of the generals wished to hold the pass +of Slane in force, but James decided against this. As the morning +approached, the king's newborn courage began to die out. He ordered +some movements to the rear, and sent forward more of his baggage. +He would probably have declined the combat altogether, had it not +been too late. Finally, just as day was breaking over the council, +he determined that the army should retreat during the battle, and +not commit themselves in a decisive engagement. The French formed +the left, and were to lead the retreat, while the Irish held the +right and centre.</p> +<p>It is almost certain that, if James had kept to his resolution +to fight, imprudent as it appeared to be, and had brought the +French battalion into action, instead of leading them out of the +field, the result of the battle of the Boyne would have been a very +different one.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch8" name="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: Boyne Water.</h2> +<p>The morning of Tuesday, the 1st of July, 1690, broke calm and +bright. At about six o'clock in the morning the English right wing, +under General Douglas and Count Schomberg, marched towards Slane. +It consisted of twenty-four squadrons of horse, and six battalions +of infantry. As they marched along at the back of the river, they +discovered several shallows, and crossed without proceeding as far +as Slane. No serious resistance was offered to their passage of the +Boyne, as the Irish had here only some parties of skirmishers, who +fell back as they advanced.</p> +<p>After forming the troops in order, Douglas and Schomberg +advanced, but presently perceived the French battalions and a great +part of the Irish cavalry, forming the left wing of James's army, +drawn up in order at some distance. They consequently halted, and +sent for reinforcements. When these arrived, they extended their +lines to the right, so as to outflank the enemy, and, supporting +their cavalry by alternate battalions of infantry, again moved +forward.</p> +<p>The Irish skirmishers fell back before their advance, taking +advantage of the banks of the ditches, which divided the ground +into small fields, and keeping up a galling fire upon the British +as they advanced. With some difficulty, the latter passed over this +broken ground and formed in order of battle, on the edge of what +appeared to be a plain, but which was in fact a deep bog, which +completely covered the Irish left. Here they came to a +standstill.</p> +<p>William had waited, until he believed that his right would have +had time to fall upon the Irish left, and then ordered his centre +to advance and force the passage at Old Bridge. The Dutch guards, +whom William relied upon as his best and most trustworthy troops, +advanced in splendid order to the river side, with their drums +beating the march. When they reached the water's edge the drums +ceased, and the soldiers entered the river. The stream rose as the +dense column marched in and dammed it up, and the water reached the +shoulders of the grenadiers, but they still moved on, in regular +order, keeping their arms and ammunition dry by holding them above +their heads. On the opposite bank, the hedges near the brink of the +river were lined with skirmishers, while in the rear, in a hollow +covered by some little hills, seven regiments of Irish infantry, +supported by ten troops of horse and Tyrconnell's regiment of +cavalry, were drawn up. The hills protected them from the fire of +the British batteries, which passed over their heads.</p> +<p>The Dutch troops continued their way unmolested, until they +reached the middle of the river, when a hot fire was opened upon +them from the Irish skirmishers; but the Dutch moved on, unshaken, +and soon gained the opposite bank, where they rapidly formed up, +the skirmishers retiring before them. Scarcely had the Dutch formed +their squares, when the Irish horse burst down upon them at full +speed, and charged them with impetuosity.</p> +<p>They stood the charge unbroken, but again and again the Irish +horse charged down upon them, with the greatest gallantry. William +pushed two regiments of French Huguenots and one of British across +the river, to the assistance of the Dutch guards, and ordered Sir +John Hanmars and the Count of Nassau's regiment to cross, lower +down the stream, to support them.</p> +<p>As the supports were making a passage, General Hamilton +advanced, at the head of a body of Irish infantry, to the water's +edge, and, dashing into the river, encountered the French Huguenot +regiments in the middle of the stream. A desperate fight ensued, +but the French made their way across, and Hamilton, falling back +with his infantry, opened to the right and left, permitting the +Irish horse to charge through them.</p> +<p>These rushed with fury upon the French regiment of Colonel La +Callimot, and cut their way right through them. Then, wheeling, +they charged them in flank again, broke them, and drove them into +the river. La Callimot himself was killed, and but few of his +regiment regained the opposite bank.</p> +<p>In the meantime the Dutch guards, now reinforced, were advancing +slowly, the Irish infantry holding fast to the hedges and +brushwood, and contesting every inch of the ground, while, wherever +the ground permitted it, the Irish horse burst down upon them, +evincing a gallantry and determination which would have done honour +to the finest cavalry in Europe. The king continued to make +repeated efforts to support his Dutch troops, and, after the French +were broken, he pushed forward the Danish horse; but no sooner had +they crossed the bank than the Irish cavalry burst down upon them, +broke them, and drove them back into the river. They fled across +the stream in disorder, and dispersed in all directions.</p> +<p>So far, success had rested principally with the Irish; the Dutch +guards alone remained unbroken in the centre; the French infantry +and Danish horse were broken and destroyed. Old Duke Schomberg +exerted himself to the utmost, to restore the battle at this point, +and, having rallied the French infantry advanced with them, and a +few French cavalry, towards the river, where he was met by some of +the Irish horse returning from the pursuit of the Danes. The old +duke was cut down and his party again routed, and at the same +moment Walker, the clerical commander of Derry, received a mortal +wound.</p> +<p>After his successful defence of Derry, this man had gone to +London, where he had been feted and made much of, and had then +attached himself to King William's army, where he posed as a high +military authority, although much discouraged by the king, whom his +arrogance and airs of authority displeased.</p> +<p>While in the centre William's forces were getting worsted, and +on his right Douglas and Count Schomberg were inactive and +powerless, he himself was leading his left wing across the river. +The passage was a difficult one, and the king himself was only +extricated, with much exertion, from a quicksand into which his +horse had plunged.</p> +<p>The Irish did not oppose the crossing, and as soon as his forces +were across the stream, William ranged them in order. They +consisted of a large body of Danish, Dutch, and Enniskillen horse, +and a considerable force of infantry. As soon as all were in order +the king, though still suffering from the wound he had received the +day before, drew his sword and put himself at the head of his +troops.</p> +<p>The Irish right wing, which consisted chiefly of infantry, moved +forward to meet them, but perceiving the numerous cavalry, led by +the king himself, preparing to take them in flank, they halted, +faced about and marched slowly to the little hill of Donore. Having +gained this point, they again faced round and charged down upon the +British, who had followed them closely.</p> +<p>At this moment the Irish cavalry, who had moved rapidly from the +centre to the support of the right, charged down upon the Danish +and Dutch horse led by the king, and no sooner had they come in +contact than the Danes and Dutch turned and rode off, with the +Irish cavalry in pursuit. The king rode towards the Enniskilleners. +Colonel Wolseley told his men that it was the king, and asked if +they wished to follow him. They replied with a shout, and the king, +placing himself at the head, rode towards the Irish infantry; but +as they advanced they were met by a well-directed volley, and, +being much more fond of plundering and slaughtering than of close +fighting, they turned horse and rode away.</p> +<p>Again and again the king rallied his infantry and brought them +back to the fight, but the Irish infantry stood their ground with +great steadiness, until Hamilton, their general, was wounded and +taken in a charge of cavalry. After this, they fell back from +Donore upon Duleek in good order, the enemy not wanting to molest +them, and the rest of the Irish infantry followed their +example.</p> +<p>No more singular battle than that of the Boyne was ever fought. +In the morning, at break of day, part of James's army, with most of +his artillery, were in march for the pass of Slane, and actually on +their retreat. The left wing, composed chiefly of French infantry, +supposed to be the best troops in the army, never fired a shot. The +centre and right, composed entirely of Irish, most of whom had +never before been in battle, were alone engaged. With the exception +of his Dutch guards, all William's foreign troops had been +repeatedly broken; his cavalry had been driven off the field by the +Irish horse, while no division of the Irish was broken or suffered +a decided defeat, until the infantry from the hill of Donore were +compelled to retreat, which they did in perfect order.</p> +<p>Throughout the day, the Irish cavalry showed a vast superiority +to those of the British, and even broke and destroyed regiments of +infantry; and when the whole army fell back they closed up the +rear, and effectually prevented any attempt at pursuit. Thus, the +battle of the Boyne was fought rather to cover a retreat than +defend a position. The loss on either side was estimated at about +five hundred, and General Hamilton was the only prisoner taken by +the British.</p> +<p>The honours of the fight certainly rested with the Irish, who, +against a vastly superior force, comprising some of the best troops +in Europe, maintained themselves throughout the day, and gained, +indeed, in most points, a decided advantage.</p> +<p>King James's valour had entirely evaporated before the first +shot was fired. Instead of following William's example, and leading +his troops in the conflict which was to decide the fate of his +crown, and which he himself had precipitated, he took up his +position at a safe distance from danger, on the hill of Donore, and +as soon as the battle approached that point he rode off to Duleek, +where he placed himself at the head of the French troops, and led +their retreat. He soon, however, rode on ahead, and arrived in +Dublin in a state of consternation and despair, the first fugitive +from the field of battle. In the meantime the army was whole and +unbroken, marching in perfect order from the field of battle, while +its king and commander was doing his best to ruin the cause by +spreading dismay and alarm throughout the country.</p> +<p>The next morning the king sent for the mayor and corporation of +Dublin, and told them that he was under the necessity of taking +care of himself, and recommended them to do the same, and to make +the best terms they could with the enemy. He then at once mounted +and made his flight to Waterford, ordering the bridges to be broken +down behind him, although the British army had not yet moved from +its position on the Boyne. On reaching Waterford James at once +embarked on board the ship he had ordered to be in readiness, and +sailed for France. His conduct, and his conduct alone, converted +the battle of the Boyne, which was in effect a kind of drawn +battle, into a great victory for William.</p> +<p>It had, indeed, more than answered the object which the Irish +commanders proposed to themselves. Their plan was to accustom the +new and badly armed levies to stand firm against the steadiness and +experience of William's veteran troops, and then to withdraw +without committing themselves to a decisive combat, with a view of +protracting the campaign until William should be forced to leave +Ireland, and his foreign army should be worn out by winter service +in an uncongenial climate. Every day would, they calculated, +improve their own army and weaken and reduce that of the enemy.</p> +<p>Their position at the Boyne enabled them to try their plan of +partial combat to what extent they chose, without danger of being +forced into a more extensive action than they deemed expedient. The +Irish troops had greatly surpassed the expectation of their own +officers, and had filled William's generals with amazement; and it +is probable that, if a large part of the infantry and artillery had +not been sent off early in the day, the experiment might have been +turned into a brilliant victory. As it was, William was so +surprised and alarmed at the resistance he had encountered, that he +remained some days at the Boyne without advancing. He had been told +by all, except the Duke of Schomberg, that the resistance of the +Irish would be contemptible, and the most forward of those who had +scoffed at the courage of the Irish had been the Enniskilleners, +who had themselves, on the day of battle, shown so unmistakably the +white feather. After this the king disliked and despised these +troops, and hung them without ceremony, when taken in those acts of +plunder and slaughter to which they were so much addicted.</p> +<p>So far from the flight of King James discouraging the army, it +caused universal joy. It was his constant vacillation, +interference, and cowardly action which had paralysed his troops; +and they felt that, now they were free to act without his +interference, they would be able to cope with the invaders.</p> +<p>William at once offered favourable terms, if Ireland would +submit to his authority; but these were declined, partly owing to +the powerful influence of France, partly to the fear that the terms +would not be observed, partly to the apprehension of all the +gentry, that the lands which they had but just recovered from the +hands of Cromwell's settlers would be again taken from them.</p> +<p>At the battle of the Boyne, Walter Davenant, with his father's +troop, had taken part in all the desperate charges upon the enemy. +During the long hours the battle had lasted, the cavalry had been +incessantly engaged. Time after time they had charged down upon the +Dutch squares, and no sooner had the ranks been reformed, after +recoiling from the line of fixed bayonets, than they were called +upon to charge in another direction.</p> +<p>Walter's heart beat high as they dashed into the midst of the +French infantry, or shattered and drove before them the Danish +horse; but there was little time to think, and, looking back upon +the day when all was over, it seemed to him a chaos of excitement +and confusion, of which he could hardly recall even the chief +incidents.</p> +<p>As the troops halted for the night, they were in no way +dispirited at the result of the battle, as the retreat had been +begun before a blow was struck. They knew that it was neither +intended nor hoped that the ground would be successfully held; and +every man felt a pride in the thought that some eighteen thousand +newly-raised Irish levies, of whom but a small portion of the +infantry were armed with muskets, had sustained, throughout a long +summer's day, the attacks of more than double their number of +veteran troops, supported by fifty pieces of artillery.</p> +<p>The loss of the Irish horse had been comparatively small. +Charging a square, in the days when the bayonet was fixed in the +muzzle of the gun, was not the desperate undertaking that it now +is, when from the hedge of steel issues a rolling and continuous +fire. The French regiment, once broken, had been cut down with +scarce any resistance, while the mercenary cavalry had been +defeated with the greatest ease. Thus, among the brigade of the +Irish horse there were but few fallen friends to mourn, and nothing +to mar the pride that every man felt, in the behaviour of the Irish +troops against such overwhelming odds. That the king had fled, +everyone knew, but the feeling was one of relief.</p> +<p>"His absence is more than a victory to us," Captain Davenant +said, as, with a group of officers, he sat by a fire, made of a +fence hastily pulled down. "His majesty has his virtues, and, with +good counsellors, would make a worthy monarch; but among his +virtues military genius is not conspicuous. I should be glad, +myself, if Lauzun and the French would also take their departure, +and let us have Mountcashel's division back again from France. If +we are left to ourselves, with our own generals, Sarsfield and +Mountcashel, we can tire out this continental riffraff that William +has gathered together. The dissensions caused by French +interference have been our ruin, so far; leave us to ourselves, and +we shall do. The Irish today have proved their fighting qualities; +and, if proper use is made of the resources and difficulties of the +country, I defy them to conquer us. I feel more hopeful now than I +have done since the first day we took the field."</p> +<p>"Do you think we shall fight another battle before Dublin, +father?" Walter asked.</p> +<p>"I have no idea what the generals will decide, Walter, but I +should imagine that we shall march to the west. We had a strong +position today, but in the open field, at present, we could not +hope to cope with William's superior numbers and great artillery +train. His guns were little use to him yesterday; but on level +ground they would tear our ranks to pieces, without our being able +to make any return. Among the rivers and bogs and mountains of the +west, we should find scores of places which we could hold against +them. Besides, in my opinion we should not fight pitched battles, +but should harass them with continuous marches and attacks, leaving +them masters only of the ground they stand on, until, at last, we +completely wear them out and exhaust them."</p> +<p>"Then you think we shall abandon Dublin altogether?"</p> +<p>"I think so, Walter."</p> +<p>"But will they not persecute the Catholics, when they have them +in their power?"</p> +<p>"There may be some disturbance in the city, Walter, before the +English troops march in; but William will, no doubt, put an end to +this as soon as he arrives. He cannot wish to drive the Catholics +of Ireland to desperation. At any rate, I do not think we need feel +at all uneasy about those at home. Lying on the coast to the east +of the town of Dublin, and altogether out of the track of the +movements of troops, there is little fear of trouble there. In our +district there is little preponderance, in numbers, of one religion +over the other; and unless the presence of troops, or worse, of +those savages from Enniskillen or Derry, excite them, there is +little fear of the Protestants of that neighbourhood interfering +with our people, especially as they have no grounds for complaint +in the past. No, I do not think that you need disquiet yourself, in +the slightest, about those at home."</p> +<p>As Captain Davenant had thought probable, the Irish army, after +marching into Dublin in good order, with flags flying and music +playing, left on the following day for the west. They were +accompanied by most of the leading Catholic families; and on their +departure the corporation at once wrote to William, inviting him to +enter the capital. Before his arrival, however, the Protestant mob +destroyed a great quantity of property belonging to the Catholics, +and carried their excesses to such a point that the town would +probably have been destroyed by fire, had not the better classes of +Protestants armed themselves, and taken energetic steps to repress +the tumult.</p> +<p>As the troops marched into Dublin, Walter said to Captain +Davenant:</p> +<p>"Can I ride over to see how they are at home? They will have +heard of the battle. Mother and grandmother must be terribly +anxious."</p> +<p>"I shall be glad for you to go, Walter, for it would greatly +ease their minds at home; but we are to start again, almost +immediately, and probably the whole army will have marched off +before you get back in the morning. There is no saying what may +occur, after we have gone. There may be a general attack upon the +Catholics. At any rate, it will be dangerous in the extreme for a +single officer, in our uniform, to be riding through the town after +we have left. Even in the country villages there must be intense +excitement, and anyone in the king's uniform might be fired at, in +passing through any of the Protestant settlements."</p> +<p>"Well, father, suppose I do not start until it gets dark, then I +can get home without attracting notice. There I can put on a suit +of my old clothes, and bring my uniform out in my valise."</p> +<p>"Well, perhaps you might manage in that way, Walter; and I +should be very glad to relieve their minds at home, and to know how +they are going on. If you like, you can stop there for a day or +two. I don't suppose that William will be here with his troops, for +a few days. He has learned that our army is not to be despised, and +he may hesitate to advance upon Dublin, until he receives certain +news that we have moved away, and that he will not have to fight +another battle for the possession of the city. Should you hear that +William's troops have arrived in the town, you will of course make +a detour, so as to avoid it, on your way to rejoin us; and now I +will write a letter, at once, for you to take to your mother."</p> +<p>As soon as it was dark, Walter mounted and started for Bray, +where he arrived without molestation on the way. His arrival was an +immense relief to the ladies, who had been suffering an agony of +suspense since the news of the battle had reached them. King +James's hurried arrival, and panic flight to Waterford, had caused +the most alarming reports as to the battle to circulate throughout +the country, and by many it was supposed that his army had been +utterly destroyed. Walter's arrival, then, with the news that his +father, as well as himself, had passed through the day unhurt, was +an immense relief; and they were grateful to learn that, so far +from having been routed, the Irish army had accomplished its +object, of fighting the battle and then falling back in perfect +order and without molestation.</p> +<p>"Father says, mother, that he believes next time, when we shall +be no longer hampered by the interference of the king, we shall be +able to make even a better fight of it, especially if, as we all +hope, the French officers will follow the king's example and take +themselves off."</p> +<p>"How long are you going to stay, Walter?"</p> +<p>"I shall stay over tomorrow, mother, and start next morning +early. I ought to be able to come up to the army before night, but, +if not, I shall overtake them on the march next day."</p> +<p>"I wish I was older," Godfrey, who had been listening to the +account of the battle, said. "It is so hard to have to stay at home +here, while you and father are having such fun!"</p> +<p>"You would not think it was fun, if you were with us, Godfrey," +Walter said. "I used to think it would be fun, but I don't think so +now. Just while the fighting is going on, one is so excited that +one doesn't think of the danger, but when it is over, it is awful +to see the gaps in the ranks, and to know that so many of those who +were riding with you have fallen, and that it may be your turn, +next time."</p> +<p>"Ah, it's all very well for you to talk, Walter, because you are +going through it all, but you would think just the same as I do, if +you were in my place."</p> +<p>"That is true enough, Godfrey. Anyhow, I am glad you are not old +enough. I don't mean that I should not like to have you with us, +but then there would be nobody at home with mother. Now, if +anything happens to father and me, she has got you, and as you grow +up you will be able to look after her, and take care of her. It is +bad enough for her having two of us in the war. It would be worse, +still, if there were three."</p> +<p>As, the next evening, Walter heard that there was news that +William's troops had not yet moved from the Boyne, he thought that +it was safe to take the direct road through Dublin. He had laid +aside his uniform, on reaching home, and in the morning started in +his civilian clothes, with the uniform in the valise, strapped +behind the saddle. He carried his sword, as usual, for almost all +gentlemen at that time rode armed, and this would therefore excite +neither comment nor attention. He carried also a brace of pistols, +in a belt underneath his coat.</p> +<p>On arriving in Dublin, he found the greatest uproar and +excitement prevailing. Mobs of men were marching through the +streets, smashing the windows of Catholics and sacking the houses. +Fortunately, he was warned, before he got into the thick of the +tumult, by meeting some women running and crying loudly. He asked +what was the matter, and learned that their houses had been sacked, +and that any Catholic found in the street was being beaten and ill +treated. As Walter was anxious to avoid anything which might arrest +his journey westward, he made his way out of the town, as soon as +possible, and was heartily glad when he reached the outskirts, and +gave rein to his horse.</p> +<p>He passed many groups of people as he rode. Some were +Protestants, making their way to Dublin to join in the greeting to +William and his army, on their arrival. Others were Catholics, +afraid to remain in their abodes now that the army had retired +west, and journeying to the capital, where they believed that +William would prevent disorder and pillage. It needed no inquiry, +as to the religion of the respective groups. The Protestants were +for the most part men, and these came along shouting and waving +their weapons, wild with exultation over the triumph of their +cause. The Catholics were of all ages and both sexes. Many of them +had carts, and were carrying with them their most valued +possessions. All wore an expression of grief and anxiety.</p> +<p>As Walter rode into one village, a fray was going on. A party of +Protestants, riding boisterously along, had knocked down a woman +with a child in her arms, and had answered the angry remonstrance +of the peasants with jeers and laughter. Stones had begun to fly. +The Protestants had drawn their swords; the villagers had caught up +hoes, spades, and other weapons, and a fierce fight was going on. +The women, with shrill cries, encouraged the peasants, and aided +them by hurling stones at the rioters. Walter saw that his +interference would be of no avail, and, with a heavy heart at the +bitter hatred which the two parties in Ireland exhibited for each +other, he turned from the road, made a circuit round the village, +and continued his way. After that, he avoided all towns and +villages, and slept at night in the cabin of a peasant, lying some +little distance from the road. The following day he again pressed +on, and before evening overtook the retiring army.</p> +<p>On the arrival of King William with his army in Dublin, a +proclamation was issued assuring all, save those who resisted his +authority, of his protection, and threatening severity against +those who disturbed the peace or committed outrage on personal +property. Letters of protection were granted to all who applied for +them and, hearing this, Jabez Whitefoot at once went into Dublin, +to apply for protection for the family of Captain Davenant. On +hearing, however, that no persecution of Catholics would be +allowed, and that the army was likely to march west, at once, in +pursuit of the Irish, he thought it better to leave the matter +alone, as his application would only draw the attention of the +authorities to the fact of Captain Davenant and his son being +engaged in the hostile army. He felt sure that the ladies need fear +no molestation, save from the soldiers or Northerners, as his own +influence with the Protestants of his neighbourhood would suffice +to prevent these from interfering with the household at the +castle.</p> +<p>The Irish army marched towards the Shannon, and were +concentrated part in the neighbourhood of Athlone, and part at +Limerick. William shortly prepared to follow them. He, too, divided +his army into two columns. The main body, under his own command, +took the road to Limerick; while the other division, consisting of +five regiments of cavalry and twelve of infantry, was despatched, +under the command of General Douglas, for the purpose of investing +the fortress of Athlone.</p> +<p>As the armies marched west, their path was marked by wholesale +outrage and destruction. Although protections were granted to the +peasants and inhabitants of the towns and villages through which +the armies marched, they were entirely disregarded by the soldiers, +who plundered, ill used, and sometimes murdered the defenceless +people, carrying away without payment all provisions on which they +could lay their hands.</p> +<p>The king sometimes hanged those who were caught in these acts of +plunder and slaughter, but this had but little effect. The Dutch +soldiers, alone, maintained their order and discipline. The foreign +mercenaries, composed for the most part of the sweepings of the +great cities, behaved with a brutality and cruelty almost without +example, and which was acknowledged by all the historians of the +time, Protestant as well as Catholic. Indeed, the Protestant +inhabitants suffered even more than the Catholics, for many of the +latter fled at the approach of the army, while the Protestants, +regarding them as friends and deliverers, remained quietly at home, +and suffered every insult and outrage at the hands of this horde of +savages, who were perfectly indifferent as to the religion of those +they plundered.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant's troop was with the force which had retired to +Athlone, and there awaited the approach of the column of General +Douglas. The reports of the conduct of the enemy, that were brought +in by the flying peasants, filled the Irish troops with indignation +and rage, and when, on arriving before the town, General Douglas +sent a messenger to demand its surrender, Colonel Grace, who +commanded, only replied by firing a pistol towards him.</p> +<p>Athlone stood on either side of the Shannon. The town on the +eastern bank of the river was called "the English town," that on +the western "the Irish "--a distinction existing in many of the +Irish towns, where the early English settlers found it expedient to +live apart from the Irish, for mutual protection against attack. +Colonel Grace had retired to the west bank of the river, which was +strongly fortified, destroying the English town and breaking down +part of the bridge across the river.</p> +<p>The garrison consisted of three regiments of foot and nine +troops of horse; and when Douglas erected his batteries and opened +fire on the castle, they replied briskly, and their guns got the +better of those in the batteries. A strong detachment of horse and +mounted grenadiers was sent by Douglas to Lanesborough, some miles +north of the town, with orders to pass the river at that point, but +the post was held by Irish troops, who easily repulsed the +attempt.</p> +<p>It was next proposed to pass the river at a ford a short +distance from the bridge; but the troops had little heart for the +enterprise, as the ford was covered by field works erected by the +Irish.</p> +<p>The assailants were already reduced to considerable straits. +They had consumed all provisions found in the town, plundering +without mercy the Protestant inhabitants, who had been well treated +by the Irish troops, while the conduct of the army effectually +deterred the country people from bringing in provisions.</p> +<p>The circulation of the report that General Sarsfield, with +fifteen thousand men, was on the march to cut off the besiegers of +Athlone, determined General Douglas to make a speedy retreat. In +his fear of being cut off, he abandoned all his heavy baggage, and, +quitting the high road, made his way by unfrequented routes, which +added to the hardships of the march. In its retreat, the column was +accompanied by the unhappy Protestant inhabitants, who feared to +remain behind, lest the Irish should retaliate upon them the +sufferings which had been inflicted upon their countrymen.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the main English army had done but little. In +Dublin, a commission had been appointed to examine into and forfeit +the lands of all Catholics, and adherents of King James, and having +set this machine at work, the king proceeded with his army +southward through Carlow, Kilkenny, and Waterford, all of which +places surrendered, the garrisons being allowed to march out, with +their arms and baggage, to join their main army on the Shannon.</p> +<p>At Waterford, the king received such serious news as to the +state of things in England, that he determined to return home. On +arriving at Dublin, he was overwhelmed with petitions from the +inhabitants, as to the shameful conduct of the troops left in +garrison there, especially those of Trelawney's, Schomberg's, and +some other regiments of horse, who, the people complained, treated +them, although Protestants, far worse than James's Catholic +soldiers had done. Inquiry showed these complaints to be well +founded, and, finding it impossible to restore order and discipline +among them, the king at once sent these regiments back to +England.</p> +<p>Then, receiving better news from home, he again started to +rejoin his army, and marched towards Limerick, being joined on his +way by the division under Douglas, which had driven along with them +all the cattle and horses of the country through which they had +passed.</p> +<p>Limerick was, at that time, the second city in Ireland. The +country, for a long distance along the mouth of the Shannon, was +much wooded, but in the immediate vicinity of the town it was +surrounded by thick inclosures, houses, orchards, gardens, and +plantations. The cultivated land was everywhere divided into small +fields, inclosed by hedges and intersected by lanes. To the east of +the town the Shannon divides itself, forming an island on which +part of the city is situated.</p> +<p>This was called the English town, and was connected by a bridge, +called Thomond Bridge, with the Clare side of the river on the +north; and on the south, by another bridge, with the Irish town on +the county of Limerick side. The Thomond Bridge was defended by a +strong fort and some field works on the Clare side, and on the city +side by a drawbridge, flanked by towers and the city walls. The +bridge was very long and narrow.</p> +<p>The position of the English town was, indeed, almost +impregnable. It was built upon a rock of considerable extent, and +the land outside the walls was low and marshy, and could at any +time be flooded. The Shannon was broad and rapid. The Irish town on +the Limerick shore was not strong, being defended only by ordinary +walls. If this were captured, however, the English town could still +hold out.</p> +<p>The king made his approaches to the city slowly, being obliged +to level the numerous inclosures as he moved on. These were +occupied by the Irish infantry, who, lining every hedge, kept up a +galling fire, falling back gradually as heavy bodies of troops were +brought up against them, until they reached the cover of the guns +of the city and fort. Upon these opening fire, William's army +halted and encamped before the Irish town.</p> +<p>Here, as at the Boyne, the king had a narrow escape, a +cannonball from the walls striking the ground at his foot as he was +passing through a gap in a hedge.</p> +<p>The king had learned that great dissensions existed between the +Irish and French, and relied upon this, as much as upon the +strength of his arms, to obtain possession of the city. His +information was, indeed, correct. King James, in his flight, had +left no orders as to who should assume the supreme command. The +Duke of Berwick had considerable claims. Lauzun and the French +officers declined altogether to receive orders from Tyrconnell, and +the Irish officers equally objected to act under the command of a +Frenchman. Consequently, during the whole siege, the main Irish +army, which, by acting upon William's rear, could speedily have +made his position untenable, remained inactive. Monsieur Boileau, a +French officer, was governor of the town, but Lauzun, having +examined the fortifications, pronounced the place wholly incapable +of defence, declaring that the walls could be knocked down with +roasted apples, and so ordered the entire French division to march +to Galway, and there await an opportunity for embarking for France, +leaving the Irish to defend the city if they chose.</p> +<p>Lauzun, in fact, was a courtier, not a soldier. He desired to +get back to Versailles at any hazard, and had so inspired his +officers and men with his own sentiments that there was a general +cry among them to be recalled to France. They had, indeed, no +interest in the cause in which they fought. They looked with +contempt at their half-armed and half-trained allies, and they +grumbled continually at the hardships which they had to undergo. It +was indeed an evil day, for King James's cause, when he exchanged +Mountcashel's fine division for these useless allies, who, +throughout the war, not only did no service, but were the cause of +endless dissension and disaster.</p> +<p>As soon as King William had taken up his position in front of +Limerick, he sent a summons to Boileau to surrender. The latter +consulted with Tyrconnell, Sarsfield, and some other officers, for, +even to the last moment, it was a question whether the place should +be defended.</p> +<p>At last, however, a decision was made. The reply was addressed +to William's secretary, Sir Robert Roultwell, as Boileau could not +acknowledge the prince as king, and was too polite to hurt his +feelings by a denial of the royal title. He expressed great +surprise at the summons he had received, and said that he hoped to +merit the good opinion of the Prince of Orange better by a vigorous +defence, than by a shameful surrender, of the fortress which had +been committed to his charge by his master King James the +Second.</p> +<p>The king's camp was now formed in regular order; he himself +taking his place on its right, having near him the Horse Guards, +and the Blue Dutch Guards, who were always his main reliance. To +the left of these were the English and Dutch regiments, further on +the French and Danes, while the Brandenburghers and other German +regiments formed the extreme left of the line. To their great +satisfaction, the post assigned to the Danes was one of the rude +circular redoubts called, in Ireland, Danish forts, and probably +constructed by their own far-off ancestors.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch9" name="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: Pleasant Quarters.</h2> +<p>After the termination of the short siege of Athlone, the troop +of Captain Davenant were despatched to join the army near Limerick, +and, on their arrival there, were ordered to take up their quarters +at the house of a Protestant gentleman named Conyers, four miles +from the town on the Limerick side of the river.</p> +<p>It was a mansion of considerable size, standing in large +grounds, for its proprietor was one of the largest landowners in +the county of Limerick, his grandfather having been a colonel in +one of Cromwell's regiments. Mr. Conyers himself had gone to +Dublin, upon the passing of the act sequestrating the property of +all the Protestants by James's parliament, to endeavour to obtain a +remission of the decree, so far as it concerned his house and +adjoining grounds. As he had influential friends there, he had +remained, urging his petition, until the battle of the Boyne and +the entry of King William into Dublin entirely changed the +position. But he then, owing to the disturbance of the country, and +the fact that the Irish army had retired to Limerick, found it +impossible to return home. He had, however, travelled with +William's army, to which he was able to give much useful +information regarding the defences, and details of the country +round the town.</p> +<p>As Captain Davenant's troop rode up to the house, a lady, with a +girl of some sixteen years old, appeared at the door. Both looked +very pale, for they feared that the brutal conduct of which they +had heard, of William's army, would be followed by reprisals on the +part of the Irish. They were somewhat reassured, however, by +Captain Davenant's manner as that officer dismounted, raised his +hat, and said:</p> +<p>"Madam, I have received orders to quarter my troop in the house, +but I am anxious, I can assure you, to cause as little +inconvenience and annoyance as possible, under the +circumstances."</p> +<p>"We are only women here, sir," Mrs. Conyers said. "The house is +at your disposal. I myself and my daughter will move to the +gardener's cottage, and I trust that you will give orders to your +men that we shall be free from molestation there."</p> +<p>"I could not think of disturbing you in that manner," Captain +Davenant said. "I myself have a wife and mother alone at home, and +will gladly treat you with the same courtesy which I trust they +will receive. Allow me, in the first place, to introduce to you my +lieutenant, Mr. O'Moore, and my cornet, who is also my son, Walter. +I see that you have extensive stables and outbuildings. I am sure +that my men, who are all good fellows, and many of them the sons of +farmers, will make themselves very comfortable in these. I myself, +and my two officers, will quarter ourselves in the gardener's +cottage you speak of."</p> +<p>"You are good, indeed, sir," Mrs. Conyers said gratefully; "but +I could not think of allowing you to do that, and shall indeed be +pleased, if you and your officers will take up your residence here +as my guests."</p> +<p>"I thank you kindly; but that I could not do. My men will be +well content with the outhouses, if they see that we are content +with the cottage; but they might not be so, if they saw that we +took up our quarters in the house. Therefore, if you will allow me, +I will carry out my own plan; but I need not say that we shall be +very pleased to visit you in the house, at such times as may be +agreeable to you."</p> +<p>After expressing their grateful thanks, Mrs. Conyers and her +daughter withdrew into the house. Captain Davenant then addressed a +few words to his men.</p> +<p>"The house will not hold you all, lads, and there are only +ladies here, and I am sure you would not wish to disturb and annoy +them by crowding their house. Therefore, I have arranged that you +shall take up your quarters in the outhouses, and that we shall +occupy a little cottage on the grounds. I hope, lads, that, for the +honour of the country and the cause, all will behave as peacefully +and quietly as if in our own homes. It would be a poor excuse that, +because William's soldiers are behaving like wild beasts, we should +forget the respect due to lonely women."</p> +<p>A fortnight was spent here pleasantly for all. The first alarm +past, Mrs. Conyers felt safer than she had done for months. Ever +since the troubles had began, she had felt the loneliness of her +position as a Protestant, and she would have, long before, made her +way with her daughter to Dublin, had it not been that she thought +that, so long as she continued in the house, it might be respected +by the Catholic peasantry, while, were she to desert it, it would +probably be plundered, perhaps burned to the ground. Still, the +position was a very trying one, especially since the Jacobite army +began to gather in force round Limerick.</p> +<p>She now felt that her troubles were comparatively over. The +troops caused no annoyance, and she heard but little of them, while +she found in Captain Davenant and his officers pleasant guests. The +troops, on their part, were well satisfied. Mrs. Conyers gave +instructions that they were to be supplied with all they needed, +and their rations of bread and meat were supplemented with many +little comforts and luxuries from the house.</p> +<p>While Mrs. Conyers entertained the two elder officers, Walter +naturally fell to the share of her daughter, and the two soon +became great friends, wandering in the grounds, and sometimes +riding together when Walter was not engaged with the troop. The +news came daily of the movements of William's army, and when it +approached, Captain Davenant's troop went far out to observe its +movements, and obtain an accurate idea of its strength.</p> +<p>It was late in the evening when they returned, and Captain +Davenant said at supper:</p> +<p>"This is our last meal with you, Mrs. Conyers. We leave at +daybreak, and a few hours afterwards William's army will arrive +before Limerick. We shall be the losers, but you will be the gainer +if, as you suppose, Mr. Conyers is with them."</p> +<p>"I shall be really sorry for your going, Captain Davenant. It +seemed a terrible thing having a troop of hostile horse quartered +upon one; but in reality it has been a pleasant operation, rather +than not, and I have felt safer than I have done for months. I do +hope that when these troubles are over we shall renew our +acquaintance, and that you will give my husband an opportunity of +thanking you for the kindness with which you have treated us."</p> +<p>"The thanks should be on my side," Captain Davenant said. "You +have made what promised to be an unpleasant duty a most pleasant +one. Our stay here has been like a visit at a friend's, and I +regret deeply that it has to come to an end, a regret which I am +sure Lieutenant O'Moore and my son share."</p> +<p>"We do, indeed," the lieutenant said.</p> +<p>Walter and Claire Conyers said nothing. They had talked it over +early that morning before the troop started, and Walter had +expressed his deep regret that their pleasant time was at an end; +and, although the girl had said little, she was far less bright and +happy than might have been expected, considering that upon the +following day she should probably see her father.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant's troop rode off at daybreak, kept down the +Shannon to Limerick, and, crossing the bridge, entered the city, +and received orders there to take up their quarters in a village +some four miles up the river. Thus, they were less than a mile +distant from Mrs. Conyers' house, although separated from it by the +Shannon; and from an eminence near the village, the roof and +chimneys of the mansion could be seen rising above the trees by +which it was surrounded.</p> +<p>During the day, the sound of the firing before Limerick could be +plainly heard; but little attention was paid to it, for it was +certain that no attack could be made in earnest upon the town, +until the battering artillery came up, and there was but little +hope that the cavalry would be called up for any active service at +present.</p> +<p>After dinner, Walter strolled out to the eminence, and looked +across towards the house where he had spent so happy a time, and +wondered whether Mr. Conyers had by this time arrived, and whether, +in the pleasure of his coming, all thought of the late visitors had +been forgotten. Presently Larry sauntered up, and took a seat on a +wall a few paces away. Larry was a general favourite in the troop. +He did not ride in its ranks, but accompanied it in the capacity of +special servant of Walter, and as general attendant to the three +officers.</p> +<p>"We had a good time of it, yer honour," he said presently.</p> +<p>Walter turned round sharply, for he had not heard him +approach.</p> +<p>"We had, Larry," he said, with a smile. "We shall find it +rougher work now."</p> +<p>"We shall, yer honour.</p> +<p>"I was thinking to myself," he said, confidentially, "that if +you might be wanting to send a bit of a letter, it's meself could +easily make a boat, with some osiers and the skin of that bullock +we had given us for the rations of the troops today."</p> +<p>"Send a letter, Larry! Who should I be sending a letter to?"</p> +<p>"Sure yer honour knows better than me. I thought maybe you would +be liking to let the young lady know how we're getting on now, and +to find out whether her father has come home, and how things are +going. Yer honour will excuse me, but it just seemed natural that +you should be wishing to send a line; and a sweeter young lady +never trod the sod."</p> +<p>Walter could not help laughing at the gleam of quiet humour in +Larry's face.</p> +<p>"I don't know, lad. You have pretty well guessed my thoughts; +but it can't be. The opposite bank will be swarming with William's +men--it would be a most dangerous business. No, it's not to be +thought of."</p> +<p>"Very well, yer honour, it's just as you like; but you have only +got to hand me a bit of paper, and give me a wink of your eye, and +I will do it. As to William's sodgers, it's little I fear them; and +if all one hears of their doings be true, and I had a pretty young +creature a mile away from me, with those blackguards round about +her, it's anxious I should be for a line from her hand;" and Larry +got down from his seat, and began to walk away towards the +village.</p> +<p>Walter stood silent for a moment.</p> +<p>"Wait, Larry," he said.</p> +<p>Larry turned, with a look of surprise upon his face.</p> +<p>"Come here," Walter said impatiently. "Of course I am +anxious--though I don't know how you could have guessed it."</p> +<p>"Sure yer honour," Larry said with an innocent look, "when a +gentleman like yourself is for ever walking and riding with a purty +colleen, it don't need much guessing to suppose that you would be +worrying after her, with such creatures as the Northerners and the +furreners in her neighbourhood."</p> +<p>"And you seriously think you could take a letter across to her, +Larry?"</p> +<p>"Sure and I could, yer honour. The nights are dark, and I could +get across the river widout a sowl being the wiser, and make my way +to the stables, and give it to one of the boys, who will put it in +the hands of Bridget, Miss Claire's own maid; and I could go back, +next night, for the answer."</p> +<p>"But if you can do it, I can," Walter said.</p> +<p>"What would be the good, yer honour? It's only the outside of +the house you would see, and not the young lady. Besides, there's a +lot more risk in your doing it than there is with me. You are an +officer of the king's, and if you were caught on that side of the +river, it's mighty little trial they'd give you before they run you +up to the bough of a tree, or put a bullet into you. With me, it's +different. I am just a country boy going to see my cousin Pat Ryan, +who works in the stables at the house. Pat would give me a +character, no fear."</p> +<p>"Well, I will think of it," Walter said.</p> +<p>"And I will get the boat ready at once, your honour. A few +sticks and a green hide will make a boat fit for Dublin Bay, to say +nothing of crossing a smooth bit of water like this."</p> +<p>After Larry had left him, Walter walked up and down for some +time. He had certainly thought, vaguely, that he should like Claire +Conyers to know that he was still within sight of her house; but +the possibility of sending her word had not occurred to him, until +his follower suggested it. Larry's suggestion of possible danger to +her made him uneasy. Even if her father was with the king, and had +already returned home, he would frequently be absent in the camp, +and who could tell but some band of plunderers might visit the +house in his absence! The Protestants had been plundered and +ill-used by William's men round Athlone, and might be here. It +would certainly be well to know what was going on across the +water.</p> +<p>After the kindness they had received, surely it would be only +civil to let the Conyers know where they were posted. At any rate, +Claire could not be offended at his writing; besides, he might +arrange some plan by which he might get news from Larry's friend, +Pat Ryan.</p> +<p>As he went down to the village he heard roars of laughter, and, +passing a cottage, saw Larry with five or six of the troopers round +him. Larry was seated on the ground, making a framework in the +shape of a saucer four feet in diameter.</p> +<p>"And what are you wanting a boat for, Larry?"</p> +<p>"Sure, I am mighty fond of fishing," Larry said. "Didn't you +know that?"</p> +<p>"I know you are a fisherman at home, Larry; but if it's fishing +you want, there are two large boats hauled up on the bank."</p> +<p>"They are too big," Larry said. "I should want half a dozen men +to launch them, and then you would want to go with me, and the bare +sight of you would be enough to frighten away all the fish in the +Shannon. But I will have a look at the boats. The captain might +want a party to cross the river, and it's as well to see that they +are in good order, and have got the oars and thole pins handy. I +will see to them myself, for there are not half a dozen of ye know +one end of the boat from the other."</p> +<p>When Walter reached his quarters, he at once sat down to write. +After many attempts he finished one as follows:</p> +<p>"Dear Miss Conyers:</p> +<p>"After the kindness shown to us by Mrs. Conyers and yourself, I +feel sure that you will like to know where we are posted. We are at +Ballygan, just across the Shannon opposite to your house, and I can +see your roof from a spot fifty yards from the village. It seems a +pleasure to me to be so close, even though we are as much divided +as if there were the sea between us.</p> +<p>"I hope that Mr. Conyers has returned, and that you will have no +trouble with William's troops, whose reputation for good behaviour +is not of the best. I hope that, now that you are among your +friends, you have not quite forgotten us, and that you will let me +have a line to say how you are, and how things are going on with +you. My boy Larry is going to take this across, and will call +tomorrow night for an answer, if you are good enough to send +one."</p> +<p>"When will your boat be finished, Larry?" he asked his follower, +as the latter came in, just as it was getting dusk.</p> +<p>"She will be finished tomorrow. The framework is done, and I +could make a shift, if your honour wished, just to fasten the skin +on so that it would take me tonight."</p> +<p>"If you could, I would rather, Larry."</p> +<p>"All right, your honour!" Larry said, with a slight smile. "Two +hours' work will do it."</p> +<p>"I know where you are making it, Larry, and will come round when +I go to inspect sentries, at eleven o'clock. We shall post ten men, +a quarter of a mile apart, on the bank, and I will give orders for +them to look out for you. The word will be 'Wicklow;' so when you +come across they will shout to you, 'Who comes there?' You say, +'Wicklow;' and it will be all right."</p> +<p>At the hour he had named, Walter went round for Larry, who was +working by the light of a torch stuck in the ground.</p> +<p>"I have just finished it, yer honour; but I was obliged to stop +till the boys got quiet; they were so mighty inquisitive as to what +I was in such a hurry about, that I had to leave it alone for a +while."</p> +<p>"Look here, Larry, here is the letter, but that's not the +principal reason why I am sending you across. You will give it to +Pat Ryan, as you suggested, to pass on through Bridget to Miss +Conyers; but I want you to arrange with him that he shall, +tomorrow, get some dry sticks put together on the bank opposite, +with some straw, so that he can make a blaze in a minute. Then do +you arrange with him that, if any parties of William's troops come +to the house in the absence of Mr. Conyers, and there should seem +likely to be trouble, he is to run as hard as he can down to the +river. If it is day, he is to wave a white cloth on a stick. If it +is night, he is to light the fire. Tell him to arrange with Bridget +to run at once to him and tell him, if there is trouble in the +house, for, as he is in the stables, he may not know what is going +on inside.</p> +<p>"I have been looking at those boats. They will carry fifteen men +each at a pinch; and if the signal is made, we shall not be long in +getting across. Pat would only have about half a mile to run. We +will get the boats down close to the water's edge, and it won't +take us many minutes to get across. Anyhow, in twenty minutes from +the time he starts, we might be there."</p> +<p>"That will be a moighty good plan, yer honour. Now, if you will +go down to the water with me, I will be off at once. I sha'n't be +away half an hour; and I can slip up into the loft where Pat +sleeps, and not a sowl be the wiser, if there was a regiment of +William's troops about the house."</p> +<p>"All right, Larry! I shall wait here for you till you get +back."</p> +<p>Larry raised the light craft and put it on his head. He had made +a couple of light paddles, by nailing two pieces of wood on to mop +sticks.</p> +<p>Walter accompanied him to the water's edge, and told the sentry +there that Larry was crossing the river on business, and would +return in half an hour's time, and that he was not to challenge +loudly when he saw him returning.</p> +<p>The night was dark, and Walter soon lost sight of the little +boat. Then he waited anxiously. He had, however, but little fear +that the enemy would have posted sentries so far down the river, +especially as he would only just have pitched his camp opposite +Limerick.</p> +<p>It was three-quarters of an hour before he heard a faint splash +in the water. The sentry heard it, too.</p> +<p>"Shall I challenge, sir?"</p> +<p>"No. Wait for a minute. We shall soon see whether it is Larry. +Should there be anyone on the opposite bank, he might hear the +challenge, and they would keep a sharp lookout in future."</p> +<p>The sound came nearer and nearer.</p> +<p>"Who goes there?" Walter said in a quiet voice.</p> +<p>"'Wicklow!' and it's mighty glad I am to hear your voice, for +it's so dark I began to think I had lost myself entirely."</p> +<p>"Is all well, Larry?" Walter asked, as the light boat touched +the bank.</p> +<p>"All is well, your honour," Larry said, stepping ashore, and +lifting the light boat on to his head.</p> +<p>"You had better stow it away close here, Larry, till the +morning. It's so dark that you will be sure to pitch over +something, if you go further.</p> +<p>"Now, tell me all about it," he went on, as Larry stowed away +the boat among some bushes.</p> +<p>"There is little enough to tell, yer honour. I just rowed across +and landed, and made straight for the house. Everything was quiet +and still. I went round to the stables, and up into the loft where +Pat sleeps.</p> +<p>"'Are you there, Pat Ryan,' says I?</p> +<p>"'Who is it calls Pat Ryan?' says he.</p> +<p>"'It's myself, Larry, Mr. Davenant's boy.'</p> +<p>"'Why, I thought you had gone,' says he. 'Are you sure it's +yourself?' says he.</p> +<p>"'And who else should it be, Pat Ryan? Don't yer know my +voice?'</p> +<p>"By this time I had got into the corner where he slept, and +touched him.</p> +<p>"'I am glad to feel you, Larry,' says he, 'for I wasn't sure +that you hadn't fallen in with the troopers, and it wasn't your +ghost that come to visit me.'</p> +<p>"'Whist,' says I, 'I have no time to waste upon ye. The master +and the troops are stationed just across the river, at Ballygan. +Mr. Davenant has given me a letter for Miss Conyers, telling her +all about it. I don't exactly know what he said, and maybe she +would like it given privately, so do you hand it to Bridget in the +morning, and ask her to give it to her mistress, and to hand over +to you any answer there may be. I will come across for it tomorrow +night. But that's not all, Pat. You know the devil's work that +William's men have been carrying on, on the march.'</p> +<p>"'Av course, everyone has heard the tales of the villains' +doings, Larry.'</p> +<p>"'Well, the young master is mighty anxious about it, as you may +guess. Has Mr. Conyers come?'</p> +<p>"'Yes. He rode in at four this afternoon.'</p> +<p>"'Well, Mr. Davenant says you will all be safe as long as he's +here, but maybe that at some time, when he's away, you may have a +troop of these villains of the world ride in here, and little they +care whether it's Protestants or Catholics that they plunder. So, +if they come here and begin their devilries, you run for your life +down to the river, opposite Ballygan, with a white cloth or a +shirt, if it's daytime, and wave it. You are to have a pile of +sticks and straw ready, and, if it's night, ye will just set it in +a blaze, and there will be help over before many minutes. You stop +there till they come, to tell them how strong the enemy are.</p> +<p>"'The master says you are to tell Bridget about it, so that, if +they misbehave themselves inside the house, she can slip out and +let you know. You understand that?'</p> +<p>"'I do,' says he; 'and its a comfort to me, for it's fretting I +have been over what might happen, if a troop of those murderin' +villains were to come here, and not a sowl save me and the other +boys to take the part of the mistress and Miss Claire.'</p> +<p>"'Well, you know now, Pat, what's to be done, and see you do it; +and now I must go, for the master is waiting for me. I will be with +you tomorrow night for the answer.'</p> +<p>"And so I came back, and I lost ten minutes looking about for +the boat, for it was so mighty dark that I could not see a fut. I +kicked against it and very near fell over it. It's well I didn't, +for I should have knocked it into smithereens, entirely!"</p> +<p>"Capital, Larry! you couldn't have done better. Now I shall feel +comfortable."</p> +<p>After breakfast, Walter told his father of the mission on which +he had sent Larry, and the arrangement he had made with Pat +Ryan.</p> +<p>"You ought to have told me at first, Walter. I do not blame you, +but you should not do things on your own responsibility."</p> +<p>"But so far, father, it has not been a regimental affair. I +simply sent my own boy with a note to Miss Conyers, just to say +where we were; but, as it may be an affair in which some of the +troop may have to act, I have told you about it, so that you can +make what arrangements you like."</p> +<p>"It's rather a fine distinction, Walter," his father said, +smiling. "It seems to me that you have engaged us to send a +detachment across the river, in case of trouble at Mrs. Conyers'. +However, I heartily agree with you that our kind friends should be +protected from injury and insult.</p> +<p>"How many will the boats hold?"</p> +<p>"Thirteen or fourteen men each."</p> +<p>"Very well, then. I authorize you, at any time, if I am away +with a portion of the troop, to take twenty-five men across if the +signal is made. If I am here I shall, of course, go over myself. +You can take any measures of preparation you may think +necessary."</p> +<p>Walter availed himself of the permission, and at once gave +orders to the sentry posted on the river, in front of the village, +that if a white flag was waved by day, or a fire lit by night on +the opposite bank, he was to shout loudly and fire his pistol, and +that these orders were to be passed on to the sentry who succeeded +him at the post. Then he picked out twenty-five men, and told them +that, at any time in the night or day, if they heard a shot fired +by the sentry they were to seize their arms, rush down to the +boats, launch them and take their places, and wait for orders. He +told them to sleep without removing any of their clothes, so as to +be ready for instant action.</p> +<p>The next night, Larry again crossed and brought back a little +note from Claire Conyers, thanking Walter for letting her know they +were so close, telling him of her father's return, and saying that +there was no fear of her mother or herself forgetting their late +visitors. It was a prettily written little note, and Walter was +delighted at receiving it.</p> +<p>"Well, my boy," Captain Davenant said with a little smile, when +Walter told him next morning that he had heard from Miss Conyers, +"as you seem specially interested in this affair, I will let you +have the honour and glory of being the first to come to the rescue +of Miss Conyers and her mother, if they should need it; and +therefore, whether I am here or not, I give you permission to cross +at once, in the two boats, if you get the signal. But on reaching +the other side you are to send the two boats back at once, with two +men in each, and I will bring the rest of the troop across as fast +as possible. There is no saying what force you may find there. I +shall leave it to your discretion to attack at once, or to wait +until I come up with reinforcements. You will, of course, be guided +partly by the strength of the enemy, partly by the urgency for +instant interference for the protection of the ladies."</p> +<p>Four days passed quietly. There was but little for the cavalry +to do. Small parties were posted at various spots, for some miles +down the river, to give notice should the enemy appear on the +opposite bank and show any intention of making a crossing; and, +beyond furnishing these guards, the troop had little to do.</p> +<p>Walter spent much of his time watching the opposite bank. He +hardly knew whether he wished the signal to be displayed or not--he +certainly desired no trouble to befall the ladies; but, on the +other hand, the thought of rushing to their rescue was undoubtedly +a pleasant one. Larry spent much of his time at the water's edge, +fishing--a pursuit in which many of the troopers joined; and they +were able to augment the daily rations by a good supply of +salmon.</p> +<p>On the fifth day, the officers had just finished supper, when +the sound of a pistol shot was heard. Walter leaped from his seat, +snatched up his sword and pistols, and ran down to the river. The +men were already clustering round the boats. A minute later these +were in the water, and the men jumped on board. They too were eager +for the work, for Larry had whispered among them that, if the +signal was made, it would signify that a band of the enemy's +marauders were at Mrs. Conyers'; and all had been so kindly treated +there that they were eager to repay the treatment they had +received. Besides, there was not a man in the Irish army whose +heart had not been fired at the recitals of the brutality of the +enemy, and filled with deep longings for vengeance upon the +perpetrators of the deeds.</p> +<p>Walter counted the men as they rowed across, and was pleased to +find that not one of them was missing. He ordered the two men who +were at the oars in each boat to return, the instant the rest had +landed, to fetch another detachment across.</p> +<p>As they reached the land, the men sprang out. Pat Ryan was +standing at the landing place.</p> +<p>"Well, Pat, what is it?"</p> +<p>"A troop of Hessian horse, your honour. Half an hour ago they +rode up to the doors. Mrs. Conyers came out to meet them, and told +them that she was a loyal Protestant, and wife of a gentleman high +in the king's councils, who was in the camp. The blackguards only +laughed. The officers, with some of the men, dismounted and pushed +their way past her into the house, and the rest of the troop tied +their horses up to the trees on the lawn, and shouted to me, and +some of the other boys who were looking on, to bring forage. I +suppose we weren't quick enough for them, for one of them drew his +pistol and fired at me. Fortunately, he only hit the truss of straw +I was carrying. Then I went round to the back door, where I had +agreed that Bridget was to come to me, if things were going wrong +in the house. A few minutes afterwards she came out, with a white +face, and said: 'For the sake of the Holy Virgin, run for your +life, Pat, and warn the soldiers!' So I slipped away and ran my +hardest."</p> +<p>All this was told as the party were running at full speed +towards the house.</p> +<p>"How strong was the troop?" Walter asked.</p> +<p>"About eighty men, yer honour."</p> +<p>"We must trust to a surprise," Walter said. "We can get round to +the back of the house without being seen. If we burst in there +suddenly, we can clear the house and hold it till my father comes +up with the whole troop."</p> +<p>Five minutes after they had left the boat, the party approached +the house. Walter halted his men for a moment in the shrubbery +behind it.</p> +<p>"Steady, lads, and take breath. You will follow me into the +house, and keep together. Give no quarter to the scoundrels."</p> +<p>Scarcely had he spoken than a piercing scream, accompanied by a +pistol shot, was heard within.</p> +<p>"Come on, lads!" Walter exclaimed, as he rushed at full speed at +the door, the men following close at his heels.</p> +<p>The door was open. In the passage lay one of the maidservants, +shot through the head by one of the Hessian troopers, who still +held the pistol in his hand. Walter's pistol cracked before the man +had time to draw his sword, and he fell dead.</p> +<p>Then he rushed on into the hall, in which were a score of +troopers, gathered round a barrel of wine which had just been +broached. In an instant, the Irish were upon them. Many were cut +down or shot, before they had time to stand on the defensive. The +rest were slain after a short and desperate fight.</p> +<p>"Bar the front door!" Walter shouted. "Sergeant Mullins, take +six men and hold it against those outside. The rest follow me."</p> +<p>Short as the fight had been, it had given time to the rest of +the Hessians, scattered about the house in the act of plundering, +to gather on the stair, headed by their officers. Without a +moment's hesitation Walter dashed at them. In point of numbers the +party were well matched; but the fury of the Irishmen more than +counterbalanced the advantage of position on the part of the +Hessians.</p> +<p>For five minutes a desperate fight raged. Those in front +grappled each other, and fought with clubbed pistols and shortened +swords. Those behind struck a blow as they could with sword or +musket.</p> +<p>But the Hessians, ignorant of the strength of the force which +had suddenly thus attacked them, thought more of securing their +safety than of defending the stairs, so several of those behind +slipped away and jumped from the windows to the ground. Their +desertion disheartened those in front, and, with a shout, Walter +and his troopers bore back the Hessians on to the landing, and the +latter then broke and fled. Most of them were overtaken and cut +down at once. Two or three only gained the windows and leaped +out.</p> +<p>The instant resistance had ceased, Walter rushed into the +drawing room, bidding the men run down and hold the lower windows. +Mrs. Conyers lay in a dead faint on the sofa. Claire, with a face +as pale as death, was standing beside her.</p> +<p>"Walter!" she gasped out; "then we are safe!"</p> +<p>She tottered, and would have fallen, had not Walter rushed +forward in time to catch her, and place her in a chair:</p> +<p>"Don't faint, my dear Claire," he said urgently. "There is your +mother to be looked after, and I must run downstairs, for they are +attacking the house."</p> +<p>"I won't faint," Claire said, laughing and crying in a manner +which frightened Walter more than her fainting would have done. "I +shall be better directly, but it seems almost like a miracle. Oh, +those dreadful men!"</p> +<p>"They have all gone now, Claire. We hold the house, and have +cleared them out. Pray, calm yourself and attend to your mother. I +must go. Don't be frightened at the firing. My father will be here +in a few minutes, with aid."</p> +<p>"Oh! I am not frightened, now," Claire said; "and oh! Walter, +you are bleeding dreadfully."</p> +<p>"Never mind that now," Walter said; "I will see to it, when it +is all over."</p> +<p>Then, leaving her to look after Mrs. Conyers, he ran downstairs. +His right arm was disabled, he having received a sweeping blow on +the shoulder from one of the Hessians, as he won his way on to the +landing; but he had no time to think of this now, for his men were +hardly pressed. For a moment, a panic had reigned among the +troopers outside, at the outburst of firing, and at the sight of +their comrades leaping panic-stricken from the windows; but inquiry +soon showed them that they were still greatly superior in numbers +to the party who had obtained possession of the hall; and, furious +at the loss of all their officers, and of many of their comrades, +they attacked on all sides, and tried to force their way in at the +doors and lower windows, in spite of the vigorous resistance from +within. Walter hurried from point to point, cheering on his men by +assurance that help was at hand, and seeing that no point had been +left undefended.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch10" name="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: A Cavalry Raid.</h2> +<p>Staunchly as Walter's troopers maintained the defence, they were +sorely pressed, for the enemy still outnumbered them by three to +one. Several times the Hessians almost forced their way in, at one +or other of the windows, but each time Walter, who kept four men +with him as a reserve, rushed to the assistance of the defenders of +the windows and drove them back; but this could not last. The +defenders were hard pressed at several points, and Walter, feeling +sure that his father would be up in a very few minutes, called the +men off from their posts and stationed them on the staircase.</p> +<p>With shouts of triumph, the Hessians burst in. The hall was +filled with a crowd of furious soldiers, who hurled themselves like +a wave at the defenders of the staircase. All the pistols had long +since been emptied, and they fought sword to sword. Walter had +detached five of his little party to hold the top of the other +staircase, should the assailants try to force a passage there; and +he had but ten men now, and several of these severely wounded, to +hold the staircase.</p> +<p>Great as the advantage that the position gave the defenders, +they were forced up step by step, and Walter began to fear that he +would be driven to the landing before succour came, when a crowd of +figures suddenly burst in at the hall door, and above the cracking +of pistols, which at once arose, he heard his father's voice:</p> +<p>"Down with the murdering dogs! No quarter!"</p> +<p>Taken wholly by surprise, ignorant of the force by which they +were attacked, and taken between two bodies of enemies, the +Hessians turned to fly. Walter and his men at once pressed down +upon them, while the newcomers fell upon them with fury.</p> +<p>There was but little resistance, for the Hessians thought only +of flight. Some burst through their assailants and gained the door; +more fled down the passages, and escaped by the windows through +which they had entered; but more than thirty of them fell in the +hall.</p> +<p>The instant resistance was over, Captain Davenant ran out with +his men to secure the horses. A few of the Hessians, who had +escaped from the front door, had jumped on the backs of the nearest +animals and ridden off. The rest had fled on foot, and the exulting +troopers counted seventy-two horses remaining in their hands. +Captain Davenant at once returned to the house.</p> +<p>"Where are you, Walter?" he shouted; but there was no answer. +Getting more light, Captain Davenant searched hastily among the +numerous bodies scattered in the hall, and soon came upon Walter, +who was lying, insensible, just at the foot of the stairs. The +excitement had supported him so long as the defence had to be +continued; but, as soon as succour appeared, and the assailants +retreated, he had stumbled forward with his men, and had fallen +insensible from loss of blood at the foot of the stairs. Captain +Davenant hastily examined him.</p> +<p>"Thank God," he said to Larry, who had smuggled himself over +with the second detachment, "he has no other wound but this on the +shoulder, and has only fainted from loss of blood! Run upstairs, +and snatch a sheet from one of the beds. We will soon make some +bandages."</p> +<p>Larry did as he was ordered. Slips were torn off the sheets, +and, after cutting Walter's coat and shirt from his shoulder, +Captain Davenant bound and bandaged up the wound. In the meantime, +Larry had got some spirits from the buffet in the dining room, and +a spoonful or two were poured down Walter's throat, and in a few +minutes he opened his eyes. For a moment he looked confused, then +he smiled at his father.</p> +<p>"You were just in time," he said. "We couldn't have held out +much longer."</p> +<p>"Yes, we were just in time, thank God!" his father said; "but +where are the ladies?"</p> +<p>"In the drawing room. Mrs. Conyers has fainted."</p> +<p>Captain Davenant ran upstairs. Claire had succeeded in restoring +her mother, who had just sat up when Captain Davenant entered.</p> +<p>"My daughter tells me that you have rescued us, you and your +son," she said faintly. "How can I thank you enough?"</p> +<p>"Never mind that now, my dear lady," Captain Davenant said +hastily. "Just at present, we have no time to lose. The fellows who +have escaped will carry the news to William's camp, and in half an +hour we shall have a regiment of cavalry here. I must retreat at +once, and carry my wounded with me. What will you do? Will you stay +here, or will you and your daughter come with us?"</p> +<p>"Oh, I will go with you, please. If I was sure my husband would +come with them, I would not fear; but he may not hear of it, and +there is no saying what they might do."</p> +<p>"How is Walter, Captain Davenant?" Claire--who had been waiting +impatiently for her mother to finish--burst in. "He was wounded, +and there was such terrible fighting afterwards, and he has not +come back with you."</p> +<p>"He fainted from loss of blood," Captain Davenant said; "but I +do not think his wounds are serious.</p> +<p>"Mrs. Conyers, I can only give you five minutes. Take with you +any jewels or valuables you prize most. If they should arrive +without your husband, they will be sure to sack and burn the +house."</p> +<p>Captain Davenant now hurried downstairs. The wounded had already +been collected. There were but four so seriously wounded as to be +unable to walk. Six had been killed. The wounded, including Walter, +lay on blankets. Men took each a corner, and at once started to the +spot where the boats had been left.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant told four men to wait at the foot of the +stairs, while he went up to the drawing room. Mrs. Conyers and her +daughter were already prepared. Each had thrown a shawl over her +head, and had in their hands the dressing cases containing Mrs. +Conyers's jewellery.</p> +<p>"Now, madam," Captain Davenant said, "if you will point out your +plate chest, I have four men below in readiness to carry it to the +boat. It is no use leaving that to be divided between the +marauders."</p> +<p>Mrs. Conyers pointed out two chests, in one of which deeds and +other valuable documents were kept, and in the other the plate, of +which Mrs. Conyers had a considerable quantity. Two men seized each +of them.</p> +<p>"Now, Mrs. Conyers, please accompany them as quick as you can to +the river. We will follow and cover the retreat. I think we have a +few minutes yet, before cavalry can arrive from the camp."</p> +<p>When Captain Davenant and the rearguard reached the bank, they +found that the boats had already returned, after taking over the +wounded and a portion of the detachment. The rest, with the two +ladies and the female servants, at once took their places, and were +taken across before any sound betokened the arrival of the enemy at +the Hall.</p> +<p>"I sincerely hope, Mrs. Conyers," Captain Davenant said, as they +landed, "that Mr. Conyers may accompany the first body of troops +who arrive, for if not, I fear they will set fire to the Hall. They +must have lost considerably over fifty men, and in their rage at +finding no one on whom to wreak their vengeance, they will make no +inquiry as to whom the house belongs. Indeed, they will find no one +there to ask. The servants of the house had already fled, and I +sent my boy's servant, Larry, round to the stables to tell the men +there to ride away with the horses. They will accompany fifteen of +my men, who mounted as many of the horses we captured, and are +driving the rest to a ford some miles away. They are a valuable +capture, and altogether, as far as we are concerned, we have made a +good night's work of it."</p> +<p>"But I do not understand now," Mrs. Conyers said, "how it was +that you came across just in time. How did you know that we were in +such trouble? Because I am sure you would not have come across to +attack the soldiers in our house, without some special reason?"</p> +<p>"No, indeed, madam, I certainly should not have made your house +a battlefield. The fact is, our fortunate arrival is due entirely +to my son. He made all the arrangements, without my knowing +anything about it. He sent over his boy to one of your lads in the +stable, and arranged that, if there should be any trouble in the +house in the absence of Mr. Conyers, he should run down and signal +across the river. Your daughter's maid was to let the boy know what +was going on within. It was not till he had the whole business in +train, that Walter told me anything about it. As it was his plan +and not mine, and I could see he was extremely anxious about it, I +left the matter in his hands, and authorized him to lead the first +party across whenever the signal was made, night or day. Our boats +would only carry twenty-five men, and four of these had to return +with them. As Walter would have but a quarter of our force with +him, I ordered him, in case the signal was made and he crossed, not +to attack until I joined him, unless the necessity seemed very +urgent. I suppose he considered it was so, for he would hardly have +fallen upon some eighty or ninety troopers, unless he had deemed it +most urgent."</p> +<p>"Thank God he did so!" Mrs. Conyers said, "for we owe him our +lives, and more. I cannot tell you all now. It is too horrible to +think of. But I shall never forget the thankfulness and joy I felt, +when suddenly I heard the noise of shouts and firing, and the men +who were trying to tear my child from my arms suddenly desisted +and, rushing out of the room, left us alone. I fainted then, and +knew nothing more till I heard, in a confused way, the sound of +shouting and conflict, and Claire was bending over me, telling me +that your son was holding the stairs against the Germans, and that +he was expecting help to arrive every moment.</p> +<p>"Where is he? I long to see him, and give him my thanks and +blessing."</p> +<p>"He is in that cottage yonder, which is at present our +quarters," Captain Davenant said. "I told them to send off a +trooper to Limerick, for a doctor, as soon as they got across."</p> +<p>"But you assured me his wound was not dangerous," Mrs. Conyers +said anxiously.</p> +<p>"No, I am sure it is not. It is a severe wound, but not likely +to have serious consequences. But I fear that some of the men are +in a far worse condition."</p> +<p>"I shall install myself as head nurse," Mrs. Conyers said, +decidedly. "We owe so much to you all, that that is the least I can +do."</p> +<p>"Very well, Mrs. Conyers. Then I appoint you head of the +hospital. I will have the four seriously wounded men moved into the +cottage next to mine. You will be able to obtain plenty of +assistance among the women of the village. O'Moore and I will move +into other quarters, and leave the cottage to you and your +daughter. Your servants can have the cottage on the other +side."</p> +<p>They had now reached the door.</p> +<p>"I will just go in and see him first," Captain Davenant +said.</p> +<p>Larry was sitting by Walter's couch.</p> +<p>"Well, Walter, how are you feeling?"</p> +<p>"Oh, I am all right now," Walter said, "since Larry brought me +word that the boats have brought everyone across safely. I was +anxious before, you know."</p> +<p>"How does your shoulder feel?"</p> +<p>"It throbs a bit, father; but that is no odds."</p> +<p>"Mrs. Conyers is coming in to see you. She is going to establish +herself here, and O'Moore and I are moving out. She is going, for +the present, to be head nurse."</p> +<p>"That will be nice," Walter said; "but I sha'n't want much +nursing."</p> +<p>"I don't know, Walter. A downright cut with a heavy cavalry +sword is not a light matter, even when it falls on the shoulder +instead of the head. But you had better not talk much now, but, +when you have seen Mrs. Conyers, try and get off to sleep.</p> +<p>"Larry, do you see to moving our things out, at once."</p> +<p>So saying, Captain Davenant left the room, and a minute later +Mrs. Conyers came in. She took the left hand that Walter held out +to her.</p> +<p>"God bless you, my boy!" she said, softly. "I shall never forget +what Claire and I owe to you. All my life I shall be your grateful +debtor, and some day I hope that my husband will be able to thank +you for what you did for us.</p> +<p>"And now," she went on, in a lighter tone, "I am going to be +your nurse, and my first order is that you lie quite quiet, and try +to get to sleep. I will make you some barley water, and put it by +your bedside. That is all I can do for you, till the surgeon comes +to examine your wound. Claire wanted to come in to thank you +herself, but the child has gone through enough for one night, so I +have sent her straight to bed. I do not want her on my hands, +too."</p> +<p>A few minutes later Larry, having established the two officers +in another cottage, returned and took his place by Walter's +bedside, while Mrs. Conyers went out to see to the comfort of the +other wounded. Half an hour later, a surgeon arrived from Limerick. +Two of the cases were pronounced at once to be hopeless, the other +two he thought might recover. Walter's wound he said was a severe +one, but in no way dangerous. The sword had probably glanced off +something as it descended, so that the edge had not fallen straight +on the shoulder bone. It had, however, nearly taken off the arm. +Had it fallen truly, it would probably have been fatal.</p> +<p>After he had attended to the more serious cases, he dressed the +wounds of the other men, several of which were quite as severe as +that of Walter, although they had not incapacitated the men from +making their way down to the boats.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant had kept a watch towards the Hall. And as, in +an hour after they had crossed, no sheet of flame was seen arising +thence, he was able to tell Mrs. Conyers that he thought that it +was safe, and that either Mr. Conyers himself must have accompanied +the troops, who would by this time have unquestionably arrived +there, or that some officer, aware that the owner of the house was +a friend, and with sufficient authority over the men to prevent its +destruction, must be in command.</p> +<p>In the morning, he had a long talk with her. He suggested that +she and her daughter should accompany him into Limerick, and be +sent, with a flag of truce, across the bridge to join her husband +in William's camp. This, however, she positively declined to accede +to.</p> +<p>"In the first place," she said, "I consider that it is my duty +to nurse the men who suffered for our sake. In the next place, +after what we went through last night, I refuse absolutely to place +myself and my daughter in the hands of the ruffians who disgrace +the cause of William. Hitherto, as a Protestant, I have been an +adherent of that cause, as has my husband. Henceforth, I am an +Irishwoman, and as such abhor a cause which can employ such +instruments, and inflict such atrocities upon Ireland. I will write +a letter to my husband, telling him exactly what has happened, and +how we have been preserved, and say that nothing will induce me to +trust myself and Claire among William's troops, but that I shall +remain on this side of the Shannon. If, as I trust will not be the +case, the English force their way across the river, I shall make +for Galway, and thence take ship to England, where we can join him. +I intend to remain here as long as I can be useful as a nurse, and +I shall then retire, with Claire, to Galway, where I have some +relations, with whom I can stay until matters are decided."</p> +<p>Mrs. Conyers at once wrote the letter, which Captain Davenant +carried himself into Limerick, as he was going in to report the +occurrences of the preceding night. The governor immediately sent +the letter across, with a flag of truce. General Sarsfield, who was +in command of the cavalry, expressed himself highly pleased with +the result of the raid across the Shannon, and appointed three +officers to raise another troop of horse with the captured animals, +which had arrived before morning at Ballygan, and to place +themselves under Captain Davenant's command.</p> +<p>"Your son must be a lad after your own heart," he said to +Captain Davenant. "It was indeed a most gallant action, thus, with +twenty-five dismounted men only, to attack a strong troop of +Hessians. I hope that, as soon as he is well enough to mount a +horse again, you will introduce him to me. Keep your troop in +readiness for a move, for I mean to beat them up before long."</p> +<p>"Can't I see Walter today, mamma?" Claire asked, after Captain +Davenant had ridden off. "It seems so unkind, my being in the house +with him, and not going in to tell him how sorry I am that he was +wounded."</p> +<p>"Not today, Claire. He is very flushed and feverish this +morning, and I must not have him excited at all."</p> +<p>"But I would not excite him, mother. I would only go in and +speak to him quietly."</p> +<p>"Even that would excite him, my dear. I will tell him that you +want to come in and see him; but that I think you had better not do +so, for a day or two."</p> +<p>But even without the excitement of Claire's presence, Walter +became more feverish, and by evening was talking wildly. The +excitement and anxiety he had gone through were as much responsible +for this as the wound, and by midnight he knew no one. The surgeon, +who came over in the evening, ordered cloths constantly soaked with +fresh water to be placed round his head, and that he should be +given, whenever he desired it, barley water sharpened by apples +boiled in it.</p> +<p>Mrs. Conyers and Larry sat, one on each side of his couch, and +once or twice, when he was lying quiet, Claire was allowed to steal +in and look at him; but at other times Mrs. Conyers kept her out of +the room, for, in his feverish talk, Walter was constantly +mentioning her name, and telling her he would come to her.</p> +<p>Mrs. Conyers was troubled and perplexed in her mind. Regarding +Claire as a child, and Walter as a lad of eighteen, the thought +that any serious consequence would arise from their intercourse at +the Hall had not occurred to her; but now she could not doubt that, +on Walter's part, at least, a serious attachment for her daughter +had sprung up, and Claire's face and manner told her a similar +story. She was but sixteen, but, having been her mother's companion +and friend, she was older than many girls of the same age. Mrs. +Conyers would rather that it had not been so, for she foresaw much +sorrow for Claire. She had thought that her daughter, as a wealthy +heiress, would some day make a good match, and Walter, whose +fortune, in any case, would be but a small one--for she knew that +his father's estates had passed from the family--was a soldier on +the side she believed would be the losing one. Still, she felt that +he had earned a right to Claire, and resolved that, come what +would, if it turned out that Claire's affections were really given +to the lad, she should have her support and championship with her +father.</p> +<p>For two days the fever continued, and then the care of his +watchers prevailed, and Walter sank into a quiet sleep, from which +he awoke sensible and refreshed.</p> +<p>An answer had been received from Mr. Conyers, on the same +afternoon that his wife's letter was sent to him. He had been in +council with the king, when an officer came in with the news that +some Hessians had ridden in, saying that the troop to which they +belonged had ridden out to a large house, two miles beyond the spot +at which the regiment was quartered, and had there been attacked by +a body of Irish troops, who had killed all their officers, and +three-quarters of the troop.</p> +<p>"Knowing where the regiment was quartered, it at once struck me +that the house might be our own, and, on the trooper being brought +in, I found that it was so, and obtained permission from the king +to accompany the regiment of Danish horse, who were at once sent +out. The king gave stringent orders to the officer in command that +the house was to be respected, and a guard was to be placed there +to protect it from marauders. You can imagine my anxiety, as I rode +out, and how it was increased when I found the place absolutely +deserted. From the trooper whom we took with us, we learned +something of what had taken place. He had been in the garden, but +the officers and nearly half the troopers were in the house. +Suddenly, the sounds of a conflict were heard within. Then many of +his comrades jumped from the windows, and, as they reported the +number of the assailants was not large, an attack was made upon the +house. After considerable loss, an entrance was effected, and they +were gradually overcoming the defenders, when they were attacked in +the rear by a fresh body of the enemy, and only a few of them +managed to make their escape.</p> +<p>"The appearance of the house fully corroborated his story. The +inside was piled with dead, who were found scattered all over the +house. Among them were a few men in the uniform of one of the Irish +cavalry regiments. This was some alleviation to my terrible +anxiety. Had the assailants been a body of peasants, I should have +feared that they had wreaked on you and Claire the hatred which +they feel, I own not unjustly, towards the king's foreign troops. +As they were regular soldiers, I had hopes that they had only +carried you off as hostages.</p> +<p>"One of the female servants was found below, killed. No pursuit +was possible, as we could find no one of whom to inquire by which +way the enemy retreated; but, in the morning, we found that the +horses of the Hessians had been ridden to a spot some miles up the +river, where they had swam or forded the stream. There was a strong +party of the enemy on the opposite side. My anxiety was terrible, +till I received your letter, and you may imagine how great a shock +it was to me to learn the frightful scene through which you had +passed, and how my sentiments changed towards those whom I had +regarded as your abductors, but whom I now learn were your +saviours.</p> +<p>"I have read that portion of your letter to the king, who is +furious at the evil conduct of his troops. He has, all along, done +everything in his power to repress it; but when not under his +immediate eye, it seems as if all discipline was lost, and the +troops behaved rather as a horde of savages than as soldiers. After +what had happened, I cannot blame you for the opinion you express +in your letter, or for your determination not to trust yourself and +Claire in this camp, although I am sure that the king would send a +detachment of his own Dutch guards with you to Dublin. I trust that +you will, as soon as the work you have undertaken is over, go to +our cousins at Galway, and take ship without delay to England, +where I will at once join you, when I hear of your arrival +there.</p> +<p>"Please express to Captain Davenant and his son the extreme +obligation under which I feel towards them, and assure them that I +look forward to the time when this unfortunate struggle shall be at +an end, and I can meet them and thank them personally. It will be a +satisfaction to you to be able to inform them that I have, this +morning, obtained from the king a peremptory order on the +commission in Dublin, to stay all proceedings in the matter of +Captain Davenant's estate near Bray, which was on the list of +confiscated properties. I am forwarding this by one of the royal +messengers, who leaves with despatches today, and, when I visit +Dublin, I shall do myself the pleasure of calling on Mrs. Davenant, +and of setting her mind at ease."</p> +<p>While Walter had been at his worst, his father had been away for +only a few hours. After his interview with Sarsfield in Limerick, a +messenger arrived from that general, ordering Captain Davenant to +bring his troop into the city at once. It was four in the afternoon +when he arrived, and he at once went to General Sarsfield's +quarters.</p> +<p>"Let the men dismount, Captain Davenant, and let them and the +horses feed. We have a long ride before us tonight. I have just +heard that William's siege artillery is coming up, under a weak +escort, and I mean to get round in the Dutchman's rear and destroy +it. He shall find that Limerick is not to be taken as easily as he +expects.</p> +<p>"He has had a disagreeable sample of our quality today. A +deserter brought in news of the exact position of his tent, and our +artillery have been giving him such a peppering that, from the +church tower, we see that he has been obliged to move his +camp."</p> +<p>As soon as it was night, four hundred cavalry were in the +saddle. Sarsfield placed himself at their head, and rode twelve +miles up the Shannon to Killaloe. Crossing the river there, he made +a wide sweep with his cavalry, until he was in the heart of the +Tipperary mountains, in rear of William's camp.</p> +<p>Quietly as the expedition had been carried out, it was +impossible that so large a body of horse should ride through the +country unperceived, and a gentleman of county Clare, named +O'Brian, thinking that he would gain honour and advantage by +reporting their passage to William, set out for the British camp. +Being unknown there, he was a long time before he could get access +to the king. The officers to whom he spoke paid little attention to +his story about a body of Irish horse passing through the country, +and were much more interested in gaining information from him as to +the state of the stock of cattle, sheep, and pigs in his part of +the county; for, owing to the terror excited by the conduct of +William's soldiers, the people for many miles round had driven off +their stock and left the villages, and provisions were already +becoming scarce in the camp.</p> +<p>At length, however, one of those to whom he had spoken mentioned +his story to the king, who at once sent for him, and saw the +importance of the news he brought. O'Brian himself had no idea of +the object of Sarsfield's expedition, but the king instantly +guessed that it was the siege train. He therefore ordered a large +body of cavalry to be immediately despatched to meet the artillery +on its way, and protect it into camp.</p> +<p>All day, Sarsfield remained in concealment among the mountains, +until, towards evening, the train came in sight, moving slowly with +its escort of two troops of dragoons along the high road. He +watched it until it halted, and encamped for the night, in a field +beside the highway. He waited until the horses were picketed, and +the men engaged in making their encampment for the night. Then the +Irish cavalry burst down from the glen in which they had been +hiding. The officer in command sounded to horse, but it was too +late; before the men were in the saddle, the Irish were upon them, +and in a moment the two troops of dragoons were dispersed or +killed.</p> +<p>Sarsfield's men at once set to, to collect the powder waggons, +pontoons, and baggage of every description. The great guns were +filled with powder to the muzzle, and then buried two-thirds of +their length in the earth. The whole mass of siege equipage was +piled above them, and a train of gunpowder was laid to the store in +the centre. The men then drew off to a distance. A match was +applied to the train, and the whole blew up with a tremendous +explosion.</p> +<p>The shock was heard in the faraway camp of William, and he knew +that his cavalry had arrived too late to avert the catastrophe he +feared. They had, indeed, just arrived within sight of the spot +when the explosion took place. They rode on at full speed, only to +find the vast pile of ruined woodwork blazing furiously. The Irish +cavalry was seen in the distance, leisurely retiring; but, although +the English pursued for a short time, the Irish easily evaded them +in the darkness among the hills. The whole of William's cavalry in +camp were sent out, when the explosion was felt, to endeavour to +cut off the Irish horse; but Sarsfield was well acquainted with the +ground, and retired with his troops safely across the Shannon, +having struck a terrible blow against the designs of William.</p> +<p>The king, however, found that, in spite of the measures +Sarsfield had taken, two of the guns remained uninjured by the +explosion. These were brought to the camp, and another heavy gun +was fetched from Waterford, together with a small quantity of +ammunition. The regiments were at once set to manufacture fascines +for the siege, and this work proceeded quickly, the orchards and +plantations furnishing an abundance of wood. The fascines were used +for filling up ditches, and the advances against the town were +pushed forward with vigour.</p> +<p>But the besiegers were not allowed to carry on their work +unmolested, for a constant fire was kept up by the guns on the +walls, and the besieged made several sorties, driving back the +working parties, destroying their work, and retiring before any +considerable bodies of troops could be brought up to attack them. +The three heavy guns were, however, brought into position at a +short distance from the wall, and began to play upon it.</p> +<p>The dissensions between the Irish commanders still continued, +and, beyond Sarsfield's raid against the battering train, nothing +was done to annoy the enemy in the rear, although, had any vigour +been shown, the Irish army lying idle west of the Shannon could +have moved across, and speedily starved out William's army by +cutting off all supplies. Even as it was, provisions could only be +collected by sending out strong bodies of troops to plunder the +country; for the peasantry had been goaded into fury by the evil +conduct of the troops, and were now in a state of insurrection, +cutting off and murdering all stragglers, and driving in small +parties.</p> +<p>William had good reason to regret that he had brought with him +so small a contingent of British troops, owing to his doubts +whether they could be depended upon, and his poor opinion of their +bravery; for, since the days of Agincourt, English troops had been +seldom seen on the Continent, and were consequently held but in +small esteem there. He had with him now a regiment of English +grenadiers, and a few line regiments, but the bulk of the army was +composed of his Dutch troops and foreign mercenaries. The latter +had shown, at the battle of the Boyne, that their courage was not +of a high order, while their excesses had not only produced a +bitter feeling of hatred against them throughout the country, but +had done immense harm to the cause, by rendering it next to +impossible to obtain provisions.</p> +<p>Walter's progress towards recovery, from the day when he +recovered consciousness, was very rapid. The fever, though severe, +had been short, and he gained strength almost as rapidly as he had +lost it. The morning after he had come to himself, Mrs. Conyers +brought Claire in to see him.</p> +<p>"Here is a young lady who is very anxious to see how you are +getting on, Walter," she said cheerfully; "and, now you are going +on so well, I shall hand you over a good deal to her care, as some +of the others want my attention badly. You must not talk much, you +know, else we shall be having you getting feverish again."</p> +<p>So saying, she left the room.</p> +<p>Claire had stopped timidly near the door. The change which four +days had made in Walter's appearance shocked her, and she scarcely +recognized, in the pale drawn face, the youth who had burst in, +sword in hand, to her rescue on that terrible evening. The tears +were running fast down her cheeks, as she approached the couch.</p> +<p>"Why, what is the matter, Claire?" he asked. "You must not cry. +I am all right again now, and in a week shall be on horseback, I +hope."</p> +<p>"Oh, Walter, what can I say?" she said. "To think that you +should have suffered so, for us!"</p> +<p>"There is nothing dreadful about it," he said, smiling. "A +soldier must expect to get wounded, sometimes, and a slash from a +German sword is not a serious matter. I am only too glad that I got +it in your cause, Claire--only too glad that I was able to be of +service to you--and your mother," he added in afterthought. "It +makes me very happy, to think I have been useful to you, only I +would rather that you didn't say anything more about it. I am quite +content and happy, as it is, and, if it had been my life, I would +have gladly given it."</p> +<p>"I won't say any more, if you don't wish it," Claire said +quietly, "but I shall think of it, always.</p> +<p>"And now," she said, with an effort, "mamma said you were not to +talk much, and you look quite flushed already, so you must lie +quiet, and I will read to you, or work, if you like that +better."</p> +<p>"I don't care which it is," Walter said, "so that I can look at +you;" and this time Claire's cheeks were a good deal redder than +Walter's.</p> +<p>Mrs. Conyers returned in half an hour, and found Claire sitting +working, while Walter lay looking at her.</p> +<p>"I think, Claire, you had better take your work in the next room +again," she said. "Walter looks flushed, and I don't think your +visit has done him any good. You have been talking too much."</p> +<p>"It has done me an immense deal of good, Mrs. Conyers," Walter +protested; while Claire exclaimed that they had hardly spoken a +word, which indeed was the truth, for Walter had been feeling too +dreamily happy to want to talk, and Claire had felt so shy and +embarrassed, with Walter watching her, that she had been unable to +hit on a single subject for remark.</p> +<p>Another two days, and Walter was well enough to get up and lie +on a couch of heather, covered with the blanket, which Larry had +prepared for him in the next room. His voice had recovered its +natural ring, and Claire had got over her unaccustomed shyness; and +Mrs. Conyers, as she moved in and out, heard them laughing and +chatting together, as they had done ten days before at the +Hall.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch11" name="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: The First Siege Of +Limerick.</h2> +<p>The three heavy guns thundered against the walls without +intermission, night and day, until at length a breach was made. The +garrison in vain attempted to repair it, and every hour it grew +larger, until there was a yawning gap, twelve yards wide. This +William considered sufficient for the purpose, and made his +preparations for the assault. The English regiment of grenadiers, +six hundred strong, was ordered to take its place in the advanced +trenches, and to lead the assault. It was supported on the right by +the Dutch Guards, with some British and Brandenburg regiments in +reserve.</p> +<p>On the left, the grenadiers were supported by the Danish +regiments, and a large body of cavalry were held in readiness, to +pour in behind the infantry. The storming parties were under +command of Lieutenant General Douglas.</p> +<p>At three o'clock in the afternoon, the signal for the assault +was given by a discharge of three pieces of cannon. As the last gun +was fired, the grenadiers leaped from the trenches and dashed +forward towards the breach. As they approached the wall, they +discharged their muskets at the enemy upon the walls, and, before +assaulting the breach, they hurled a shower of hand grenades at its +defenders.</p> +<p>The preparations for the assault had been observed by the Irish, +and they were in readiness to receive it. The news had spread +through the town, and the excitement among the whole population was +intense. The guns on the walls ceased firing, in order that all +might be ready to pour in their shower of balls, when the assault +commenced. The fire from the batteries of the besiegers had also +died away, and a silence, which seemed strange after the constant +din of the preceding days, hung over the camp and city.</p> +<p>No sooner had the grenadiers leaped from the trenches, than the +guns on the walls, and the musketry of the defenders, poured their +fire upon them; while all the batteries of the besiegers opened, at +the same moment, to cover the assault. Through the hail of fire the +grenadiers kept on without faltering, and, as they neared the +breach, the Irish rushed out through the opening to meet them. +There was a desperate struggle, half hidden from the eyes of those +on the walls by the cloud of smoke and dust, which arose from the +combatants; but the grenadiers, fighting with the greatest +gallantry, won their way to the counter-scarp, and half the +regiment forced its way through the breach and entered the town. +But the Irish troops, clustered behind the wall, then closed in +again, and barred the breach to those following.</p> +<p>The Dutch and English regiments were marched up, to aid the rest +of the grenadiers to cut their way in after their comrades; but +these troops were unable to imitate the valour of the grenadiers. +They got as far as the counter-scarp; but the fire from the walls +was so deadly, that they could not be prevailed upon to advance. +The rain of fire mowed them down. Their officers urged them on, +and, unwilling to retreat and incapable of advancing, they were +shot down in scores.</p> +<p>Presently there was a sudden movement among the Irish defenders +on the breach, and a few of the grenadiers who had entered the city +burst their way through them, and rejoined their comrades. No +sooner had they entered the city, than they found themselves +assailed on all sides. The Irish troops and the citizens attacked +them with fury, and even the women, animated by the deadly hate +which the deeds of William's soldiers had excited, hurled missiles +upon them from the windows, and even joined in the attacks upon +them in the streets.</p> +<p>The grenadiers resisted obstinately, but they were gradually +overpowered by numbers, until at last a few survivors, gathering +together, burst through their assailants, and succeeded in making +their retreat. For nearly three hours this furious conflict had +raged within the city. Regiment after regiment had been marched up +to the assault, but none had proved brave enough to fight their way +up the counter-scarp to the aid of the hard-pressed grenadiers in +the town.</p> +<p>When the little remnant of the grenadiers rejoined them, they +continued, for a time, to keep up a constant fire upon the +defenders on the walls, but at last slowly and sullenly fell back +to their camp.</p> +<p>In the meantime, a regiment of Brandenburghers had attacked the +wall of the battery known as the Black Battery, whose fire was +doing great execution upon the assailants. They had brought scaling +ladders with them, and with these they succeeded, fighting with +great bravery and determination, in gaining the walls. The whole +regiment poured in; but, just as they did so, the Irish fired the +powder magazine that supplied the battery, and the whole battalion +was destroyed.</p> +<p>William, from his position on a fort known as Cromwell's Fort, +watched the struggle. Had he acted as Cromwell did, at the siege of +Drogheda, when, after his troops had been twice repulsed at the +breach, he placed himself at their head and led them to the +assault, the result might not have been the same; for the +regiments, which refused to follow their officers up the +counter-scarp, might have followed the king; but William, although +he had often proved the possession of no ordinary courage, and +coolness in danger, had not that species of courage which prompts a +man to throw himself forward to lead a forlorn hope. Moreover, both +as a general-in-chief and king, his place was not at the head of an +assault.</p> +<p>The assailants lost more than two thousand men, and these the +flower of William's army. The surprise of the troops, at their +defeat by an enemy they had been taught to despise, was extreme, +and so ashamed were they of their failure, that the following day +they were ready to renew the assault. The king, however, would not +risk another such defeat. The bravest of his force had perished, +his stores of ammunition were nearly exhausted, and the rains had +set in with great violence.</p> +<p>On the day following the assault, the king called a council of +war, and it was resolved to raise the siege. There was a great +scarcity of waggons and horses, in consequence of the loss +sustained by Sarsfield's attack on the train. The few waggons which +remained were not enough to convey the wounded men, many of whom +were obliged to walk. The stores had, therefore, to be abandoned +for want of transport. Some were thrown into the river, others +blown up and destroyed, and, on Saturday the 30th of August, the +army commenced its retreat.</p> +<p>It was accompanied by a great host of fugitives, for with the +army went the whole of the Protestant inhabitants of the county of +Limerick and the surrounding country, with their wives, children, +servants, and such household goods as they could bring with them. +In addition to these were the Protestant fugitives from the +neighbourhood of Athlone, who had come down with the division of +General Douglas, after he had raised the siege of that city.</p> +<p>The Protestants round Limerick had not doubted the success of +the besiegers, never questioning the ability of an army, commanded +by a king, to capture a place like Limerick. The misery of this +body of fugitives was terrible. They had abandoned their homes to +pillage and destruction, and knew not whether they should ever be +able to return to them again. They had, on the arrival of William, +torn up the letters of protection, which the Irish generals had +given to all who applied to them, and, having thrown in their +fortunes with him, dared not remain among the country people, who +had suffered so terribly from the exactions and brutality of +William's army. Not only had they to endure wet, hunger, and +fatigue in the retreat, but they were robbed and plundered, by the +army which should have protected them, as if they had been enemies +instead of friends.</p> +<p>William himself left his army, as soon as he broke up the siege, +and pushed straight on to Waterford, and the troops, relieved from +the only authority they feared, and rendered furious by the ill +success which had attended their operations, broke out into acts of +plunder and insubordination which surpassed anything that they had +before perpetrated.</p> +<p>The siege of Limerick brought the campaign to a close, and, so +far, the Irish had no reason to be disheartened. They had besieged +and nearly annihilated the army of Schomberg at Dundalk. They had +fought a sturdy battle on the Boyne, and had proved themselves a +match for William's best troops. They had decisively repulsed the +attacks upon Athlone and Limerick. Half the troops William had sent +to conquer the country had fallen, while their own losses had been +comparatively small.</p> +<p>The sole fruit, of all the efforts of William, had been the +occupation of the capital--a great advantage, as it gave him a +point at which he could pour fresh troops into Ireland, and +recommence the war in the spring with new chances of success. When +the British army reached Callan, some of the arrears of pay were +distributed among the troops, and the army was then broken up, and +the troops went into winter quarters.</p> +<p>William had returned at once to England, and sent over some new +lords justices to Dublin. These were received with delight by the +townspeople, who had suffered terribly from the exactions and +depredations of the foreign troops quartered there, and were, +indeed, almost in a state of starvation, for the country people +were afraid to bring in provisions for sale, as they were either +plundered of the goods as they approached the city, or robbed of +their money as they returned after disposing of them. As the only +possible check to these disorders, the justices raised a body of +militia in the town, to cope with the soldiery, and the result was +a series of frays which kept the city in a state of alarm.</p> +<p>By the time that Limerick beat off the assault upon its breach, +Walter Davenant was quite convalescent. Rumours of the ill +treatment of the Protestants who accompanied the retreating army +circulated in Limerick, and Mrs. Conyers congratulated herself +warmly that she and her daughter were safe under the protection of +the Irish troops, instead of being in the sad column of +fugitives.</p> +<p>As soon as the English army had left, Captain Davenant obtained +for her an order of protection from General Sarsfield, and she +returned for a while with her daughter to their house, to which the +invalids were carried, Captain Davenant's troop being again +quartered around it.</p> +<p>"I hardly know what is best to do," she said to Captain +Davenant, a few days after her return. "I am, of course, anxious to +rejoin my husband, but at the same time, I feel that my staying +here is of benefit to him. With the order of protection I have +received, I am perfectly safe here, and I have no fear whatever of +any trouble, either with the troops or peasantry; but, on the other +hand, if we abandon this place, I fear that it will be pillaged, +and perhaps burned, like the other houses belonging to Protestants +which have been deserted by their owners. What do you say, Captain +Davenant?"</p> +<p>"I should be sorry to give any advice, Mrs. Conyers. For the +troops I can answer. The protection you have received from General +Sarsfield will be sufficient to ensure you against any trouble +whatever from them, but, as to the peasantry, I cannot say. Every +village within reach of William's army, in its advance or retreat, +has been destroyed, and the vilest atrocities have been committed +upon the people. The greater part of the men have, in despair, +taken up arms, and, when they get the chance, will avenge their +wrongs upon inoffensive Protestants who have ventured to remain in +their dwellings. Savagery has begot savagery, and even such a +protection order as you have received would go for little with +these half-maddened wretches. I should say, therefore, that so long +as there are a considerable body of troops at Limerick, so long you +may safely remain here, but no longer."</p> +<p>"At any rate, I will stay for a time," Mrs. Conyers said. "The +winter may bring peace; and I am very loath to abandon the house, +to which my husband is greatly attached, if it is possible to save +it."</p> +<p>The party now fell back to the mode of life which had been +interrupted by the advance of William's army. Captain Davenant +drilled his men, and spent his evenings pleasantly in the house. +Walter had so far recovered that he was able to stroll through the +grounds, or drive with Claire. The troopers enjoyed their rest and +abundance of rations. Captain Davenant's mind had been set at ease +by the receipt of a letter, which Mrs. Davenant had sent him by one +of the men of the village. It told him that she had seen Mr. +Conyers, who had obtained a stay of all proceedings against the +property, and that she was well, and in as good spirits as she +could be in his absence.</p> +<p>A month after they had moved across the river, their quiet life +was interrupted by a trooper riding up, just as the party was +sitting down to dinner, with an order from General Sarsfield for +the troops to be in readiness to march, at daybreak, to form part +of a force which was about to undertake an enterprise against the +English stationed at Birr. There was silence at the table, after +Captain Davenant had read the order.</p> +<p>"Then you must leave us?" Mrs. Conyers said at last.</p> +<p>"I am afraid so, Mrs. Conyers. Yes, sorry as I am that our +pleasant time here must come to an end, there is no questioning the +order. I have been, in fact, expecting it for the last day or +two."</p> +<p>"Then I shall move," Mrs. Conyers said, decidedly. "It will take +us a day or two to pack up such valuables as I should like to take +away and leave at Limerick, till the return of happier days. When +that is accomplished, I shall carry out my intention of making for +Galway, and leave the house to take care of itself."</p> +<p>"In the meantime, madam," Captain Davenant said, "I will leave +my son and four of the men, who are now convalescent, as a +protection. I fancy they are all fit to take the saddle, but I can +strain a point a little, and leave them still on the sick +list."</p> +<p>"Thank you very much, indeed," Mrs. Conyers said, while a glance +of satisfaction passed between Walter and Claire. "That will be a +satisfaction. Indeed, I shall feel quite safe, so long as your son +is here. I wish now I had moved the things before; but I had hoped +that you would have been allowed to remain in quarters here all the +winter. Had it not been for that, I should never have decided as I +did."</p> +<p>The next morning the troop started.</p> +<p>"The place seems strangely quiet," Walter said, as he strolled +out into the garden with Claire, after breakfast. "It seems +terrible to think that, in three or four days, it will be deserted +altogether, and that you will have gone."</p> +<p>"It is horrid," the girl said, with tears gathering in her eyes. +"I hate King William and King James both," she went on petulantly. +"Why can't they fight their quarrel out alone, instead of troubling +everyone else? I don't know which of them I hate the most."</p> +<p>"But there is a compensation," Walter said with a smile.</p> +<p>"I am sure I don't see any compensation," the girl said. "What +do you mean, Walter?"</p> +<p>"I mean," Walter said, "that if they had not quarrelled, we +might never have met."</p> +<p>"There is something in that," Claire said softly. "No; I don't +know that I ought quite to hate them, after all."</p> +<p>By which it will be seen that Walter Davenant and Claire Conyers +had already arrived at a thorough understanding, as to their +feelings towards each other. After this, as was natural between +young persons so situated, their talk wandered away into the +future, and the present was already forgotten.</p> +<p>In the house, everyone was at work. Mrs. Conyers' servants had +all returned, when she came back to the house, and these were now +busy, with the assistance of Larry and the four troopers left +behind, in taking down and packing pictures, taking up carpets, and +getting furniture ready for removal. In the afternoon, Walter +assisted in the work of packing. As he was dressing for dinner, +Larry, as usual, came into his room.</p> +<p>"I suppose, your honour," he said, after putting out Walter's +clothes, "you will be setting a watch tonight?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Larry, I was intending to do so. You don't think there is +any special occasion for it, do you?"</p> +<p>"I don't know, your honour. We hear tales of the rapparees +burning every Protestant house in the district. As long as the +troop was here, av coorse the boys kept away; but there is a +powerful lot of plunder in the house, and the news that the troop +have gone will go through the country quick enough. The boys have +had enough to turn them into devils, with what they have gone +through, and small blame to them if they take their chances when +they find them. We know, yer honour, that Mrs. Conyers and Miss +Claire are well-nigh angels, and there is small fear that the +people around will lift a finger agin them, in spite of having had +their own homes burnt over their heads; but folks from a distance +don't know that, and the news that there is a rich Protestant +house, all ready for sacking, will travel quick. I hope your honour +will get the ladies to move out of the place tomorrow, whether the +ould pictures and things are all ready or not."</p> +<p>"Do you think it is as serious as that, Larry?"</p> +<p>"Faith and I do, yer honour. You don't know how bitter the folks +are!"</p> +<p>"But there cannot be any danger, Larry, as long as we are here. +The rapparees would never attack a house which has the general's +protection, and with an officer and some troopers of the king to +guard it."</p> +<p>"It's meself would not answer for them," Larry said, shaking his +head. "The boys are just disperate, and would care nothing for the +protection, unless there were force to back it. They think that, as +all the Catholics have been robbed by the Protestants, it's only +fair that they should get their turn now; and, if I were your +honour, I would lay all my plans out tonight, how to get away and +the rest of it, just as if you were assured they would come before +the morning."</p> +<p>"Why, you have heard nothing certain, Larry?"</p> +<p>"I have not, or I would tell your honour at once; but I know +what the people think and feel, and I know that the rapparees have +been plundering and destroying every Protestant house around, and +they will guess that the ladies will be moving, now that the troop +is gone. Besides, won't they have heard that the news has gone +round, for waggons to come to take away the things?"</p> +<p>The earnestness with which Larry spoke convinced Walter that the +danger was serious. Larry was not given to magnify danger, and +usually treated all risks with carelessness and indifference. +Walter knew that he would gather, from the stablemen and the people +who brought in provisions, much more as to the state of popular +feeling in the country than he was likely to know, and he +accordingly went down to dinner grave and preoccupied.</p> +<p>Mrs. Conyers soon noticed the change in his manner, and, as soon +as the servants had retired, asked him if he had received any bad +news.</p> +<p>"No," he said, trying to speak lightly. "My boy Larry has been +trying to scare me about the rapparees, and, although I do not +think that there is any danger to be apprehended from them, I do +think that it would be just as well to hurry on your preparations, +as much as possible, and for you and Claire to go in to Limerick +tomorrow afternoon. We can finish the packing up of the goods you +wish to take, and any we cannot get off tomorrow can be sent in the +next day."</p> +<p>Mrs. Conyers looked grave.</p> +<p>"But we have heard of no rapparees in this neighbourhood, +Walter," she said. "We have heard of sad excesses in some parts of +the country, but nothing in this neighbourhood."</p> +<p>"There has been small temptation for them about here," Walter +said, "for every house within miles was stripped by the +Williamites. Catholic or Protestant was all the same to them. +Besides, they knew well that Sarsfield's horse would soon have put +a stop to that sort of thing. Now, I do not wish to alarm you in +the slightest, and I do not think that there is any real cause for +anxiety. Even if they are in the neighbourhood, the rapparees will +hardly venture an attack upon a house occupied by even a few of our +troops. Still, it is always wisest to be prepared, and therefore, I +should like for us to arrange exactly what had best be done in the +event of an attack. Of course, I shall see that all the doors and +the lower windows are securely fastened, and I shall have the men +from the stables into the house, so we shall be nine or ten men in +all; enough, I hope, for all circumstances. Still, merely as a +matter of discussion, let us suppose the worst. Let us imagine the +house surrounded, the doors burst in, and the resistance on the +point of being overpowered. What would be our best plan for making +our escape?</p> +<p>"Do not be frightened, Claire," he went on, seeing how pale the +girl had become. "Every general, when he is going to fight a +battle, however sure he may be of success, decides upon the route +by which his army shall retreat, in case of a defeat, and I am only +taking the same precaution."</p> +<p>"If there is to be a retreat made at all," Mrs. Conyers said, "I +prefer that it should be made now. Do you really think that there +is any real danger of attack?"</p> +<p>"I think that there is danger of attack, Mrs. Conyers; but I +have no reason for supposing that there is any particular danger +this night."</p> +<p>"Then Claire and I will at once start for the town, under the +escort of two of your men. It would be folly, indeed, to run the +risk of another attack here. If the house is to be burned, it must +be burned. For, if they were beaten off once, they would come again +when the house was undefended. As for the things, should all be +quiet tonight, they can be sent in tomorrow as arranged. The things +that are to go are all got together."</p> +<p>"I do think that the best way," Walter said. "Of course, I shall +ride in with you, and hand you over to the friends you are going +to, in the town, and shall then come back here again with a light +heart. But I own that I am nervous at the thought of you and Claire +being here, should the rapparees attack the house."</p> +<p>"But mind, Walter, there is to be no fighting. If they come +tonight, I had rather that they took everything, than that you +should risk your life in its defence. The silver and valuables we +took across before are all safe in Limerick. As for the other +things, they can go. Now, mind, we shall not leave unless we have +your promise that, if a band of these men come tonight to sack the +place, you and your men will offer no resistance."</p> +<p>"If they come in numbers which render successful resistance out +of the question, I promise you that we will not draw a trigger, +Mrs. Conyers."</p> +<p>"In that case I am satisfied, Walter. Against you and your men +these peasants have no quarrel."</p> +<p>Walter at once called Larry.</p> +<p>"Larry, get my horse saddled, and tell Browning to saddle his. +Place two pillions behind the saddles. Mrs. Conyers and her +daughter are going to ride into Limerick at once."</p> +<p>"The Lord be praised!" Larry said piously. "That's the best news +I have heard this many a day."</p> +<p>"And, Larry," Mrs. Conyers said, "tell the three boys in the +stable to saddle the three best horses, and ride with us. If we +lose everything else, we may as well retain them, for it would not +be easy to buy others now."</p> +<p>In ten minutes, all was ready for a start. Walter and the +trooper took their places in the saddles, chairs were brought out, +and Mrs. Conyers and Claire mounted behind them. Walter had asked +Mrs. Conyers to take her seat on the pillion on his horse, but she +did not answer, and when Walter turned to see that she was +comfortably placed behind him, he found that it was Claire who was +seated there.</p> +<p>"Mamma told me to," the girl said. "I suppose she thought this +was, perhaps, the last ride we should take together."</p> +<p>"For the present, Claire--you should say, for the present. I +hope it will not be long before we are together again.</p> +<p>"And for good," he added, in a low voice.</p> +<p>Mrs. Conyers made no comment, when they dismounted and entered +the house of a friend at Limerick, upon Claire's swollen eyes and +flushed cheeks, but said "goodbye" lightly to Walter, thanked him +for his escort, and said that she hoped to see him, with her +household goods, on the following afternoon.</p> +<p>On leaving them, Walter went straight to the house where an +officer of his acquaintance was quartered.</p> +<p>"Hullo, Davenant! I didn't expect to see you here at this time +of the evening. I heard you were still laid up with your +wound."</p> +<p>"That is an old affair now," Walter said. "I am not quite strong +again, but there is little the matter now. I have come in to ask +you if you will let me have five-and-twenty of your men. I have +strong reason to believe that it is likely one of the bands of +rapparees will make an attack on Mrs. Conyers' house tonight. The +tenants have been asked to send in their waggons, tomorrow, to +remove some of the furniture in here, and I think it probable they +will try to take what they fancy, before it starts. I have brought +Mrs. Conyers and her daughter into the town, but, as I have only +four men, I cannot defend the house if it is attacked in any force. +I wish you would let me have five-and-twenty men, and a sergeant, +just for tonight. I will march them in with the baggage in the +afternoon."</p> +<p>"Certainly I will," Captain Donovan said. "I need not disturb +the colonel, at this time of the evening, but will take it on +myself. There are just that number quartered in the storehouse, +close to the gate. I will go down with you, at once, and turn them +out and give them orders. It will be a good thing for the rapparees +to have a lesson. They bring disgrace upon our cause by their +doings."</p> +<p>In a few minutes the men, who had not retired to bed, were +turned out.</p> +<p>"You have got a four-mile march before you, boys," Walter said, +when they were drawn up; "but there will be a pint of good wine, +and some supper for you, when you get there. So step out as briskly +as you can."</p> +<p>After a cordial goodnight to Captain Donovan, Walter placed +himself at the head of the infantry, and, in little over an hour, +arrived at the house. He knocked loudly at the door. A minute +later, Larry put his head out of the window above.</p> +<p>"Who is there? What do you want knocking at a peaceful house at +this time of night? You had best go away, boys, for the house is +chock full of soldiers. We are only waiting for orders to blow you +to smithereens."</p> +<p>Walter burst into a laugh.</p> +<p>"Very well done, Larry. It is I, with some soldiers. So you +needn't give orders to the men to fire."</p> +<p>Larry gave a cry of satisfaction, and ran down to open the +door.</p> +<p>"It's glad I am to see you, Master Walter, entirely. I have been +listening ever since you went, and, when I heard the tramp of feet, +I made sure it was the boys."</p> +<p>"But I gave orders that there was to be no resistance, +Larry."</p> +<p>"And I wasn't going to resist, your honour; but I thought I +might just frighten them away."</p> +<p>"Now, Larry, get up a pint of wine for each of these good +fellows, and what victuals you can find in the house. We need have +no fear of an attack tonight."</p> +<p>When the soldiers had finished their supper, they lay down in +the hall. Walter placed a sentry at a window, at each side of the +house, and he then lay down on a sofa, for the ride to Limerick and +back had greatly fatigued him, much to his surprise, for he had no +idea how far his strength had been pulled down.</p> +<p>He was aroused, just as day was breaking, by a loud knocking at +the door, and at the same moment a shot was fired from a window +above. The soldiers had started to their feet, and seized their +arms as he ran out and bade them follow him upstairs. He threw up a +window.</p> +<p>"Who are you? And what do you want?"</p> +<p>"Never mind who we are," a voice replied. "We want the door +opened, and you had best do it quick."</p> +<p>"Look here, my man," Walter said in a loud, steady voice, "there +are thirty soldiers in this house, and, if I give the word, you +will get such a volley among you, that half of you will never go +home to tell about it, so I warn you to depart quietly."</p> +<p>"It's a lie," the man said. "If you are the officer, you have +got only four men, and you know it. We want to do you no harm, and +we don't want to harm the ladies; but what's in the house is +ours--that's the law of William's troops, and we mean to act up to +it."</p> +<p>A chorus of approbation rose from a throng of peasants gathered +round the door. A few of them carried muskets, but the greater part +were armed with rude pikes.</p> +<p>"Show yourselves at the windows, boys," Walter said to his men. +"Level your muskets, but don't fire until I give the word."</p> +<p>It was light enough for those without to make out the +threatening figures, which showed themselves at every window, and, +with a cry of alarm, they ran back among the shrubs for +shelter.</p> +<p>"Now you see," Walter said, "that I have spoken the truth. I +have thirty soldiers here, and you know as well as I do what will +come of it, if you attempt to break into this house.</p> +<p>"For shame, men! Your deeds bring disgrace on the king's cause, +and on our religion. It is not because the scum who march with the +Dutchman behave like brutal savages, that we should do the same. +There's plenty of work for you, in fighting against the enemies of +your country, instead of frightening women and pillaging houses. +Return to your homes, or, better still, go and join the king's +army, and fight like men for your homes and your religion."</p> +<p>He listened, but there was no answer. The rapparees knew they +had no chance of breaking into the house, so defended, and, when +Walter ceased, each man slunk away in the darkness.</p> +<p>The next morning, a number of waggons arrived, and Walter, with +the aid of the soldiers, had the satisfaction of loading them with +everything of any value in the house, and of escorting them without +interruption to Limerick. Mrs. Conyers was filled with gratitude, +when she heard the events of the night, and how narrowly she and +her daughter had escaped another attack. One of the principal +tenants had come in with his waggon, and he agreed to move into the +house, with his wife and family, until she should return. Seeing +that now everything worth taking had been removed, he thought there +was little chance of any attempt to destroy the house.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch12" name="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: Winter Quarters.</h2> +<p>Two or three days later, Captain Davenant returned to Limerick +with his troop. He had stopped at the house on his way, and learned +there of the move which had been made.</p> +<p>"Well, Walter, so you nearly had to defend Mrs. Conyers against +odds, again," he said, as Walter joined him in the marketplace, +where the troop was dismounting. "I have come here for a day, only, +for we are on our way south. It is thought likely that the enemy's +next move may be against Cork, so some of us are detached in that +direction.</p> +<p>"To my mind," he went on, after he had seen the troop quartered, +in some houses which formerly belonged to the Protestants, but were +now used as barracks--"in my opinion, we are wasting precious time. +We ought not to allow the enemy to go into winter quarters. Our +best season is just coming on. We can stand the wet far better than +they can, and we ought not to give them a moment's rest, but should +keep our army together, and beat up one garrison after another; +threaten the strongest places; compel them to keep constantly on +the move; and, before the spring, completely wear out and exhaust +those whom we cannot conquer. If England found that she had the +whole work to begin over again, she would think twice before she +went further.</p> +<p>"These petty German princes would not find their men so ready to +embark in a quarrel, with which they have no concern, when they +learned that all who had done so had laid their bones in the swamps +of Ireland, and, without his mercenaries, William would find it +hard to gather an army, for the English themselves have no heart +whatever in the war. If we remain inactive all the winter, and +enable them to retain their foothold everywhere, fresh +reinforcements will arrive in the spring, and so, bit by bit, all +Ireland will be won.</p> +<p>"It is disheartening in the extreme, after seeing the enemy +retire, repulsed and utterly disheartened, from Athlone and +Limerick, to allow them unmolested to rest and gather strength +again. If we could but get rid of the French, there would be some +hope for us. They have scarce fired a shot, since the war began, +and yet they assume superiority over our generals. They thwart us +at every turn. They not only refuse to combine in any action, but +they prevent our doing so.</p> +<p>"Since the Boyne, our army has lain inactive and has done +nothing, although they might have done everything. All Ireland was +open to them, on the day when William, with all his forces, sat +down here before Limerick. Why, they could have marched straight +for Dublin and captured it, before William heard that they had +crossed the Shannon. They might have cut off his supplies from +Waterford. They might have starved him out in his camp here. They +have had the game in their hands, and they have allowed it to slip +altogether through their fingers. The only hope I have, now, is +that before the spring the French will go. It is but too clear that +Louis has no intention, whatever, of helping us in earnest. Had he +chosen he could, any time during the last six months, have landed +an army here, which would have decided the struggle. Instead of +that, he has sent five thousand men, and had in return as many of +our best soldiers; and the officers he sent seem to have been +furnished with secret instructions, not only to do nothing +themselves, but to prevent us from doing anything."</p> +<p>"Whom would you like to see in command, father?"</p> +<p>"I should not care much, Walter, so that it was one man. I had +rather have any soldier you might take at random from our army, so +that he possessed a fair share of common sense, than the chaos +which now prevails; but, of course, the man whom we would rather +have is Sarsfield. Whether he is a great general or not, we have no +means of knowing, for he has never yet had the slightest +opportunity of showing it; but I do not think, myself, that he has +made the most of what chances he has had, save that one dash +against the artillery convoy. He has done nothing; and, as the +cavalry are under his command, and he could, if he chose, snap his +fingers at the pretensions of the French and act independently, I +think he might have done far more than he has done. Still, he is +our most prominent leader, and he possesses the confidence of the +Irish of all classes. If he were in supreme command there would, I +am sure, be a complete change in our tactics. Instead of waiting +everywhere to be attacked, we should take the offensive, and, even +if we were unable to meet William's forces in pitched battles, and +I believe that we are perfectly capable of doing so, we should be +able to harass and exhaust them, to such a point that William would +be only too glad to grant us any terms we might demand, to bring +the war to an end."</p> +<p>After having dined, Captain Davenant went with Walter to call +upon Mrs. Conyers. Hearing that he was about to march with his +troop to Cork, Mrs. Conyers said:</p> +<p>"Oh, Captain Davenant, will you not take us under your +protection there? I am afraid of travelling with Claire to Galway, +in the present disturbed state of the country, and I should find it +easier to take a passage to England from Cork than from +Galway."</p> +<p>"You certainly would, Mrs. Conyers. There is no formal war +between England and Ireland, and trading vessels still ply between +Cork and Bristol. I agree with you that it would not be safe for +two Protestant ladies to travel, without protection, from here to +Galway, and I shall be only too glad for you to journey with us. +Your daughter, I know, can ride any of the country ponies; and for +yourself--"</p> +<p>"I can ride, too, if there is an occasion. One of our horses is +perfectly quiet, and I have often ridden him by the side of Mr. +Conyers, so there will be no difficulty on that score."</p> +<p>"In that case," Captain Davenant said, "consider the matter as +arranged. Will you be ready to start tomorrow, early?"</p> +<p>"Certainly, Captain Davenant; I have no preparations to make. +All our furniture--which, thanks to Walter, was saved--has been +stowed away in the cellars of a warehouse here, and is safe unless +William returns and batters the whole town to pieces. The silver +and other valuables our friends here will take care of, till better +times, so we have only to pack two valises and mount. The servants +will all find situations here. My daughter's maid, Bridget, and two +or three others have offered to accompany us to England, but we +have decided to take no one. Directly we get to Bristol, I shall +write to my husband, who has given me an address both in London and +Dublin, so that he will doubtless join us in a very short +time."</p> +<p>The party started the next morning, and reached Cork without +adventure, as there were no English troops in that part of the +country. Three days after their arrival, Mrs. Conyers took a +passage for herself and Claire in a trader about to sail for +Bristol. The evening before they sailed, Mrs. Conyers had a long +talk with Captain Davenant, while the two young people had slipped +off for a last walk together.</p> +<p>"Of course, Captain Davenant," she began, "you have seen, as +well as I have, how things stand between Claire and Walter. They +are both very young, but the strange circumstances of the times, +and the manner in which they have been thrown together, have +combined to render their position peculiar, and I believe, nay, I +am sure, that on both sides their affection is deep and will be +lasting."</p> +<p>"I quite agree with you, Mrs. Conyers, at any rate as far as my +son is concerned. Walter has never spoken to me on the subject. I +suppose fathers and sons are less given to confidences of this sort +than mothers and daughters. But that Walter is deeply and earnestly +attached to your daughter is unquestionable, and, indeed, it would +be singular were it otherwise. I have stood passive in the matter, +simply because I saw that you took no steps to keep them apart; and +you could not but have seen, at an early period of their +acquaintance, in what direction matters were tending."</p> +<p>"Frankly," Mrs. Conyers said, "I gave the matter no thought, +during your first stay with us. I had regarded Claire as a child, +and it did not, at first, occur to me that there could be any +danger of her falling seriously in love, for years to come. When my +eyes were opened to the true state of things, and I found my little +girl had lost her heart, I could have wished it otherwise.</p> +<p>"I do not mean as to worldly matters," she went on hastily, +seeing that Captain Davenant was about to speak. "That weighed +absolutely nothing with me. Indeed, they may be considered to be +well matched in that respect. If the war is decided in favour of +King William, Claire will be a rich heiress. If, on the other hand, +your cause triumph, you will regain your confiscated estates, while +we shall lose ours. So that there is, I consider, no inequality +whatever in their position. The difficulty, of course, to which I +allude is their religion. This is naturally a grave obstacle, and I +fear that my husband will regard it as such, even more strongly +than I do. He is, however, extremely attached to Claire, and will, +I feel sure, when he sees that her happiness is at stake, come +round to my views of the matter.</p> +<p>"There are," she said with a smile, "Catholics and Catholics, +just as there are Protestants and Protestants. I would rather see +Claire in her grave than married to many Catholics I know; but +neither you nor Walter are bigots."</p> +<p>"No, indeed," Captain Davenant said. "We came over to this +country when Catholicism was the religion of all England, and we +have maintained the religious belief of our fathers. I own that +what I may call political Protestantism is hateful to me; but +between such Catholicism as mine, and such Protestantism as yours, +I see no such broad distinctions as should cause us to hate each +other."</p> +<p>"That is just my view," Mrs. Conyers agreed. "The differences +between the creeds are political rather than religious, and, in any +case, I consider that when neither of the parties is bigoted, the +chances of happiness are greater in the case where the man is a +Catholic and the woman a Protestant, than in the opposite +case."</p> +<p>"I think so, too," Captain Davenant said. "At any rate, I do not +think that Walter and Claire would be likely to quarrel over their +respective opinions."</p> +<p>"I think not," Mrs. Conyers agreed with a smile. "I do wish, +with all my heart, that it had been otherwise; but, as it is not +so, I for my part am determined to make the best of the +circumstances. They are both young, and it is possible that they +may, in time, come to think alike, one way or the other. I am not +one of those who think that there is but one way to heaven; and, +should Walter some day win Claire over to his way of thinking, I +shall not consider that she has forfeited her chances."</p> +<p>"It is quite as likely to be the other way," Captain Davenant +said. "Walter is a good lad, and a brave one, but, with all +Claire's pretty winning ways, I question if the young lady has not +more will of her own, and more mind, than Walter has. I hope they +may agree each to go their own way, and I think that, if they +continue to live in this country, they will probably do so, for +here, unhappily, political differences build up a wall between the +two branches of Christianity. But, if it should come that they +should some day leave this unhappy country, and settle in England, +where the same ill feeling does not exist, there is no saying what +may happen."</p> +<p>"Well, at any rate, Captain Davenant, it is satisfactory that +our views on the subject agree, and that we are both willing to +make the best of what we cannot but consider to be a misfortune. +But here come the young people. I have no doubt," she laughed, +"that they have been swearing vows of eternal fidelity."</p> +<p>"Well, we were young ourselves, once, and we are not too old, +yet, Mrs. Conyers, to feel enjoyment in the happiness of these +young people."</p> +<p>The next morning, Mrs. Conyers and Claire sailed for England, +and the military events, which shortly afterwards took place, left +Walter little time for thought on other subjects.</p> +<p>On the 21st of September, two days after the departure of Mrs. +Conyers, a heavy cannonading was heard from the forts at the mouth +of Cork harbour, and, soon afterwards, a horseman galloped into the +town with the news that an English fleet had forced the entrance, +in spite of the fire from the forts. This fleet bore five thousand +men, under the command of the Earl of Marlborough.</p> +<p>The English party at court had long been mortified and disgusted +at the manner in which the English had been ignored by William, and +all the military commands bestowed upon foreigners. The discontent, +caused by the want of success which had attended the operations in +Ireland, had greatly strengthened this party, and they had now +succeeded in getting an independent English expedition sent off, +under the command of an English general. William was much annoyed +at this, for any brilliant success attained by Marlborough would +have increased the feeling against his foreign favourites. He had, +therefore, despatched the division of General Scravenmore to +besiege the town on the land side, and had placed in command of it +the Duke of Wirtemberg, whose rank as a prince, and as a general of +higher rank than Marlborough, would enable him to claim the supreme +command, and to carry off the honour of any success that might be +gained.</p> +<p>This force arrived before the town, within a day of the +appearance of the fleet. Marlborough had already made good use of +his time, for immediately the leading vessels had effected the +passage, troops were landed in boats, and the batteries attacked in +rear and carried. The rest of the fleet then entered, and, on the +23rd and 24th, the troops were landed on the south bank of the +river, and commenced their march towards the city, the sailors +dragging the guns. Wirtemberg immediately sent to Marlborough, to +claim the command of the whole force.</p> +<p>Marlborough replied that his commission was an independent one. +He denied the authority of any of William's foreign officers in +Ireland, and stated haughtily that his troops were British, and he +a British officer. Wirtemberg was greatly offended that the English +general should affect to look down upon the Danes, Germans, French, +and other foreign ragamuffins who composed his command, and he +insisted strongly upon his claims. Marlborough maintained his +position, and Wirtemberg was driven, at last, to propose that they +should command on alternate days, and Marlborough agreed to the +proposal.</p> +<p>The position of Cork was not a strong one, although, in the days +before the use of artillery, it was considered well-nigh +impregnable, being built upon the islands and marshes formed by the +river Lea, and completely surrounded by two branches of the river. +But upon three sides it was surrounded, at a short distance only, +by high hills, which completely commanded it, and these hills were +defended only by castles and forts of no great strength.</p> +<p>The garrison was but small, for the Irish were taken by surprise +by the arrival of Marlborough's expedition, and had prepared only +for a siege by Wirtemberg and his foreign division. They were +therefore obliged to abandon Shandon Castle, and two adjoining +forts, which defended the hills on the north of the city, and +Wirtemberg's Danes at once took possession of these works, and, +planting their guns there, opened fire on the northern quarter of +the city.</p> +<p>Marlborough constructed his batteries at a monastery called the +Red Abbey, on the south point of the river, where he was separated +from the city only by the stream and narrow strip of marshy ground. +These guns soon made a breach in the walls, and Marlborough +prepared to storm the place, for, at low tide, it was possible to +wade across the marsh and river.</p> +<p>The garrison, well aware that they could not long defend the +place, now offered to capitulate on the same terms which William +had granted to the garrisons of towns he had captured; namely, that +they should be allowed to march out with the honours of war, with +their arms and baggage, and to make their way unmolested to +Limerick. The Prince of Wirtemberg was strongly in favour of these +terms being granted, but Marlborough peremptorily refused. While a +sharp dispute took place between the two officers, and before any +conclusion could be arrived at, the tide rose, and the regiments +drawn up ready to cross the river could no longer pass.</p> +<p>The firing then recommenced on both sides. Notwithstanding the +efforts of the besieged to repair the injury to their wall, the +breach daily increased in size. Wirtemberg moved his forces round +from the north side, to take their share in the assault, and at low +tide the English and Danes advanced against the breach. Under a +heavy fire from the walls, they struggled through the marshes and +entered the river, which, even at low tide, reached to their +shoulders. Suffering heavily from the fire, they pushed forward +until they nearly reached the breach. Here the Duke of Grafton, who +commanded the British column, fell dead, with many officers and +men; but the rest maintained their order, and were about to make a +dash at the breach, when the governor, accompanied by Lord Tyrone, +raised the white flag.</p> +<p>After a short parley, it was agreed that the garrison should +become prisoners of war, but were to be protected in their persons +and private property. The city was to be preserved from any injury, +and the citizens and their property were to be respected.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant's troop had remained idle, during the siege, as +there was no work for cavalry. They were quartered near an infantry +regiment, which had been raised by MacFinn O'Driscol from among his +own tenantry, and was commanded by him. O'Driscol was a relation of +Mrs. Davenant, and the two commanders were often together. Both +felt that the city must speedily fall, unless the Irish army moved +down to its relief; but they agreed that, if it surrendered, they +would make an effort to escape with their troops, for they had no +faith in the observance of any terms of capitulation which might be +made.</p> +<p>Accordingly, as soon as it was known that the governor had +surrendered, and that the gates of the town were to be handed over +to the British, O'Driscol and Captain Davenant formed up their +commands, and, opening one of the gates, marched boldly out. The +exact terms on which the garrison had surrendered were not known, +and Marlborough and Wirtemberg were near the breach, arranging for +the troops to take possession of the gates on that side. +Consequently, the besieging forces opposite the gate from which the +little column had marched out supposed that, in accordance with the +arrangement, they were coming out to lay down their arms. They +therefore stood aside as the column passed, being far more intent +upon the plunder they expected to gather, in Cork, than on anything +else. As, a few minutes later, the gates were opened and the troops +poured into the city, no further thought was given to the little +force which had marched out; and the five hundred infantry, and the +troop of horse, were safe from pursuit before the news of the +audacious ruse they had practised reached the ears of the +generals.</p> +<p>Inside the town, the articles of the treaty were at once +violated. The troops entered the town in crowds, and, incited, as +in Dublin, by a mob calling themselves Protestants, they proceeded +to plunder the houses and assault the Catholic inhabitants. The +governor, M'Carty, was wounded. The Earls of Tyrone and Clancarty, +with difficulty, made their escape from the mob. Many were killed, +and a great destruction of property took place, before Marlborough +and Wirtemberg entered the town and put a stop to the disorder, +which inflicted great discredit upon them, as they had made no +arrangements, whatever, to ensure the safety of the inhabitants, +which they had solemnly guaranteed.</p> +<p>It was now October, and Marlborough at once set about the +investment of Kinsale. On the very evening of the day he entered +Cork, he sent off five hundred horse towards that town, and the +next day marched thither himself at the head of his infantry. The +works of Kinsale consisted of two forts, both of considerable +strength, called the Old Fort and Charles's Fort. They were well +supplied with stores and provisions for a siege. On the approach of +the besiegers, the governor set fire to the town and retired to the +forts, and, in answer to the summons to surrender, replied that "it +would be time enough to talk about that a month hence."</p> +<p>Marlborough ordered General Tettau to cross the river in boats, +with eight hundred picked men, and to carry Old Fort by storm. The +assault was made with great determination and bravery; but the +works were strong and stoutly defended, and the British were about +to fall back, discomfited, when fortune came to their assistance. +Some loose powder ignited and fired the magazine, by which more +than two hundred men of the garrison were killed, and the works +seriously injured. After this disaster, the governor abandoned the +fort and withdrew, with the survivors of its garrison, to Charles's +Fort. Marlborough at once commenced the siege of this position, but +for fifteen days the place resisted all his efforts. The heavy +loss, however, which the garrison had suffered by the explosion in +Old Fort, rendered them unable, by sallies, to interfere with the +works of the besiegers. These were carried on with great vigour, +for Marlborough feared that the approach of the wet season would +put a stop to his operations.</p> +<p>When, therefore, the governor offered to surrender, on the terms +of his being permitted "to march away with his garrison, their +arms, baggage, and all the honours of war, taking with them all +persons who wished to accompany them, together with their property, +to Limerick," Marlborough at once granted the terms demanded.</p> +<p>The advent of winter now put a stop to regular operations; but a +war of skirmishes continued, and the British, in their quarters, +were greatly straitened for forage and provisions. In Dublin, the +work of confiscation went on merrily. The greater part of the +Catholic proprietors of the town were thrown into prison. The +various indictments against country gentlemen, followed by the +confiscation of their property, were hurried through the court with +the merest shadow of legal form; for, the defendants being absent +and unacquainted with what was being done in Dublin, it was only +necessary to recite the accusation to find the accused guilty, and +to pass sentence of confiscation--all this being the work of a few +minutes only.</p> +<p>Nothing could be done, however, to carry the sentences into +effect, for William's troops still possessed only the ground the +troops stood upon, and the towns they occupied. Outside those +limits, the whole country was against them. The Earl of Marlborough +had returned to England, immediately after the surrender of +Kinsale; and General Ginckle, who had now succeeded to the command, +determined to harass the enemy, and to increase the resources at +his disposal by an expedition into the southwest of Ireland, which, +covered by Cork and Limerick, had hitherto been free from the +presence of any English troops. He therefore pushed a strong body +of cavalry and infantry westward from Cork and Kinsale; and these +succeeded in making themselves masters of Castle Haven, Baltimore, +Bantry, and several other castles on the line of coast. The +district was wild and mountainous, and the passes might have been +easily held against the advance; but the peasants had not been +organized for resistance, and no serious opposition was +encountered.</p> +<p>Colonel O'Driscol, a cousin of MacFinn O'Driscol, and Captain +O'Donovan, two of the principal proprietors of the neighbourhood, +soon arrived upon the spot, and assembled a large irregular force, +consisting chiefly of mounted peasants; and with these they soon +cooped the invaders up in the castles they had taken. O'Driscol +next attempted the recovery of his own Castle Haven, which was +strongly defended, and stood on a cliff overhanging the sea; but +his wild peasants were ill adapted for such work, and they were +repulsed by the English garrison, and O'Driscol himself killed. But +another force was advancing from the north. MacFinn O'Driscol, with +his regiment, pressed forward along the line of Bandon river, +besieged and captured Castle Haven, and expelled the English +garrisons from Baltimore and Bantry.</p> +<p>General Tettau had also marched out from Cork with several +regiments of infantry and dragoons, with the intention of +penetrating into Kerry; but the enemy's light troops harassed him +night and day, wasted the country, and defended every pass; and he +was obliged to return to Cork, without having accomplished +anything. All this time Ginckle was urging upon the lord justices, +who were now the real ruling party in Ireland, to issue a +proclamation offering pardon and security for person and property +to all who came in; urging that it was impossible that he could +ever subdue the country, while the whole population had everything +at stake in opposing him.</p> +<p>He was supported by King William, who was most anxious to bring +the struggle to an end; but the lord justices, and the Protestant +party at Dublin, who were bent upon dividing among themselves the +property of the Catholics throughout Ireland, turned a deaf ear to +the arguments of Ginckle, and their friends in London had +sufficient power to prevent the king from insisting upon his own +wishes being carried into effect.</p> +<p>After taking part in the operations in Kerry, Captain Davenant's +troop returned to Limerick, around which city the greater part of +the Irish army were still encamped.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch13" name="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: A Dangerous +Mission.</h2> +<p>"Walter," Captain Davenant said to his son one day, when he +returned from a council in which he had taken part, at the quarters +of General Sarsfield, "I have a mission for you in Dublin. It is +necessary, in the first place, to communicate with some of our +friends there, and in the second to ascertain, as far as we can, +the plans of the enemy during the next campaign. There are few of +us here who would not be readily recognized in Dublin; therefore, +when there seemed a difficulty in selecting someone to undertake +the duty, I said that I thought you would be likely to succeed +better than most.</p> +<p>"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 undertaking, 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 discretion."</p> +<p>"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 thoroughly set in, and I shall really like the +adventure. When am I to set out?"</p> +<p>"Tomorrow. Your instructions, and the letters you are to carry, +will be drawn 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 cavalry. 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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Take him, by all means, Walter, and, indeed, I agree with you +that you may find him very useful."</p> +<p>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 proceeding some five-and-twenty miles, they dismounted, +and with a hearty farewell from Captain Davenant, and a cheer from +the men, they started on foot.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +hospitably received, as soon as their hosts assured themselves that +they were Catholics. Larry was the principal spokesman, for +although Walter, like all the Catholic gentry, spoke the native +language, he was not so fluent as his follower, to whom it came +naturally, as, although the peasantry in the neighbourhood of +Dublin were all able to speak English, they always conversed 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.</p> +<p>"I doubt whether you will find much of it standing," 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."</p> +<p>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 +regiments 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 hawked their wares 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 +accomplishments, and the post was altogether interrupted, so that +many remained in suspense, from the beginning to the end of the +war, as to the fate of those who had left them to take part in +it.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 alteration in their attire 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.</p> +<p>The streets were thronged 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 nominal prices, making insolent +remarks to any woman who hurried past them, and behaving with a +freedom and license which showed how completely all bonds of +discipline were relaxed.</p> +<p>"They look mighty 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."</p> +<p>"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 brawl. +We have a mission to perform, and must not think of ourselves."</p> +<p>"I will remember it, yer honour."</p> +<p>It was well that Larry had been warned, for the next moment a +German soldier passing brushed against him, and then, with a savage +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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"If ever I meet that fellow outside Dublin," Larry muttered +savagely, "I will pay him for the blow he gave me."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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 +lookout 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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"You must come in business hours," the man said. "He can't see +you now."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>So saying, he led him upstairs.</p> +<p>"Here's a young man, your honour, with the letter you tould me +about, from Mr. Fitzgerald."</p> +<p>"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:</p> +<p>"Has the ship come in?"</p> +<p>To which Walter replied:</p> +<p>"She is sailing slowly, but she will come."</p> +<p>"That's right," the merchant said, rising. "Where do you come +from?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>He pulled off his coat, the merchant handed him a knife, he +ripped open the collar, and, taking out the papers concealed 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.</p> +<p>"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 decided to fight one more +campaign on the defensive, 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."</p> +<p>"In the first place, sir, how many men do you think would be +ready to join in any rising in Dublin?"</p> +<p>"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 odds, 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."</p> +<p>"I think the general hoped that you could have mustered a +stronger force, sir."</p> +<p>"So I could, a year ago," Mr. O'Brian said; "but the constant +persecution and ill treatment of the Catholics have caused large +numbers of them to leave the town. Many of the younger and more +determined 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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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 hatred of the invaders was +greater than ever, and the peasantry in all parts were in a state +of sullen 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 possessed no weapons +beyond roughly-made pikes, and scythes fixed 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 artillery.</p> +<p>The persons whom Walter saw were in communication with the +disaffected 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 conflagrations, if not by a +serious movement in Dublin.</p> +<p>The negotiations 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 lodgings, that he fancied their footsteps were +followed.</p> +<p>"Do you think so, Larry?"</p> +<p>"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 doorway."</p> +<p>"That is serious, Larry. You don't think anyone in this house +can have a suspicion of us?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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 bribed 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 lodging, 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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"What means this violence?" the gentleman asked. "Why is my +house broken into in this way?"</p> +<p>"I arrest you, and all who are in this house," the officer said, +"on the charge of treason."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>The officer ran upstairs to the room where the others were +standing, as if surprised at the tumult, round the table, on which +were bottles and half-filled glasses.</p> +<p>"Take the names of all these persons," the officer said to the +sergeant who followed him, "and then convey them in custody to the +castle."</p> +<p>"There is no trouble about their names," the host said. "All are +well known and peaceful citizens, as can be testified by any +magistrate."</p> +<p>"Where is the man who was with you?" the officer said, looking +round.</p> +<p>"There is, so far as I am aware, no one in the house, sir, +beyond these gentlemen and my domestics."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>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!"</p> +<p>Soon the crashing of glass was heard, as stones were hurled at +the dwellings 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 musket, and the whistle of a +ball close to him, showed him that his figure had been seen against +the skyline.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Looking over at the back, between two of the sharp ridges 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.</p> +<p>At last he reached the window. It was made of the small +diamond-shaped panes at that time in general use. Holding the rope +with one hand and his legs, he dashed the other hand through a +pane, just where he judged the fastening inside would be. Three +panes were beaten in before he felt the latch. 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.</p> +<p>He had little fear of the inmates of the house taking notice of +the fall of glass; for, had they noticed the sound above the din 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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 fugitive 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.</p> +<p>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 hesitation he sprang across it, and plunged into the +river.</p> +<p>Even in the moment of his spring, he perceived that the tide was +running up. Had it been ebbing, he would have made down and tried +to gain the shore, under shelter of the shipping moored 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.</p> +<p>He was now about a third of the way across. The shore he had +left was already lined with people, and several were gathering 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.</p> +<p>He had, this time, turned his face towards the shore he had +quitted. The tide, he knew, was sweeping 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.</p> +<p>The moment his mouth and nostrils 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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"There he is."</p> +<p>"No, he isn't."</p> +<p>"Pretty nearly over the other side."</p> +<p>"I don't see him."</p> +<p>"They will catch him as he gets out."</p> +<p>"I believe he has sunk."</p> +<p>"He never could keep under all this time."</p> +<p>"One of the bullets must have hit him."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 upwards 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.</p> +<p>He made his way across the country until he saw a small shed. He +entered this, and finding some hay in the loft, 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.</p> +<p>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 +deserted village and took up his place in one of the ruined +cottages, from which he could obtain a view of the road from +Dublin.</p> +<p>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 +abreast of him, when he showed his head in the doorway, and called +him by name.</p> +<p>Larry gave a cry of joy and, rushing in, threw his arms round +him and burst into tears.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Not this time, Larry, though it was a pretty close thing. Did +you see it all?"</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 tare. 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 villains +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 baste, and would have knocked me +down, but he was in too great a hurry to load again.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 entirely, and went their ways.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"They were led by that black villain 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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"That may be so," the general said; "but I fear that this +traitor 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 sufficiently 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."</p> +<p>The general's previsions were justified. 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.</p> +<p>During the winter, stores and ordnance 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.</p> +<p>The discontent among the Irish at the apathy of France was +extreme. They had embarked 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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 retirement of +Lauzun, they had confidently expected that Sarsfield would be +appointed commander-in-chief, and that henceforth there would be +unity of design in their operations. Saint Ruth was accompanied by +a large number of young French officers, whose demeanour still +further widened the breach between the French and Irish.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>The difficulty was to find horses. The rapparees had carried off +many of the chargers of the English cavalry, by stratagem, 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 insufficient, +and Saint Ruth, finding that he could not get horses from the +enemy, determined to take them from his friends.</p> +<p>A proclamation was accordingly issued, inviting 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.</p> +<p>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 gallant 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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Their direction was Athlone, towards which point Ginckle was +also directing his movements, having assembled his whole force at +Mullingar, withdrawing the garrisons 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 besought +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 renounce their +golden hopes of confiscation.</p> +<p>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 infantry, and a sergeant and a few men +were posted, in a castle, on an eminence some distance from the +village. The first attack was made on the castle, but the sergeant +and his little garrison made a long and gallant resistance, and the +savage Dutchman was so infuriated at the opposition that, when at +last the post was taken, he ordered the gallant sergeant to be at +once hung.</p> +<p>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 erected, 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 disastrous +failure of the preceding autumn.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch14" name="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: Athlone.</h2> +<p>The Irish had, this time, determined to defend not only that +portion of Athlone situated on the west of the river, but the +English town on the east. The fortifications here were repaired and +added to, and the town was abundantly supplied with stores and +ammunition. It was, however, unable to resist the heavy artillery +which Ginckle brought to play against it. Walls, buildings, and +towers crumbled beneath the heavy cannonade; and although the Irish +repelled, with great slaughter, several assaults upon it, the place +became at last untenable, and they abandoned that part of the town, +and retired by the bridge across the river to the Irish town.</p> +<p>The British, on entering the eastern town, found it a mere mass +of ruins, with the dead bodies of the soldiers lying everywhere, +half covered with the wreck of the works they had died in +defending. The taking of this portion of Athlone had cost Ginckle +dearly, and he was but little nearer the object of his efforts, for +he was separated from the Irish town by the Shannon, and the +western arch of the bridge was broken down by the defenders.</p> +<p>Eleven large guns and three mortars now came up from Dublin, and +he erected a succession of batteries upon the ruins of the English +town, and opened fire upon the castle of Athlone, which, although a +building of great strength, soon crumbled into ruins beneath the +fire of the heavy artillery brought to bear upon it. A mill, which +stood in the river, and was connected with the bridge, was set on +fire, and the sixty soldiers posted in it, being unable to escape, +were all burned. Night and day, seven great batteries played +incessantly upon the town.</p> +<p>On the 26th of June, thirty waggons loaded with powder and a +hundred carts with cannon balls arrived from Dublin, and enabled +the besiegers to keep up their fire without intermission. The +interior of the town was reduced to ruins--nothing remained erect +save the city walls, in which the breaches, as fast as they were +made, were repaired by the Irish. The slaughter among those so +employed was very heavy; but there was no lack of men, the places +of those who fell being at once supplied by others willing to give +their lives in the defence of the town.</p> +<p>At last, there was nothing more that the besiegers could do. The +town was reduced to ashes, but the river and the broken arch still +separated them from the ruins. To remain much longer where they +were was impossible, for the country on every side was exhausted, +and no longer afforded food for man or horse. The country people +had fled, from the cruelty and spoliation of Ginckle's foreign +soldiery, carrying with them all their effects; and the Irish light +troops and armed peasantry hovered round the camp, laid the country +waste, and intercepted their supplies and communications with +Dublin.</p> +<p>Ginckle held a council of war, to consider what was to be done. +It was admitted that they must force the passage of the river +without loss of time, or submit to the alternative of retreat, and +the utter failure of the campaign. It was finally resolved to +attempt the passage of the bridge by throwing a wooden gallery over +the broken arch, and forcing their way across, at all cost. +Additional batteries were now raised on the bank of the river, and +a heavy fire was poured, without intermission, upon the Irish on +their side of the broken arch.</p> +<p>Both parties had erected a breastwork on the bridge, at their +respective sides of the breach, and from behind this, day and +night, a continued musketry fire was kept up, the grenadiers of the +English army throwing grenades into the enemy's works. After some +days, the breastwork on the Irish side was set on fire by the +continued assault of shot and grenades. The wattles of which it was +composed, dried by the hot weather, were soon in a blaze, and, +under cover of the flames and smoke, the English ran forward the +great beams they had prepared in readiness, and threw them across +the gap in the bridge.</p> +<p>The fire from all the batteries on the English side was directed +against the burning breastwork, while the grenadiers hastened to +lay planks across the beams to complete the bridge. The work was +well-nigh done when an Irish sergeant and ten men, all clad in +armour, leaped through the flames of the breastwork, and began to +hew with their axes at the beams and planks.</p> +<p>For a moment, the British were paralysed at the daring action. +Then the batteries and musketry fire again opened, a storm of shot +and bullets swept across the bridge, and the whole of the gallant +fellows fell dead; but in a moment another party, similarly armed, +dashed through the flames and took their places.</p> +<p>Regardless of the fire they whirled their axes. Nine fell, but +the last two gave the final stroke to the beams. The bridge fell +with a crash into the river below, and the two survivors recrossed +the breastwork and joined their friends within, amid the wild +enthusiasm of the defenders; an enthusiasm in which even the +baffled assailants joined, for the British grenadiers gave a cheer, +in token of their admiration at the gallantry and devotion of the +deed.</p> +<p>In all history, there is no record of a more gallant action than +this, performed by two sergeants and twenty men, who thus +encountered almost certain death to maintain their post. The +destruction of the temporary bridge filled Ginckle and his officers +with consternation, and the manner in which their design had been +baffled showed the spirit of the defenders, and the magnitude of +the task which they had undertaken.</p> +<p>But it was resolved, at another council which was called, to +attempt one more effort before abandoning the enterprise. A +finished platform was constructed. This was to be thrown over the +arch, and a chosen body of the bravest troops in the army were to +throw themselves across, and try to force a passage. At the same +time, a division was to cross the river by a ford near the bridge, +and another to attempt to cross by a bridge of pontoons, prepared +in readiness.</p> +<p>The Irish were informed, by French deserters, of what was going +on in the English camp, and early on the morning of the assault, +several strong divisions of the Irish army were seen marching down +from the camp, two miles away, into the town. Here they were drawn +up, in readiness to repulse the assault.</p> +<p>The British were some time before they were ready for the +attack, but at ten o'clock the whole army stood in close order, +ready to advance.</p> +<p>The first to move forward were those who were to carry the +bridge. The Irish guns, which still remained intact, opened upon +them, but they pressed forward along the bridge to the broken arch, +and, with less trouble than had been anticipated, threw the +platform across it. Instead of rushing forward at once, the +grenadiers stood behind their breastwork and hurled their grenades +at the Irish grenadiers, who stood in close order on the opposite +edge.</p> +<p>These, however, stood their ground, and hurled their grenades +with great effect into the column. One of these exploded against +the English breastwork and set it on fire. It at once blazed up. A +strong west wind was blowing, and drove the smoke and flames into +the faces of the English grenadiers, who for some time strove in +vain to extinguish the flames, notwithstanding the heavy fire which +the defenders poured into them. They had at last to fall back, and +the Irish, sallying from behind their breastwork, pulled down the +burning timbers on to the bridge, which was soon in flames.</p> +<p>The other divisions of the English army, finding that the +grenadiers on the bridge made no progress, did not attempt to +perform their part of the work, and finally the whole retreated to +their camp.</p> +<p>That evening, another council of war was held. Matters now +looked desperate, and the fact that the enterprise had, this time, +failed owing to the hesitation of the troops to push forward to the +attack of the enemy, made the prospect appear more hopeless. +Nevertheless, in spite of the opposition of Generals Ginckle and +Mackey, the council determined that one more attempt should be +made, and that this should be carried out at daylight next morning, +in the hopes of taking the Irish by surprise.</p> +<p>It was accordingly given out that the army would retreat in the +morning, and the heavy guns were withdrawn from the batteries. +Saint Ruth, who was convinced that Athlone could not be taken, and +who had spent the greater portion of his time in entertaining the +ladies and gentry of the neighbourhood with balls and fetes, fell +into the trap, and, contrary to the opinion and advice of the Irish +generals, recalled from the town the regiments which had marched in +that morning, and replaced them with only three battalions of +inferior troops. The Irish officers remonstrated warmly, but Saint +Ruth, to show his disdain for their opinions, invited a large party +of ladies and gentlemen to an entertainment in the evening.</p> +<p>In the night, the British army prepared for the attack. The +commanders of the respective divisions all led their troops in +person.</p> +<p>The garrison of the town were all asleep. In Saint Ruth's camp +the festivities were over, and the general and his officers had +retired. The Irish sentinels, who noted the movement in the British +camp, supposed that they were mustering to retreat, and thus the +three British columns drew up inside the town wall, in readiness to +advance, without a notion of their purpose being entertained on the +opposite side of the river.</p> +<p>One column, headed by sixty chosen men in complete armour, was +to cross the bridge and throw a platform over the arch; another to +cross by the ford: the third by a pontoon bridge. When the church +bell tolled six, the three columns advanced simultaneously, and, +before the Irish were thoroughly awake, the leading battalions had +forded the river, the platform was in its place, and the troops +pouring into the town.</p> +<p>A few guns were hastily discharged, and then the men of the +three Irish regiments in the town fled in haste, to avoid capture +by the columns pouring across the river by the ford and pontoon +bridge. Many, indeed, were captured whilst asleep. Saint Ruth, +roused from sleep by the sound of cannon, ordered the troops to +arms, but it was too late. The town, or rather its ruins, were in +the possession of the British, and the brilliant success, which had +been won by the valour and determination of the Irish troops, was +forfeited by the carelessness, folly, and self-confidence of the +French general.</p> +<p>Had he listened to the advice of the Irish officers, the +attempt, like those which had preceded it, must have failed, and in +that case there was nothing remained to Ginckle but a precipitous +retreat to Dublin, with the loss of the whole of the advantages +gained in the previous campaign, and the necessity of bringing the +war to an end by the concession of the rights and privileges of the +Irish Catholics and landowners. The whole course of history was +changed by the folly of one man. Ginckle had taken Athlone, but it +was at a vast cost of life, and he was more than ever impressed +with the magnitude of the task of subduing Ireland, so long as the +people were driven to desperation by the threatened confiscation of +all their lands, and by the persecution of their religion. King +William, too, was more anxious than ever for the termination of +hostilities, and, on the very day that the news of the fall of +Athlone reached him, he issued a proclamation offering protection, +security of all possessions, and continuance in any offices which +they held under James, to all who would lay down their arms in +three weeks' time.</p> +<p>The issue of such a proclamation as this, a year before, would +have satisfied the Irish and put a stop to the war; but it was now +too late. The promises made had been broken, over and over again, +and the Irish had but too much reason to fear that, when all +opposition ceased, the council and their train of greedy adherents +would again obtain the ascendency, and would continue their work of +spoliation and robbery.</p> +<p>Moreover, the Irish army did not feel itself in any way beaten. +It was not its fault that the second siege of Athlone had not +terminated as the former siege and that of Limerick had done, and +that Ginckle's army was not hurrying back, defeated and +disorganized, to Dublin. They felt that, at the battle of the +Boyne, they had suffered no defeat, although, in accordance with +the general plan, they had fallen back, and they eagerly desired to +fight one battle to prove that, in the open field, they were more +than a match for the mercenaries of King William.</p> +<p>The council and lords justices, who were aghast at the +proclamation, which threatened to destroy their hopes of dividing +among themselves and their friends all the lands of the Catholics +of Ireland, did their best to prevent its acceptance, by spreading +rumours that it was a mere bait, and that its promises would not be +fulfilled; while Saint Ruth and his French officers did their best, +also, to set the Irish against it.</p> +<p>Saint Ruth, who was really a good officer, was conscious that, +so far from having gained credit, as he had expected from a command +in Ireland, the misfortunes which had happened were entirely +attributed to him, and he longed for an opportunity of wiping out +the slur on his military reputation. He therefore urged upon the +Irish generals that Ginckle had indeed gained but little; that all +the hopes of William rested upon that army alone; and that, with +its defeat, they could demand and obtain any terms they liked to +lay down; besides which, he was able to assure them, by his advices +from France, that Louis was making preparations for assisting them +on a vastly larger scale than he had previously done. Thus, from a +combination of circumstances, the proclamation elicited no +response.</p> +<p>While the siege of Athlone was being carried on, the main body +of Sarsfield's cavalry remained, for the most part, in the camp +near the town; but commanders of small bodies of men, like the +corps of Captain Davenant, which were regarded as irregulars, had +liberty of action. Some made long raids to the east, and often +spread confusion and dismay among the enemy, by appearing suddenly +when no Irish troops were believed to be within a hundred miles. +Some went down and joined the peasants, who were keeping up +desultory fighting in the neighbourhood of Cork, harassing the +English whenever they moved from one point to another, or sent out +parties to collect forage or provisions.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant, who had more than once respectfully urged upon +Sarsfield the immense benefit which would result, were the whole of +the Irish cavalry to place themselves upon the line of the enemy's +communication, finding that the Irish general was unmoved by his +arguments, several times endeavoured to carry out his ideas, as far +as could be done with his own small force.</p> +<p>The inactivity of the Irish horse, throughout the long sieges of +Athlone and Limerick, except only upon the occasion of the raid +upon the siege train, is almost inexplicable. They had nothing to +fear from the enemy's cavalry, to whom they proved themselves +immensely superior, whenever they met during the war, and they had +it in their power, for months, to cut the British communications +and so oblige them, either to detach so large a force to keep the +roads open that they would have been unable to push on the siege, +and would indeed have been in danger of being attacked and +destroyed by the Irish infantry; or to raise the siege, and fall +back upon their bases, Dublin and Waterford.</p> +<p>The only possible explanations that can be offered are--first, +that Sarsfield, although a dashing commander in action, was +possessed of no military genius whatever; second, that he was +prevented from moving by the jealousy of the French +commanders-in-chief, who did not wish to see the credit of +compelling the enemy to fall back monopolized by the Irish cavalry; +or, third, that Sarsfield saw the advantages which could be +obtained by throwing himself, with his cavalry, in the rear of the +enemy, but deliberately remained inactive rather than leave the +French generals to act, unchecked by his presence at headquarters. +It can never be decided to which of these alternatives it was due +that the Irish cavalry remained for so long a time inactive, and +that William, and after him Ginckle, were permitted, unmolested +save by a few detached bodies of horse, to maintain their long line +of communications to their base, unchecked.</p> +<p>Upon one of his excursions in the rear of the English army, +Captain Davenant's troops dashed down upon a convoy of waggons. The +dragoons who were escorting them were killed or driven off. The +drivers were collected in a group, for Captain Davenant always +ordered that these men should not be injured, as they were not +combatants, and were in most cases obliged to accompany their +teams, which had been requisitioned for the service.</p> +<p>The men were collecting the waggons together, preparatory to +setting them on fire, when Walter, on riding near the group of +drivers, heard himself called by name. Turning round, he leapt from +his horse and ran up to one of the prisoners.</p> +<p>"My dear John!" he exclaimed, "I am glad indeed to see you. Why, +what brings you here?"</p> +<p>After exchanging hearty greetings, Walter led him away from the +group, and the two sat down together on a bank.</p> +<p>"What brings you here?" Walter repeated.</p> +<p>"All the waggons within miles round Dublin have been +requisitioned," John said; "and as our three were called for, my +father suggested that I should accompany them, to see that the +horses were fed and cared for."</p> +<p>"Which are your waggons?" Walter asked.</p> +<p>"The three last in the column."</p> +<p>Walter immediately ran to his father, told him what had +happened, and begged that the three waggons should be exempted from +the general destruction. Captain Davenant at once rode up to the +men, and ordered the waggons to be unloaded and their contents +added to the pyre which was being prepared, but that the waggons +themselves should be taken back a quarter of a mile along the road, +and left there under the charge of their drivers, who were not to +move until joined by their owner. He then rode back, and shook +hands with John.</p> +<p>"I am glad to see you," he said. "All are well, I hope, at both +our homes?"</p> +<p>"Quite well, sir."</p> +<p>"Thank God for that! Now, I must leave you to see that our work +is thoroughly carried out. You will find your waggons safe, a +quarter of a mile along the road. I will leave you to tell all the +home news to Walter, who will retell it to me afterwards."</p> +<p>"Now tell me all the news," Walter said, when they were together +again.</p> +<p>"The news is not altogether pleasant," John replied. "The whole +of the country round Dublin is being harried by the cavalry in +garrison there. They pay no attention whatever to papers of +protection, and care but little whether those they plunder are +Protestant or Catholic, friend or foe. They go about in small +parties, like bands of brigands, through the country; and those who +go to Dublin to obtain redress for their exactions are received +with indifference, and sometimes with insult, by the authorities. +Then, too, we have had trouble at home.</p> +<p>"My grandfather became more bigoted than ever, and would, if he +had the power, have annihilated every Catholic in Ireland. My +father and he had frequent quarrels, and I was in daily expectation +of an open breach between them, and of my father giving up his +share of the property, and taking us to England. He was a +backslider, in my grandfather's eyes. The tales of battle, plunder, +and murder seemed to have taken the latter back to his own fighting +days; and he was rather inclined to consider the generals as +lukewarm, than to join in the general indignation at their +atrocious conduct.</p> +<p>"Even the sufferings of the Protestants did not seem to affect +him. The Lord's work, he said, cannot be carried on without +victims. It horrified me to hear him talk. If this was the religion +of our fathers, I was fast coming to the conclusion that it was +little better than no religion at all.</p> +<p>"I think my father and mother saw it in the same light, and the +breach between them and my grandfather daily widened. But I have +not told you the worst, yet. A party of cavalry rode up the other +day, and were about, as usual, to seize upon some cattle. My father +was out, and my grandfather stepped forward and asked them 'how +they could lay it to their consciences to plunder Protestants when, +a mile or two away, there were Catholics lording it over the +soil--Catholics whose husbands and sons were fighting in the ranks +of the army of James Stuart?'</p> +<p>"I was in the house with my mother, but we heard what was said; +and she whispered to me to slip out behind, and find my father, and +tell him what was being done. I made off; but before I had gone a +quarter of a mile, I saw the soldiers riding off towards the +castle, with my grandfather riding at their head. I was not long in +finding my father, who at once called the men off from their work, +and sent them off in all directions to raise the country; and in an +hour two hundred men, armed with any weapon they could snatch up, +were marching towards the castle, my father at their head. There +were Catholics and Protestants among them--the latter had come at +my father's bidding, the former of their own free will.</p> +<p>"We hurried along, anxiously fearing every moment to see flames +rise from the castle. Fortunately, the soldiers were too busy in +plundering to notice our approach, and we pounced down upon them +and seized them unawares. They were stripping the place of +everything worth carrying away, before setting it on fire. We burst +into the hall, and there was a sight which filled my father and +myself with anger and shame. Your grandmother was standing erect, +looking with dignity mingled with disdain at my grandfather; while +your mother, holding your brother's hands, stood beside her. My +grandfather was standing upon a chair; in his hand he held a Bible, +and was pouring out a string of denouncing texts at the ladies, and +was, at the moment we entered, comparing them to the wicked who had +fallen into a net.</p> +<p>"I don't think, Walter, his senses are quite right now. He is +crazed with religion and hate, and I believe, at the time, he +fancied himself in the meeting house. Anyhow, there he was, while +two sergeants, who were supposed to be in command of the troop, +were sitting on a table, with a flagon of wine between them, +looking on with amusement. Their expression changed pretty quickly, +when we rushed in.</p> +<p>"It needed all my father's efforts to prevent the whole party +being hung, so furious were all the rescuers at the outrage upon +the good ladies of the castle. But my father pointed out to them +that, although such a punishment was well deserved, it would do +harm rather than good to the ladies. They had orders of protection +from the lords justices; and he should proceed at once, with four +or five witnesses, to lay the matter before the general at Dublin, +and demand the punishment of the offenders. But if the party took +the law into their own hands, and meted out the punishment the +fellows deserved, the facts of the case would be lost sight of. +There would be a cry of vengeance for the murder, as it would be +called, of a party of soldiers, and it would serve as an excuse for +harrying the whole district with fire and sword.</p> +<p>"Having at last persuaded the angry tenants and peasantry to lay +aside their project of vengeance, my father went to the soldiers, +who, tied hand and foot, were expecting nothing short of death. He +ordered all their pistols and ammunition to be taken away, and +their bonds to be loosed; then told them that their escape had been +a narrow one, and that, with great difficulty, he had persuaded +those who had captured them while engaged in deeds of outrage and +plunder to spare them; but that a complaint would at once be made +before the military authorities, and the law would deal with them. +Finally, they were permitted to mount and ride off, after having +been closely examined to see that they were taking with them none +of the plunder of the house.</p> +<p>"Everything was then carefully replaced as they had found it; +and my father at once rode off, with six of the leading +tenants--three Protestants and three Catholics--and laid a +complaint before the general. The latter professed himself much +shocked, and lamented the impossibility of keeping strict +discipline among the various regiments stationed in the towns. +However, he went down with them at once to the barracks of the +regiment, ordered them to be formed up, and asked my father if he +could identify the culprits.</p> +<p>"My father and those with him picked out fifteen, including the +two sergeants, as having formed part of the body of plunderers; and +the general had the whole tied up and flogged severely, then and +there, and declared that, the next time an outrage upon persons who +had received letters of protection came to his ears, he would shoot +every man who was proved to have been concerned in it. He also gave +orders that a well-conducted noncommissioned officer, and four men, +should be sent at once to Davenant Castle, and should there take up +their quarters as a guard against any party of marauders, with the +strictest orders to cause no annoyance or inconvenience to the +inhabitants of the castle.</p> +<p>"I learned afterwards that Mr. Conyers, who had been interesting +himself greatly on behalf of the ladies of the castle, is a great +friend of the lords justices, and other members of the council, and +is also acquainted with the general, which will account for the +prompt measures taken to punish the marauders--a very rare and +exceptional matter, I can tell you."</p> +<p>"I am sure we are greatly indebted to your father and you, for +so promptly taking measures to assist my mother," Walter said. "I +have no doubt the castle would have been burned, as well as +plundered, if it had not been for your rescue of them."</p> +<p>"It is not worth thinking about, Walter. We are heavily your +debtors, still, for the kindness of your father and yourself to me +at Derry, and indeed on all other occasions. Besides, it was the +least we could do, seeing that it was my grandfather's hatred of +your family which brought the matter about."</p> +<p>"What became of your grandfather," Walter asked, "when you +interrupted his sermon?"</p> +<p>"He fell down in a fit," John replied; "and perhaps it was the +best thing he could do, for I don't know what my father and he +would have said to each other, had it not been so. He was carried +home, and he has not been the same man since. I don't think the +subject was ever alluded to between my father and him; but I think +that being balked, just at the moment when he thought he had +obtained the object of his hopes and prayers for the last forty +years, has almost broken his heart.</p> +<p>"He goes about the house, scarce speaking a word, and seems to +have lost almost all his energy. He has ceased to read the family +prayers, and to hold forth morning and night. I do think he +considers that the Lord has cheated him out of his lawful +vengeance. It is awfully sad, Walter, though it is strange, to see +such a travesty of religion as the tenets of my grandfather and +some of the old men who, like him, represent the views of +Cromwell's soldiers.</p> +<p>"Their religion cannot be called true Christianity. It is the +Judaism of the times when the Jews were among the most ignorant of +peoples. To me it is most shocking, and I would infinitely rather +be a Mohammedan than hold such a faith as theirs. I thank God that +my father and mother have shaken off such a yoke, and brought me up +according to the teaching of the New Testament, rather than that of +the Old."</p> +<p>By this time the waggons, with the exception of those under John +Whitefoot's charge, had been collected in a mass, and fire had been +applied to them. They were now a pile of flame. A few of the best +and fastest looking of the horses were set aside to be carried off +by the troop. The rest were shot, as the great object of the raids +was to deprive the English army of its means of transport.</p> +<p>The troop then mounted. Captain Davenant and Walter took a +hearty farewell of John, and intrusted him with hastily-written +letters for home; and as the smoke of the burning train would soon +bring down any parties of the enemy who happened to be in the +neighbourhood, the troop then rode off at full speed, and arrived +safely at Athlone without meeting with any further adventures.</p> +<p>After the fall of the city, Ginckle remained inactive some time, +but, finding that his proclamation had no effect in inducing the +Irish to lay down their arms, he reluctantly prepared to advance +against them. In the interval, he occupied himself in repairing the +western wall of the city, and, as he had been joined by several +regiments sent out to reinforce him, he resumed his advance with a +force larger than that with which he had commenced the siege of +Athlone. Before starting, he issued the most peremptory orders +against a repetition of the acts which had so disgraced his army, +and had done so much harm to the cause by banding the whole +peasantry against them.</p> +<p>Saint Ruth chose his position with great skill. His camp +extended more than two miles, along a range of hills called the +heights of Kilcomeden. His right was protected by a rivulet, and by +hills and marshes. On his left was a deep glen. Beyond this, along +his whole front, a vast bog extended, in most places impassable for +horse or foot. On the borders of the bog, on the left, stood the +ruins of the little castle of Aughrim, occupying the only spot of +firm ground which led to the camp.</p> +<p>To pass the bog at this point, it was necessary to go close by +the castle wall, where there was a broken path only wide enough for +two men to pass abreast. The passage on the right of the bog was +more open, but it was marshy and unsafe.</p> +<p>This position was much stronger than that which the Irish had +held at the battle of the Boyne, and whereas, on that occasion, +they had been very inferior in numbers to their assailants, they +were now superior by some regiments in number. In the point of +artillery the English had here, as at the Boyne, an overwhelming +superiority.</p> +<p>Ginckle moved forward slowly and with caution, halting on the +river Suck until he had been joined by every available soldier in +Ireland.</p> +<p>On the morning of the 12th of July, the British army halted on +the edge of the bog, that, like a great belt, encircled the Irish +within it. The morning was foggy, and the mist did not clear off +until towards noon. The Irish prepared for battle by having divine +service performed at the head of their regiments, and Dr. Stafford, +chaplain to the royal regiment of foot, and some other priests, +passed through the ranks, urging upon the men their duty and +obligation, as soldiers and Irishmen, to make every effort they +could to rescue their country from the oppression of the Prince of +Orange, and his army of foreigners.</p> +<p>Ginckle, on his part, as at Athlone, distributed money among the +troops, and promised them the plunder of the enemy's camp. As the +day cleared up, the British army was put in motion, and a strong +column advanced against the enemy's right, where stood the house +and grounds of Urachree, occupied by some Irish horse. A strong +detachment of Danish cavalry headed the British column. They moved +forward boldly, quickening their pace as they approached the Irish; +but, on the latter charging them at full gallop, they wheeled about +and rode off at once in disorder.</p> +<p>Ginckle immediately ordered two hundred of Cunningham's +dragoons, who were considered the best cavalry in the army, to +advance and drive back the Irish horse. The dragoons advanced at a +trot, but, seeing that the Irish quietly awaited their coming, they +halted behind a hedge and awaited the arrival of the infantry. When +these came up, the cavalry again moved forward.</p> +<p>The Irish horse now fell back on a little hill in their rear, +where a body of infantry were posted. They then faced to the front +and charged, and broke the English dragoons, who retreated, as the +Danes had done, in confusion.</p> +<p>Eppinger's dragoons were ordered up to support Cunningham's, but +the Irish horse had also received reinforcements before they +arrived, and, after a fierce fight, the two English regiments were +routed and driven off the field.</p> +<p>Ginckle rallied them, added Lord Portland's horse to their +numbers, and again sent them against the Irish. These, however, had +fallen back from Urachree, and had taken up a new position upon the +rivulet behind it, in front of the solid ground by which, alone, +the right wing of the Irish army could be approached. Here they +remained, waiting the onset of the British cavalry; but these, +perceiving that the ground was becoming more and more difficult, +soon came to a halt, and then, wheeling about, fell back upon the +infantry.</p> +<p>Seeing the successful stand which was made, by a small body of +Irish horse, to the advance of the left wing, and that the spirit +with which his troops were behaving was greatly inferior to that of +the Irish, Ginckle called a council of war. Opinions were greatly +at variance. It was now nearly four o'clock, and it was, at first, +decided to postpone the battle till the morning, and a messenger +was sent to the baggage column in the rear to bring up the +tents.</p> +<p>But other counsels finally prevailed. The order for the tents +was countermanded, and, at half-past four, the British infantry +were ordered to advance. They pressed forward, in solid masses, +across the ground where the cavalry fight had taken place, and the +Irish horse fell back behind their infantry, who were posted behind +the substantial hedges which intersected the ground beyond the +rivulet. A heavy musketry fire was opened upon the British infantry +as they advanced, but they pressed forward, in unbroken order, till +they reached the hedges. These were long and obstinately +contested.</p> +<p>The Irish had cut openings through the hedges by which they +could retire, and, as they fell back from hedge to hedge, the +advancing British were received by a fire from hedges on both +flanks, as well as from the front. As the British poured regiment +after regiment to the attack, Saint Ruth moved some bodies of horse +and foot, from his left, to the support of his right wing.</p> +<p>This movement had been foreseen by Ginckle, who now gave orders +for several battalions of infantry to cross the bog, and attack the +Irish centre. At this point there was a path across the bog, or +rather a place where the mud and water were not so deep as at other +points, and where it was possible for it to be forded. Ginckle had +found a peasant, who, for a large sum of money, disclosed the +passage. It traversed the bog at its narrowest point, the hill of +Kilcomeden here running out a shoulder far into it. Four regiments +entered the morass, with orders to cross it, and make their way to +the nearest hedges on the sloping ground, where they were to post +themselves till the cavalry, who were to attempt the passage by +Aughrim Castle, could come round to their support.</p> +<p>The first part of the passage was unopposed, but the difficulty +of passing was great, for the men were frequently up to their +waists in mud, too soft to afford any firm footing, but solid +enough to render it extremely difficult for the feet to be +disengaged from it. At length, as they approached firmer ground, +the Irish infantry advanced towards the edge of the bog, and +received them with a steady fire. The English, although suffering +heavily, pressed forward without firing a shot, till the ground +became solid under their feet, when the Irish withdrew, and, as +upon the right, took post behind the hedges which everywhere +intersected the slopes.</p> +<p>The English, seeing the Irish retire, pressed forward, and +another fierce contest raged in the inclosures; the Irish, +according to their preconceived plan, falling gradually back. The +British, in their ardour, forgot their orders to halt at the first +hedge, and continued to press forward, until the constantly +increasing numbers of the enemy recalled to their leaders the +danger of the position.</p> +<p>Before them were the heights of Kilcomeden, with a strong force +drawn up to receive them, while on both flanks the enemy were +crowding down, to intercept their retreat. Colonel Earl, who was +the senior officer, looked anxiously towards the right, from which +quarter he expected the British cavalry to arrive to his +assistance; but no sound reached him from that quarter; while on +the left the sound of the conflict, instead of advancing, appeared +to recede, as if the British column was being forced back. +Advancing before his own regiment, he called upon the soldiers to +stand firm, for retreat would be destruction, and the only hope was +to maintain their position till assistance arrived.</p> +<p>When the Irish saw that the enemy had halted, and could not be +tempted to advance further, they poured down to the attack through +the passages in the hedges. The British might have defended these +hedges, as the Irish had done, but the soldiers saw that they would +be taken in the flank and rear, and, observing a large body of +cavalry ascending the hill, they were seized with a panic.</p> +<p>On the first shock of the Irish infantry, the four regiments +broke and fled. They were hotly pursued, and slaughtered in great +numbers, the Irish cavalry pouring through the openings in the +hedges which had been prepared for them. At length, the fugitives +reached the edge of the bog, where they gathered in a confused +mass; which the officers, in vain, attempted to form into order. +The cavalry charged down upon them, broke and scattered them, and +drove them into the morass, followed by the Irish infantry, who +were better acquainted with the ground, and more accustomed to +traversing bogs. The soldiers were driven into the deepest and most +difficult portion of the morass, and a great slaughter took +place.</p> +<p>The British artillery were planted on the edge of the morass, +but so mingled were the two parties that they were unable to fire. +Great numbers of the English were killed. Colonels Earl and +Herbert, with many officers and men, were taken prisoners, and the +remnant of the British were driven completely across the bog, to +the shelter of their own cannon.</p> +<p>While this was passing in the centre, another division of +Ginckle's army, consisting of English and French infantry, had +crossed the bog by a passage more to the right. They also had met +with no opposition in passing, and it was only when they reached +the hedges, on the firm ground, that the Irish showed themselves, +fired, and retreated. This division, more cautious than that of +Earl, could not be tempted to pursue, but contented themselves with +maintaining their ground under a heavy fire, awaiting anxiously the +arrival of the British horse. They could see, however, no sign of +them, but could perceive the Irish cavalry descending in large +masses, preparing to charge, while the infantry were forming for an +advance.</p> +<p>So far the Irish had been successful at every point. They had +repulsed every attack made by the British left; had crushed the +brigade, composed of the flower of the British infantry, which had +assaulted the centre; and were now preparing to destroy the +division which stood, unsupported, on their side of the bog.</p> +<p>At this moment, a tumult was heard on the left wing of the +Irish, the direction from which the British division expected +relief, and the Irish, aware of the importance of the pass of +Aughrim, suspended their attack to await the events there.</p> +<p>Saint Ruth had directed the operations of the battle with as +much skill as he had prepared for the assault. He had taken up his +position on a point of the hill whence he had a complete view of +the whole field of battle, and had moved his troops, with calmness +and judgment, to meet each of the attacks made upon them; and when +he saw the destruction of the English regiment in the centre, he +exclaimed, in the full confidence of victory, "Now I will drive the +English to the walls of Dublin!"</p> +<p>There was, indeed, but one hope, on the part of the English, of +retrieving the day; namely, the success of the attempt to force the +passage at Aughrim. But two horsemen abreast could pass under the +castle walls. Saint Ruth was aware of the passage, but thought it +impassable for cavalry. It might easily have been made so, by +cutting a deep gap across it; but here, as at Athlone, his +overconfidence proved his destruction. He had, however, taken the +precaution to erect a battery commanding the passage, and had +placed some battalions of infantry there.</p> +<p>General Talmash, who commanded the English cavalry, knew that +the battle was lost, unless he could succeed at this point; and, at +the head of his command, he led the way along the pass, which was +not only narrow, but broken and encumbered with the ruins of the +castle wall. Saint Ruth beheld the attempt of the cavalry with +astonishment, and, with the remark: "They are brave fellows, it is +a pity they should be sacrificed," sent orders for the Irish horse +to move forward and prepare to charge them; and moved down the hill +at the head of his officers to the battery.</p> +<p>There is no doubt as to what the result would have been, had the +Irish horse charged. They were greatly superior in number, and the +English cavalry who had got across the passage were still in +confusion, and were suffering from the fire of the battery, and, +indeed, even when in equal numbers, William's cavalry had never +withstood the charge of the Irish. It seemed that nothing could +avert the defeat of the body on which Ginckle's last hope +rested.</p> +<p>But at this moment one of those events, by which Providence +overrules the calculations of man, occurred. A cannonball struck +Saint Ruth, as he stood in the middle of the battery and killed him +instantly. The occurrence paralysed the Irish army. Sarsfield was +away, there was no one to give orders, the news that some +extraordinary calamity had happened spread rapidly, the men in the +battery ceased firing, the cavalry, receiving no orders to charge, +remained immovable.</p> +<p>Talmash took advantage of the pause to get the rest of his +cavalry across the passage, and then, with his whole force, moved +towards the centre. As he approached, the idea that the unknown +calamity, of which they had heard, was that the British had +defeated their own left, spread among the Irish, and they began to +fall back. The British column on the edge of the bog advanced, +Ginckle pushed several fresh battalions across the morass in the +centre, and the Irish infantry fell back, disputing every inch of +the ground.</p> +<p>The cavalry were still without orders, for strangely enough, no +one assumed the command on the death of Saint Ruth. As night came +on, the retreat of the Irish infantry became a rout, but the +cavalry halted on the summit of Kilcomeden, and covered the +retreat.</p> +<p>The extraordinary circumstance, of the Irish army being left +without orders after the death of Saint Ruth, has never been +explained. The command should have devolved upon Sarsfield, but +none of the accounts of the battle speak of him as being present. +He had certainly not been consulted by Saint Ruth, and had not been +present at the council of war before the battle; for the bad +feeling, which had existed between him and Saint Ruth since that +general arrived, had broken out into open dispute since the fall of +Athlone. But it is inexplicable that there should have been no +second in command, that no one should have come forward to give +orders after the death of the general, that a victorious army +should have been left, as a flock of sheep, without a shepherd.</p> +<p>Up to the moment of the death of Saint Ruth, the loss of the +British had been very severe, as they had more than two thousand +men killed and wounded, while that of the Irish was trifling. But +in the subsequent struggle the Irish, fighting each man for +himself, without order or object, were slaughtered in vast numbers, +their loss being estimated by the British writers at seven thousand +men, a number which points to wholesale slaughter, rather than to +the loss which could have been inflicted upon a brave army during +little over an hour of daylight.</p> +<p>But, crushing as the defeat of the Irish had been, the victory +was far from inspiring William or his army with the confidence they +had felt at the outset of the war. Here, as at Athlone, it was +almost a miracle which had saved the English from a terrible +disaster. The Irish had proved themselves fully a match for the +best soldiers that William could send against them, and, although +their infantry had suffered terribly in the rout, their ranks would +be speedily filled up again; while the cavalry, the arm in which +the Irish had uniformly proved their superiority, had moved away +from the field of battle intact and unbroken. Athlone and Aughrim +therefore rendered William and his general more anxious than ever +to bring the struggle to an end, not by the force of arms, but by +offering every concession to the Irish.</p> +<p>The imminence of the peril had cowed even the party of +confiscation, and they offered no opposition to the issue, by +Ginckle, of proclamations renewing the offers of William. Ginckle +himself moved forward, immediately after the battle, and granted +the most liberal terms to the garrisons of the various small posts +which he came upon. On arriving before Galway, he permitted that +town and garrison to surrender on the terms of a pardon for all, +security of property and estate, freedom of religious worship, and +permission for the garrison to march away to Limerick, with drums +beating and colours flying, the British furnishing horses for the +transport of their cannon and baggage.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch15" name="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: A Fortunate +Recognition.</h2> +<p>After the capitulation of Galway, Ginckle moved towards +Limerick. King William, who was absent on the Continent, was most +anxious for the aid of the army warring in Ireland, and the queen +and her advisers, considering that the war was now virtually over, +ordered transports to Ireland to take on board ten thousand men; +but Ginckle was allowed a month's delay.</p> +<p>He himself was by no means sanguine as to his position. The +Irish army was still as numerous as the British, and they were not +discouraged by their defeat at Aughrim, where they considered, and +rightly, that victory had only been snatched from their grasp by an +accident. Ginckle relied rather upon concession than force. The +Irish were divided into two parties, one of which earnestly desired +peace, if they could obtain fair terms, while the other insisted +that the British could not be trusted to keep any terms they might +make. Sarsfield was at the head of the war party, and succeeded, +for the present, in preventing any arrangement.</p> +<p>Ginckle advanced slowly, for he had to march through a waste and +desolate country. Sarsfield, with his cavalry, hovered round him, +and intercepted his communications, and he was so short of draught +horses that it was only by forcing the gentry of Dublin to give up +their carriage horses, for the use of the army, that he was enabled +to move forward.</p> +<p>It was not until the end of August that he sat down with his +siege train in front of Limerick, and prepared for the siege. For +the moment, the party in favour of peace among the Irish had been +silenced by the news that twenty large ships of war, with a great +number of transport and store ships, were being pushed forward at +Brest and other French ports to come to their assistance.</p> +<p>Ginckle occupied the same ground which William's army had taken +up in the first siege, but directed his attacks chiefly upon the +English town. As before, the Irish communication was open with the +county of Clare, and the seventeen regiments of Irish horse were +encamped on the Clare side of the river. Ginckle pushed on his +works with great vigour, and the duty in the trenches was so +severe, that the cavalry were compelled to take their turn with the +infantry; but, notwithstanding that the siege artillery was much +more powerful than that which William had at his disposal, but +little progress was made. The town was set on fire several times; +but the flames were speedily extinguished, and, as the inhabitants +had all left the city and erected tents on the Clare side, under +the protection of their cavalry, little harm was done to them.</p> +<p>While the siege was going on, a number of desultory engagements +took place, in different parts of the country, between the +Protestant militia which had been lately raised, and the bands of +rapparees, with varying success.</p> +<p>The season was getting late. Ginckle was again becoming +straitened for provisions, for the proclamations which he issued +failed to inspire the peasantry with any confidence. He now erected +a battery, of thirty-five guns, against King's Island; and, after +an incessant cannonade of some days, a breach was effected in the +wall between the abbey and Ballsbridge. Preparations were made for +crossing the arm of the Shannon and assaulting the breach; but the +works constructed for crossing the river were repeatedly destroyed +by the Irish, and the idea of assault upon the breach was, at +length, abandoned. So desperate did Ginckle now think his position, +that he issued orders for the repair of the fortifications of +Kilmallock, intending to raise the siege and establish his winter +quarters there; but he postponed taking this step for a few days, +for to do so would be to bring almost certain disaster upon his +army.</p> +<p>The French fleet was expected to arrive shortly, and the Irish, +reinforced with men, arms, and supplies of every kind, would +probably resume the offensive during the winter, and he would find +himself cut off from all supplies and assistance. He determined, +therefore, to make one more effort before retiring.</p> +<p>He had, throughout the siege, been in communication with several +Irish officers of high rank, and especially with General Clifford, +who commanded the cavalry posted on the river opposite to his camp. +These officers were as desirous as he was of bringing the war to an +end, for they foresaw that if, after the arrival of the French, +they succeeded in driving the English out of the country, Ireland +would simply become a dependency of France, and they preferred the +English connection to this. Ginckle determined to try, again, the +same feint which had succeeded at Athlone. The workmen were kept +busy repairing the works at Kilmallock, and preparing that place +for the reception of the army. The greater portion of the baggage, +and a regiment of Danes, were sent forward to that town. The +batteries ceased firing, and the cannon were dismounted at several +points, and the Irish were persuaded that the siege was about to be +abandoned.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, Ginckle was busy collecting boats, and preparing a +bridge across to a small island, which lay not far from the Clare +side of the river. On a dark night, the boats were brought up and +the bridge constructed, and, led by six hundred grenadiers, a +strong force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery crossed to the +island, and then waded through the shallow water beyond to the +mainland.</p> +<p>A few men, posted on the island, carried the news to Clifford, +but he gave no orders to the four regiments of cavalry and two of +infantry under his command, nor did he send any notice to the camp. +Some of the infantry and cavalry, however, ran without orders to +the bank, and kept the grenadiers in check until the British +cavalry had crossed, and compelled them to fall back. The British +cavalry then dashed forward to the Irish cavalry camp, which they +took completely by surprise. Panic stricken at this unexpected +attack, the soldiers and the citizens in the town camp fled in all +directions, and, great numbers rushing to Thomond Bridge, entered +the city by that narrow approach.</p> +<p>Had Ginckle at once pushed forward, he would have captured +almost the whole of the Irish officials and civilians on the Clare +side of the river; but, fearing an ambuscade, he halted his troops +before advancing to the Irish camp, and this gave time for most of +them to escape. Being afraid that the garrison would sally out from +the town, and attack his lines on the other side of the river, he +recrossed the Shannon with his troops, carrying with them a crowd +of civilians, among them a number of persons of rank, and officials +with the records and public treasure.</p> +<p>The confusion and surprise in the town were so great that the +Irish generals took no steps whatever, either to hinder his passage +back across the river, or to attack either portion of his divided +army. They knew that treachery must have been at work, to have +enabled the enemy to surprise the camp, and, as they could not tell +how far that treachery extended, they abstained from all +action.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant's troop had shared in the disaster inflicted by +the night attack upon the cavalry camp. All were asleep when the +English cavalry burst upon them. Taken utterly by surprise, and +ignorant as to the strength of the force by which they were +attacked, there was no thought of resistance. Officers and men +leapt from the piles of rushes, which served as beds, and rushed to +their horses. The English troopers were cutting and hewing in all +directions, and, cutting the picket ropes, each man sprang on his +horse and rode for his life.</p> +<p>Captain Davenant had, at first, shouted to his men to keep +steady; but his words were lost in the din which prevailed, and, +seeing that nothing was to be done, he said to Walter:</p> +<p>"It is all over, Walter. We must ride for it, like the +rest."</p> +<p>By morning, the Irish cavalry was scattered all over the +country, and it was not for two or three days that they again +assembled in regiments, presenting a sorry sight, the greater part +having lost saddles and accoutrements of every kind. A few troops, +composed of men who had been fortunate enough to have left their +horses saddled when night came on, were sent back to Limerick. The +rest drew off towards Ennis, and encamped there until they could +procure saddles and accoutrements to take the field again.</p> +<p>In Captain Davenant's troop there were but six men who had saved +their saddles; and, as it would have been useless to send so small +a detachment to Limerick, these remained with the troop, and were, +at Walter's request, placed entirely at his disposal, in order that +with them he might make scouting expeditions in the enemy's rear. +He had permission to consider himself entirely on detached service, +and to join any body of rapparees he might choose; but this Walter +did not care about doing, for he had a horror of the savage acts +which were perpetrated by the irregular forces on both sides, and +determined to confine himself to watching the roads, bringing in +news of any convoys which might be traversing the country, and +cutting off messengers going or returning with despatches.</p> +<p>The service was one of no great danger, for parties of peasants +were on the watch, night and day; and, the instant any movement was +observed, they started off at full speed to warn all the +inhabitants of the surrounding villages to drive away their cattle, +and carry off their effects into the hills or into the heart of +some neighbouring bog, where the cavalry would not venture to +penetrate.</p> +<p>One day when, with his little band, he was halting at a village, +some ten miles in rear of the camp, a peasant ran in.</p> +<p>"A party of their horse have just seized some carts laden with +potatoes at Kilcowan, and are driving them off. The boys are +mustering to attack them on their way back."</p> +<p>"It is too bad," Walter exclaimed. "Only three days ago, Ginckle +issued another proclamation guaranteeing that no provisions, or +other goods, should be taken by his soldiers without payment.</p> +<p>"To horse, lads! We will ride out and give the peasants a +helping hand, if they really mean to attack the enemy."</p> +<p>Kilcowan was two miles away and, having learned from the peasant +that the people intended to attack at a point where the road passed +between two hills, a mile and a half beyond the village, he +galloped on at full speed. He arrived, however, too late to take +any part in the fight. The peasants had rushed suddenly down the +hillsides, armed with scythes and pikes, upon the convoy as it +passed below them. Several of the cavalry had been killed, and the +rest were riding off, when Walter with his troopers dashed up. They +continued the pursuit for a mile, cutting off a few stragglers, +less well mounted than the rest, and then returned to Kilcowan, +where the peasants had just arrived in triumph with the rescued +carts of potatoes.</p> +<p>"What are you going to do?" he asked, when the excitement of the +welcome, accorded by the women to the captors, had subsided a +little. "You may expect a strong body to be sent out, tomorrow, to +punish you for this."</p> +<p>"It's the general's own proclamation, your honour. Didn't he +say, himself, that his soldiers were not to stale anything, and +that they would be severely punished if they did? And didn't he +guarantee that we should be paid for everything? He could not blame +us for what we have done, and he ought to hang the rest of those +thieving villains, when they get back to him."</p> +<p>"I wouldn't be too sure about it," Walter said. "He issued a +good many proclamations before, but he has never kept the terms of +one of them. If I were you, I would leave the village--man, woman, +and child--for a few days, at any rate, and see how the Dutchman +takes it."</p> +<p>But the villagers could not be persuaded that the Dutch general +would disapprove of what they had done, and Walter, finding his +arguments of no avail, rode off with his men to the village they +had left, an hour before; with the parting advice that, if they +would not follow his counsel, they should, at any rate, place +watchers that night on the roads towards Ginckle's camp, to bring +them news of the approach of any body of the enemy's cavalry.</p> +<p>But the villagers were too delighted with their day's work to +pay much heed to Walter's warning, and, after a general +jollification in honour of their victory, retired to rest, +thoughtless of danger.</p> +<p>It was getting dark when Walter reached the village where he had +determined to stay for the night. He ordered the men to keep the +saddles on their horses, and to hitch them to the doors of the +cabins where they took up their quarters, in readiness for instant +movement. He placed one mounted sentry at the entrance to the +village, and another a quarter of a mile on the road towards +Kilcowan.</p> +<p>At nine o'clock, he heard the sound of a horse galloping up to +the door, and ran out. It was the sentry at the end of the +village.</p> +<p>"Kilcowan is on fire, sir!"</p> +<p>Walter looked in that direction, and saw a broad glare of +light.</p> +<p>"Ride out, and bring in the advanced sentry," he said, "as quick +as possible."</p> +<p>He called the other men out, and bade them mount; that done, +they sat, ready to ride off on the return of their comrades.</p> +<p>"Here they come, sir," one of the men said, "and I fancy the +enemy are after them."</p> +<p>Walter listened intently. He could hear a deep thundering noise, +which was certainly made by the hoofs of more than two horses.</p> +<p>"Face about, men, trot! Keep your horses well in hand, until the +others come up, and then ride for it.</p> +<p>"Ah, what is that!"</p> +<p>As he spoke, there was a shout from the other end of the +village, followed instantly by the trampling of horses.</p> +<p>"They have surrounded us!" Walter exclaimed. "Shoulder to +shoulder, lads, and cut your way through. It's our only chance. +Charge!"</p> +<p>And, placing himself at the head, he set spurs to his horse and +dashed at the approaching enemy.</p> +<p>There was a fierce shock. A horse and rider rolled over from the +impetus of his charge, then he cut right and left; pistol shots +rang out, and his horse fell beneath him, shot through the head, +pinning his leg beneath it.</p> +<p>The fall saved his life, for four or five troopers had +surrounded him, and in another moment he would have been cut down. +For a time, he ran great risk of being trampled upon, in the +confusion which followed. Then some of the troopers dismounted, he +was dragged from beneath his horse, and found himself a prisoner. +He was placed in the centre of the troop, the only captive taken, +for two of the six men had got safe away in the darkness and +confusion, the other four had fallen.</p> +<p>The English, as he afterwards learned, had, immediately they +arrived at Kilcowan, inquired where the Irish cavalry, who had +taken part in the afternoon's fight, were quartered, and on hearing +that they were but two miles away, the officer in command had +forced one of the peasants to act as guide, and to take a party +round, by a detour, so as to enter at the other end of the village, +just as another party rode in by the direct road.</p> +<p>Walter was taken first to Kilcowan. There he found a party of +twelve or fourteen peasants, surrounded by cavalry. The whole +village was in flames. Several of the inhabitants had been cut +down, as the cavalry entered. The rest, with the exception of those +in the hands of the troops, had fled in the darkness. As soon as +the detachment with Walter arrived, the whole body got into motion, +and reached Ginckle's camp shortly before midnight.</p> +<p>As the general had retired to sleep, they were placed in a tent, +and four sentries posted round it, with orders to shoot anyone who +showed his head outside. In the morning, they were ordered to come +out, and found outside the general, with several of his +officers.</p> +<p>"So," Ginckle said, "you are the fellows who attacked my +soldiers. I will teach you a lesson which shall be remembered all +over Ireland. You shall be broken on the wheel."</p> +<p>This sentence was heard unmoved by the peasants, who had not the +least idea of what was meant by it; but Walter stepped forward:</p> +<p>"It is not these men who are to blame, but your soldiers, +general," he said. "Your own proclamation, issued three days ago, +guaranteed that no private property should be interfered with, and +that everything the troops required should be paid for. Your +soldiers disobeyed your orders, and plundered these poor people, +and they were just as much justified in defending themselves +against them, as any householder is who resists a burglar."</p> +<p>"You dare speak to me!" exclaimed Ginckle. "You shall share +their fate. Every man of you shall be broken on the wheel."</p> +<p>"General Ginckle," Walter said warmly, "hitherto, the foul +excesses of your troops have brought disgrace upon them, rather +than you; but, if this brutal order is carried out, your name will +be held infamous, and you will stand next only to Cromwell in the +curses which Irishmen will heap upon your memory."</p> +<p>The Dutch general was almost convulsed with passion.</p> +<p>"Take the dogs away," he shouted, "and let the sentence be +carried out."</p> +<p>Several English officers were standing near, and these looked at +one another in astonishment and disgust. Two of them hurried away, +to fetch some of the superior officers, and directly these heard of +the orders that had been given, they proceeded to Ginckle's +tent.</p> +<p>"Can it be true," General Hamilton said, "that you have ordered +some prisoners to be broken on the wheel?"</p> +<p>"I have given those orders," Ginckle said angrily, "and I will +not permit them to be questioned."</p> +<p>"Pardon me," General Hamilton said firmly; "but they must be +questioned. There is no such punishment as breaking on the wheel +known to the English law, and I and my English comrades protest +against such a sentence being carried out."</p> +<p>"But I will have it so!" Ginckle exclaimed, his face purple with +passion.</p> +<p>"Then, sir," General Hamilton said, "I tell you that, in half an +hour from the present time, I will march out from your camp, at the +head of my division of British troops, and will return to Dublin; +and, what is more, I will fight my way out of the camp if any +opposition is offered, and will explain my conduct to the king and +the British parliament. Enough disgrace has already been brought +upon all connected with the army, by the doings of the foreign +troops; but when it comes to the death by torture of prisoners, by +the order of their general, it is time that every British officer +should refuse to permit such foul disgrace to rest upon his +name."</p> +<p>There was a chorus of assent from the other English officers, +while Ginckle's foreign officers gathered round him, and it looked +for a moment as if swords would be drawn.</p> +<p>Ginckle saw that he had gone too far, and felt that, not only +would this quarrel, if pushed further, compel him to raise the +siege and fall back upon Dublin, but it would entail upon him the +displeasure of the king, still more certainly that of the English +parliament.</p> +<p>"There is no occasion for threats," he said, mastering his +passion. "You tell me that such a punishment is contrary to English +law. That is enough. I abandon it at once. The prisoners shall be +hung and quartered. I presume that you have no objection to offer +to that."</p> +<p>"That, general, is a matter in your own competence, and for your +own conscience," Hamilton said. "The men have simply, as I +understand, defended their property against marauders, and they +are, as I conceive, worthy of no punishment whatever. If you choose +to sentence them to such a punishment, it is your sentence, not +mine. I thought it was your policy to heal the breach between the +two parties. It seems I was mistaken. Personally, I protest against +the execution of the sentence, beyond that I am not called upon to +go. An act of injustice or cruelty, performed by a general upon +prisoners, would not justify a soldier in imperilling the success +of the campaign by resisting the orders of his superior; therefore, +my duty to the king renders me unable to act; but I solemnly +protest, in my own name and that of the English officers under your +command, against the sentence, which I consider unjust in the +extreme."</p> +<p>So saying, General Hamilton, with the English officers, left the +general's tent. If they hoped that the protest would have the +effect of preventing the barbarous sentence from being carried into +execution, they were mistaken. The fact that, to carry out his +first intention would have been absolutely unlawful, had caused +Ginckle to abandon it, but this made him only the more obstinate in +carrying the second into execution.</p> +<p>The English officers stood talking, not far from his tent, in +tones of indignation and disgust at the brutal sentence, and then +walked towards their divisional camp. As they went, they saw a +number of men standing round a tree. Some Hessian soldiers, with +much brutal laughter, were reeving ropes over the arm of the tree, +and, just as the officers came along, six struggling forms were +drawn up high above the heads of the crowd.</p> +<p>The party paused for a moment, and were about to pass on, their +faces showing how deep was their horror at the scene, when one of +them exclaimed:</p> +<p>"There is an Irish officer, in uniform, among the prisoners! +This cannot be suffered, Hamilton. The Irish have several of ours +prisoners in the town, and they would rightly retaliate by hanging +them on the battlements."</p> +<p>General Hamilton and the others pressed forward.</p> +<p>"Colonel Hanau," the general said to a Hessian officer, "you +surely cannot be going to hang this young officer? The general can +never have included him with the others?"</p> +<p>"The general's orders were precise," the Hessian said coldly. +"Twelve peasants and one officer were to be hung, and afterwards +quartered."</p> +<p>"It is monstrous!" General Hamilton exclaimed. "I will go back +to the general, and obtain his order for the arrest of the +execution."</p> +<p>"You will be too late, sir," the Hessian said coldly. "I have my +orders, and before you are half way to the general's camp, that +prisoner will be swinging from that bough."</p> +<p>"I order you to desist, sir, till I return," General Hamilton +said.</p> +<p>"As I do not happen to be in your division, General Hamilton, +and as I have received my orders from the commander in chief, I +decline altogether to take orders from you."</p> +<p>Walter, who had resigned himself to his fate, stood watching the +altercation with a renewed feeling of hope. This died out when the +colonel spoke, and two of the troopers seized him, but at that +moment his eye fell upon one of the English officers.</p> +<p>"Colonel L'Estrange!" he exclaimed.</p> +<p>The officer started, at hearing his name called out by the +prisoner, but he did not recognize him.</p> +<p>"I am Walter Davenant. You remember, sir, the wreck off +Bray?"</p> +<p>"Good heavens!" Colonel L'Estrange exclaimed, pressing +forward.</p> +<p>"It is the lad who saved my life, General Hamilton!</p> +<p>"Gentlemen, this young officer saved my life at the risk of his +own. I cannot and will not stand by and see him murdered."</p> +<p>The Hessian colonel signed to four of his men, who seized Walter +and dragged him towards the tree. Colonel L'Estrange drew his +sword.</p> +<p>"My men," he shouted, to some English soldiers who were mingled +with the crowd of onlookers, which had rapidly increased during the +dispute, "stand by me, and don't let this brave young officer be +murdered."</p> +<p>A score of soldiers pushed through the crowd, and ranged +themselves by Colonel L'Estrange. He dashed forward, sword in hand, +and in a moment Walter was torn from the grasp of the soldiers, and +placed in the centre of his rescuers, who were now joined by +General Hamilton and the other officers.</p> +<p>Several men had run off at full speed, to the British camp, to +bring up aid. The Hessian colonel called upon his men to seize the +prisoner, and cut down all who interfered to prevent the general's +orders being carried out. These hesitated before the resolute +aspect of the English, but the crowd of foreign soldiers ranged +themselves with them, and the attack was about to commence, when a +number of English soldiers were seen running, musket in hand, from +their camp.</p> +<p>The Hessian colonel saw that to attempt to carry out his orders, +now, would bring on something like a pitched battle, and he +therefore waved his men back, saying to General Hamilton:</p> +<p>"I have nothing to do now, sir, but to report to General Ginckle +that I have been prevented, by force, from carrying his orders into +effect."</p> +<p>"That you will, of course, do," General Hamilton said coldly. "I +shall be perfectly prepared to answer for my conduct."</p> +<p>There was no goodwill between the English and foreign sections +of Ginckle's army, and General Hamilton had some trouble in +preventing the soldiers from attacking the Hessians, and in +inducing them to retire to their camp. As soon as he arrived there, +he ordered the drums to be beaten, and the whole division to get +under arms. He then despatched an officer to General Ginckle, +narrating the circumstances, and saying that the honour of the +whole army was concerned in preventing an officer, fairly taken +prisoner in war, and not while acting as a spy, from being injured; +and that, indeed, policy as well as honour forbade such a course +being taken, as there were several officers of rank in the hands of +the Irish, who would naturally retaliate on them the execution of +prisoners of war. He made a formal complaint against Colonel Hanau, +for refusing to delay the execution until he could lay the matter +before the general. As for his own conduct in the matter, he said +he was perfectly prepared to defend it before any military court, +but that court must be held in England, where he purposed to return +at once, with the division his majesty had intrusted to his +command.</p> +<p>The Dutch general had, long before he received the letter, been +informed of what had taken place, and had also learned that the +English division had struck their tents, and were drawn up under +arms. To allow them to depart would be to entail certain ruin upon +the campaign, and he felt that it was more than probable that the +course Hamilton and his officers had taken would be upheld by a +military court in England, and that public opinion would condemn +the execution of an officer, taken in fair fight. He therefore +wrote a letter to General Hamilton, saying that he regretted to +find that he had been acting under a misapprehension, for he had +understood that the person claiming to be an Irish officer was in +fact a spy, and that he had severely reprimanded Colonel Hanau for +his refusal to delay the execution until the fact had been +explained to him. Far from feeling in any way aggrieved that +General Hamilton had interfered to prevent such a mistake from +taking place, he felt much obliged to him for what he had done, as +the execution of an Irish officer taken in war would, in every way, +have been a most unfortunate circumstance.</p> +<p>General Hamilton showed the letter to the colonels of the +various regiments in the division, and these agreed that, as +General Ginckle was evidently desirous that the matter should go no +further, it would be as well to order the tents to be again +pitched, and for the troops to resume their ordinary duties.</p> +<p>"My dear Walter," Colonel L'Estrange said, "I am happy, indeed, +that we came up when we did. What should I have felt, if I had +afterwards learned that you, who had saved my life, had been +murdered here, for your execution would have been neither more nor +less than murder, as was that of the twelve poor fellows who were +taken at Kilcowan--a brutal murder! They were perfectly justified +in defending their property, and the idea of quartering them, as +well as hanging them, just as if they were traitors of the worst +dye, is nothing short of monstrous.</p> +<p>"I only came out here with my regiment a month since, but I am +heartily sick with what I see going on. It was terrible to see the +ruined villages on the road from Dublin. I have seen fighting on +the Continent, but nothing to equal the wholesale brutality with +which the war is conducted here. How God can continue to give +success, to an army which behaves as this one has done, is +altogether beyond me. Of one thing I am resolved, whether we take +Limerick or not--and I own I see but small chance of it--I shall +exchange, if possible, into a regiment serving in Flanders. If not, +I shall resign my commission.</p> +<p>"And now, how is your father? I rode out from Dublin to see your +mother, and was very glad to find her, and old Mrs. Davenant, well. +I was glad, too, to find that, owing to the influence of Mr. +Conyers, they had not been troubled; and I was fortunately able, +myself, to bring some influence to bear upon the council, who seem +to be bent upon squeezing the last drop of blood from the Irish +veins.</p> +<p>"But the men are falling in, and I must put myself at the head +of the regiment. I will hand you over to the care of an officer, +and, if we march out, you will, of course, go with us."</p> +<p>When the men were again dismissed, Colonel L'Estrange rejoined +Walter.</p> +<p>"Ginckle has thought better of it," he said. "I fancied he would +not venture to push matters further, for the loss of the one +division he can really rely upon would be fatal to all his hope of +success to the campaign. Ginckle is a passionate man, but he is not +a fool, and he must have seen that, if the matter had been laid +before the king, his conduct would not have been approved. I don't +say that ours is right, in a military sense, but I am sure that +public opinion would have approved of it. The tales that have been +circulated, of the doings of the army over here since the +commencement of the war, have already roused a very strong feeling +of irritation throughout the country."</p> +<p>Colonel L'Estrange now took Walter to General Hamilton's tent, +and, after formally introducing him, he told the story of the +wreck, and of his rescue by Walter from certain death.</p> +<p>"What do you mean to do with him, L'Estrange?" General Hamilton +asked.</p> +<p>"My intention is, unless you see any objection to it, to pass +him through the lines this evening. I will provide him with a good +horse, and see him well away. After what has happened Ginckle will, +I should say, feel obliged for our thus rendering him a service by +getting rid of his prisoner. There are not likely to be any +questions asked or remarks made afterwards. I am not without +influence at court, and there is a very strong section, who are +bitterly opposed to Dutchmen being placed in every post in the +king's gift, and there would be no difficulty in getting up such a +hostile feeling against Ginckle, in relation to this affair, that +it would cost him his command."</p> +<p>"Yes," the general agreed. "Marlborough would be only too glad +to take the matter up, and as Ginckle must be pretty well aware +that his want of success here must have already made his position +precarious, I do not think he will trouble himself to ask any +questions about the prisoner; and, certainly, William will not +thank him for being the means, by his unjust and arbitrary conduct, +of causing a split between the English and his foreign troops. I +should like to put all their heads into one noose, and I should +feel no compunction in setting them swinging, for a greater set of +rascals were never collected under the sun. I must say that the +contrast between our army and the Irish is very great, and that, +although many bloody deeds are performed by the rapparees, there +has never been a single complaint brought against the Irish +troops.</p> +<p>"Anyhow, Mr. Davenant, I think you cannot do better than fall in +with Colonel L'Estrange's plan. There will be no difficulty in +getting out, and, indeed, I will send a troop of cavalry to see you +well beyond our lines."</p> +<p>Walter spent the rest of the day with Colonel L'Estrange, and +told him all that had taken place since they had last met.</p> +<p>"It is difficult to believe that it is but three years ago," he +said, when he had finished.</p> +<p>"No, we judge the flight of time by the incidents we crowd into +it. The most uneventful days pass the most unheeded. Now to me, it +seems but yesterday that I stood on the deck of the ship, and knew +that she was sure to go to pieces, and that the chance of anyone +reaching that rocky coast alive were small, indeed; when I saw what +seemed little more than a black speck approaching, and you and your +fisher boy made your way over the wave.</p> +<p>"By the way, how is he? Doing well, I hope?"</p> +<p>"He might have done well, if he liked. The present that you left +in my father's hands, to buy him a boat when he was old enough to +start as a fisherman on his own account, would have made a man of +him, but it is hidden somewhere in the thatch of his father's +cottage. When my father first went to the war, he handed it over to +Larry, as he could not say what might happen before his return. +Larry was at first delighted with the thought that some day he +should have a boat of his own, and a boat, too, larger than any on +the shore; but when I accompanied my father, Larry insisted on +going with me.</p> +<p>"'It will be time enough to buy a boat, when the war is over,' +he said.</p> +<p>"And as I was very glad to have him with me, and my father did +not object, Larry had his way, and he has been with me ever since. +He is enrolled in the troop now, and, when he thinks there is any +chance of fighting, he takes his place in the ranks, but at other +times he acts as my servant."</p> +<p>"Tell him I have not forgotten him," Colonel L'Estrange said. +"While you have been doing so much, I have had a quiet time of it. +I could have got a regiment at once, had I cared for it, but I +disliked the thought of fighting over here. It was too much like +civil war. Six months ago, when things were going badly with us on +the Continent, I asked to be employed, and was given a regiment +they were just raising. I had got them into fair order, and was +expecting to be ordered to embark for the Low Country at any +moment, when the news came of Ginckle's heavy losses at Athlone and +Aughrim, and the orders came for us to proceed to Bristol, and take +ship there for Ireland. I half thought of throwing up my +commission, for the news of the scandalous conduct of the foreign +soldiers had stirred every English heart with disgust and +indignation, but I thought that the struggle was nearly over. +William was anxious for peace at any price, and would grant almost +any terms to secure it; and, on the other hand, we knew that Louis +was, at last, going to make a great effort. So that it was certain +that either the Irish would make peace on fair terms before winter, +or the French would land, and there would be an end of any prospect +of conquering Ireland, until matters were settled on the Continent, +and William could devote his whole strength to this business."</p> +<p>"And which alternative do you think the most likely?" Walter +asked.</p> +<p>"The latter," Colonel L'Estrange said, gravely. "Frankly, +Walter, the situation looks bad. There is, so far as I can see, no +chance whatever of our taking Limerick, and in a fortnight ten +thousand French troops will be landed.</p> +<p>"Of course it is probable that, at the last moment, the Irish +may conclude that they prefer to be under England rather than +France, for that is what it comes to. I hope they will have the +sense to choose England, and if what we hear be true, they can +judge from the insolent arrogance of the French officers, when they +are but a fraction of your force, what they would be when they +regarded themselves as your masters.</p> +<p>"William is ready to grant religious equality, and the security +of persons and estates. I think the Irish will be very unwise to +refuse. At the same time, they have suffered such villainous +treatment, at the hands of William's soldiers, that I cannot blame +them if they decide to throw in their lot with France."</p> +<p>"I think," Walter said, "that, if they were but sure that all +the promises would be kept, the greater part would be in favour of +making peace at once. Nine out of ten of us are of English descent, +and have only been driven to take up arms by the cruel oppression +which we have suffered. Why, at present five-sixths of the soil of +Ireland is in the hands of Protestants, our religion is persecuted, +and for years we have been trampled on, and regarded as fair +objects of robbery."</p> +<p>"All that you say is true, Walter, and no one can regret it more +than I do. Still, I do think that you would be worse off under +France than under England. Louis would drain the island of its men +to fill his army. He uses you only as a cat's paw in his struggle +against England and Holland, and would not hesitate to turn you +over to England again, did it at any time suit him to make peace on +such terms; or to offer Ireland as an exchange for some piece of +territory he coveted, beyond his frontier."</p> +<p>"I know my father is very much of your opinion," Walter said, +"and that he has no confidence whatever in the King of France, and +considers that French interference is responsible for the want of +success which has attended us. At any rate, there is scarcely one +of us who does not hate the French, and certainly, if we had to +choose between the two countries, we should choose England."</p> +<p>When it became dark, a troop of cavalry mounted, and with +Colonel L'Estrange and Walter in their midst, rode out of camp. +They went for several miles, and then Colonel L'Estrange said:</p> +<p>"We are now well outside the limit where you will be likely to +meet any of our scouting parties. Two miles further along this +road, you will come to the village of Mulroon. It has, like all the +others, suffered heavily, but there are two or three houses still +standing, and when I rode through, it a few days since, I saw an +old man standing at the door of one of them, so you will be likely +to get information as to the best road to the town, and perhaps a +guide."</p> +<p>"Thank you very heartily, Colonel L'Estrange. I know the +village, for I rode through it only the day before I was captured, +and if I can get no guide, I can make my own way round as soon as +it is daylight."</p> +<p>"You had better go on tonight, if you can, Walter. Some party of +rascally plunderers might arrive here, or Ginckle may, for aught I +know, have sent out parties of dragoons. At any rate, I would not +stop here, but make your way on among the hills, even if you can +only get a mile away, and have to sleep by the side of your horse. +No one can say he is safe under a roof within twenty miles of +Ginckle's army."</p> +<p>There was a hearty leave taking between Colonel L'Estrange and +Walter, and the latter then rode straight forward, while the troop +faced about, and made their way back to camp.</p> +<p>On arriving at the village, Walter, as soon as he succeeded in +convincing the inhabitants of a cottage, in which he saw a light, +that he was an Irish officer, found no difficulty in obtaining a +guide, a boy of fourteen volunteering at once to conduct him to the +ford, ten miles above Limerick. It was nearly twenty miles, by the +byroads by which they travelled, and the morning was just breaking +as they arrived there.</p> +<p>Colonel L'Estrange had insisted on providing Walter with funds, +and he was therefore able to reward his guide, who went his way, +rejoicing, while Walter crossed the river and rode for the cavalry +camp, where he was received with delight by his father and friends, +who had believed him to have been killed in the skirmish, for such +was the report of the troopers who had managed to make their +escape.</p> +<p>"I must not let you go on any more detached commands, Walter," +his father said. "I do not say that you have been imprudent, or to +blame; but this is the second time that you have been surprised by +the enemy, and, as it is out of the question to expect that you can +always have the good luck to get out of their hands when you are +captured, as you have on the last two occasions, I shall keep you +by me in future; for seriously, my boy, your absence has caused me +terrible anxiety."</p> +<p>When Walter's account of the barbarous sentence passed upon the +peasants, whose only crime was that they had defended their +property against marauders acting in defiance of the general's +order, was known in camp, the most intense indignation prevailed, +and this was heightened by the fact that a cavalry officer, taken +in open fight, should have been sentenced to a similar fate. So +great, indeed, was the fury of both officers and men, that had they +been in any condition to take the field, nothing could have +restrained them from mounting and riding, at once, to strike a blow +in revenge for the murder and mutilation of the peasants.</p> +<h2><a id="Ch16" name="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: Peace.</h2> +<p>Ginckle's expedition across the Shannon, and his surprise of the +Irish cavalry camp, successful as it had been, altered the position +in no way. Several days passed, and then, after a council of war, +it was determined to recross the bridge of boats, which remained +undisturbed, to the Clare side, and try to force a way across +Thomond Bridge. On the 22nd of September, all the cavalry of the +army, ten regiments of infantry, and fourteen pieces of cannon made +the passage without molestation, and marched towards the bridge, +which was defended upon the Clare side by two strong towers. As the +British advanced guard of infantry approached the bridge, it was +charged by a body of Irish horse, broken, and driven back.</p> +<p>A strong body of cavalry rode up to support the infantry; the +Irish horse were reinforced, and a hot fight continued until, at +about four o'clock in the afternoon, the whole force of British +infantry came up, and the Irish retired upon the infantry posted in +the works which covered the bridge. Near the gate were high grounds +cut up by gravel pits. The Irish infantry were posted here, as well +as in the forts; and the English, as they advanced, were assailed +with a very heavy fire from these positions, and also from the guns +on the town walls.</p> +<p>In spite of the heavy loss they were suffering, the English +pressed on with the greatest gallantry. Success was now almost a +necessity, for, if defeated, but few of them would ever have been +able to recross the river. Foot by foot they fought their way, +pressed on past the outworks, and pushed back the Irish infantry, +till the latter were gathered round the head of the bridge.</p> +<p>The Irish generals had thought that Ginckle's movement was but a +repetition of the previous raid, and the force that had been sent +over to guard the head of the bridge was altogether insufficient to +withstand the determined attack by Ginckle's force. Reinforcements +were now sent across the bridge, but this only added to the +confusion. Pressed back by the weight and power of the English +attack, the Irish were beginning to retire across the bridge, when +they met the reinforcements making their way over.</p> +<p>The bridge was of great length, but extremely narrow, and a +complete block took place. The English had pierced their way +through the struggling mass at the head of the bridge, and pressed +on the rear of the mass of fugitives, literally hewing their way +through them, and the pressure became so great that the regiments +crossing were carried back. The head of the British column was +pushed forward by those behind, and could only advance by slaying +those in front of them and throwing their bodies over the bridge; +for the mass were wedged so tightly that movement had now become +impossible, while the Irish, as they retreated, formed ramparts of +the slain and impeded the advance of the enemy.</p> +<p>While the struggle on the bridge was at its fiercest, the French +officer who commanded at the drawbridge across the arch nearest to +the city, fearing that the British would press in at the rear of +the Irish, and that he might not then be able to raise the +drawbridge, ordered this to be done at once--thereby cutting off +the retreat of the soldiers still on the bridge. These jumped over +the parapet into the river, and strove to reach the city wall by +swimming. Some did so, but great numbers were drowned. This +incident greatly increased the standing feud between the Irish and +French, the former declaring that the latter not only never fought +themselves, but were ready, at the first alarm, to sacrifice their +allies in order to secure their own safety.</p> +<p>The success of Ginckle's second raid had been complete, in so +far that he had inflicted great slaughter upon the Irish infantry, +and had gained a moral victory; but he was no nearer capturing the +town. An attack across the long narrow bridge was not even to be +thought of; and he again retired across the river.</p> +<p>The Irish were disheartened. Sarsfield, though a dashing cavalry +commander, appeared wholly incapable of handling large bodies of +men. Ginckle had twice given him a great opportunity, but on +neither occasion had he made the slightest effort to utilize +it.</p> +<p>On the first occasion, surprise and uncertainty might excuse +inaction on the part of the army in Limerick, but there was no such +excuse the second time. Their force outside the town gate was but a +small one; it was certain that the English could not push across +the bridge; and, as Ginckle had taken the best part of his army +across, Sarsfield could have issued out with his whole force on the +Limerick side, crushed the British force remaining there, and +captured the camp and all its stores--in which case Ginckle's +position would have been desperate. But not a movement was made to +seize an opportunity which would have been patent to any military +commander possessing genius and energy; nor, until it was too late, +was any attempt made to reinforce the detachment which, on the +other side of the bridge, was withstanding the attack of a vastly +superior force.</p> +<p>Ginckle, relying upon the moral effect of the blow he had just +struck, renewed his negotiations. Some of the Irish leaders had +already received bribes. Others were genuinely anxious that the war +should cease, now that William was ready to grant terms which would +secure the ends for which they had been fighting. Others, again, +were animated by hostility to the French, and the fear that, if the +expected reinforcements arrived and the English were driven out, +Ireland would become a mere appanage of France.</p> +<p>Sarsfield himself was, no doubt, swayed by his dislike to being +again superseded in the command by the arrival of another French +general. He was, too, influenced by the fear that the peace party +might prevail, and that Clifford's act of treachery might be +repeated, and the enemy be admitted into the city without any terms +being arranged.</p> +<p>The French officers, eager to return home, made no attempt to +stem the course of events; and, on the evening of the day after the +battle on the Clare side, the drums of the besieged beat a parley, +and Generals Sarsfield and Waughup went out and had a conference +with Ginckle. A cessation of arms was concluded for the night; and +in the morning the truce was extended for three days, to allow the +cavalry, who were now encamped near Ennis, to be communicated +with.</p> +<p>On the 25th, the principal noblemen and officers from the +cavalry camp arrived, prisoners were exchanged, and hostages on +both sides were given, until the terms of a treaty of peace could +be adjusted. On the 27th, the Irish submitted their proposals to +the English general, which were--that "all past offences should be +pardoned; that the Catholics of the counties of Cork, Limerick, +Kerry, Clare, Sligo, and Mayo be restored to the estates which they +held previous to the war; freedom of worship to be allowed; +Catholics to be capable of holding all employments, civil and +military; the Irish army to be kept on foot, and those who were +willing to serve to be received into the king's service; Catholics +to be at liberty to reside in all cities and towns, and to have all +rights of citizens; and that an act of parliament should be passed +to confirm these conditions."</p> +<p>These terms were agreed to, and were held to be applicable, not +only to the garrison of Limerick, but to the whole of Ireland. +Ginckle at once sent an express to Cork, to order the transports in +that harbour to sail round to the Shannon, for the purpose of +taking on board such part of the Irish army as might wish to be +carried to France--this being one of the stipulations of the +treaty.</p> +<p>Sarsfield and most of his officers, and the priests, used their +utmost efforts to persuade the soldiers to enter the French +service, in preference to the English. Their exhortations were +successful. Only about two thousand Irish joined the British army, +four thousand laid down their arms and returned to their homes, and +a considerable number deserted on their march down to Cork. The +rest were shipped in transports to France, where they entered the +service of that country. Two days after the treaty was signed, the +French fleet, with ten thousand men and a great abundance of +stores, arrived at the mouth of the Shannon.</p> +<p>The Irish negotiators of the treaty have been greatly and +deservedly blamed, inasmuch as, while they stipulated that the +proprietors of the neighbouring counties should retain their +estates, they abandoned those possessing property throughout the +rest of Ireland to ruin and beggary. There was no excuse for this. +They knew that the French fleet had sailed, and must have arrived +in a few days, and that the English cause was becoming so desperate +that Ginckle would not have resisted any terms they had laid down. +This cruel and wholly unnecessary desertion of their friends has +thrown a slur upon the memory of Sarsfield and the other leaders +who conducted the negotiations.</p> +<p>The officers and men who entered the service of France had +bitter reason to repent their decision. Instead of being, as they +expected, kept together in regiments, they were for the most part +broken up and distributed throughout the French army. Louis was +deeply enraged at the surrender, just as the expedition he had made +such efforts to send for the conquest of Ireland was within a few +hours' sail of its shores, and he treated the whole of the Irish +and French who returned from Ireland as men who had acted the part +of traitors.</p> +<p>As soon as the terms of capitulation were arranged, Captain +Davenant obtained papers of protection for all the men of his +troop. He had formed them up on parade, and had put the question, +whether they wished to return home or to enter the service of +France.</p> +<p>"I myself, and your officers, intend to return home," he said. +"Of course, each of you is free to do as he chooses; but it appears +to me a most foolish thing to leave your country forever, and exile +yourself in the service of France, when you are free to return +home. You know how little French promises have been kept during +this war, and how little faith is to be placed on them in +future."</p> +<p>The men were unanimous in their decision to return to their +homes, and, as soon as the protection papers were obtained, the +troop disbanded, and all returned to their homes and occupations in +and around Bray.</p> +<p>It was a joyful meeting, when Captain Davenant and Walter +returned to the castle. Mrs. Davenant had always shared her +husband's opinion, that the chances of ultimate success were small, +and of late even his mother had given up hope, and both were +delighted that their anxieties were at last over, and husband and +son restored to them in safety. There was an immense deal to tell +on both sides, for it was months since any letter had passed +between them.</p> +<p>"We have everything to be thankful for," Mrs. Davenant said, +when the stories on both sides had been told, "and it seems to me +that it is, to no slight extent, due to Walter that we have passed +so well through the last two troubled years. It was Jabez Whitefoot +who first stood our friend, and who saved the castle from being +burned, and his goodwill was earned by Walter's friendship with his +son. Then Mr. Conyers stood between us and the council, who would +certainly have confiscated everything, had it not been for him. +And, although he always expressed himself as greatly indebted to +you also, he said that, so far as he understood from his wife, it +was to Walter's foresight and arrangement that his wife and +daughter owed their rescue.</p> +<p>"How was it that Walter was so forward in the matter, +Fergus?"</p> +<p>"Walter was perhaps more particularly interested in the matter +than I was," Captain Davenant said, with a smile. "His thoughts +were running in that direction."</p> +<p>Walter coloured up, and Mrs. Davenant, who was looking at him +with some surprise, at her husband's words, broke into a laugh.</p> +<p>"You don't mean to say, Walter, that you have been falling in +love, at your age?"</p> +<p>"You forget, dear," Captain Davenant said, coming to Walter's +rescue, "that Walter is no longer a boy. Three years of campaigning +have made a man of him, and, I venture to think, an earnest and +thoughtful one. He is, it is true, only nineteen, but he has seen +as much, and gone through as much, as men double his age. He has, +upon several occasions, evinced an amount of coolness and judgment +in danger which has earned him the approbation even of General +Sarsfield, a man not easily satisfied."</p> +<p>"I don't mean to hurt your feelings, Walter," Mrs. Davenant +said; "but of course, it is difficult for me, at first, to realize +that while you have been away you have changed from a boy into a +man."</p> +<p>"I don't mind, mother dear," Walter said, "and you can laugh at +me as much as you like."</p> +<p>"And is there anything in what your father says?" Mrs. Davenant +asked, as she passed her hand fondly over Walter's head, as he sat +on a low stool beside her.</p> +<p>"Yes, mother," he answered manfully. "I am engaged to Claire +Conyers. I have her mother's consent, but what Mr. Conyers will +think about it, I don't know. He must know long before this, for +Mrs. Conyers said that she should tell him, as soon as he joined +them in England."</p> +<p>Mrs. Davenant leaned over, and kissed her son.</p> +<p>"The Conyers are of good family," old Mrs. Davenant said, +"although they did come over with Cromwell. I do not think that is +any objection to a son of our house marrying into theirs."</p> +<p>Captain Davenant laughed.</p> +<p>"No objection at all, on our side, mother. Any objection is +likely to be on the other side, not on the ground of family, but on +that of property. Claire Conyers is one of the richest heiresses in +Ireland, while Walter's inheritance can scarcely be termed +extensive."</p> +<p>Two months later, Captain Davenant received a letter from Mr. +Conyers, saying that he had arrived with his wife and daughter at +Dublin on the previous day, and should be glad to make his +acquaintance, and that of his son.</p> +<p>"My wife," he said, "has informed me of certain love passages, +which have taken place between Claire and your son, and I shall be +glad to talk to you concerning them."</p> +<p>Captain Davenant and Walter at once rode over to Dublin, the +latter full of delight, and yet with a considerable amount of +trepidation as to the interview between his father and Mr. Conyers. +His mind was, however, speedily put at rest, for upon entering, Mr. +Conyers at once took him by the hand, and said:</p> +<p>"I am glad, indeed, of the opportunity of thanking you, in +person, for the inestimable service you rendered to my wife and +daughter. I find, from my wife, that Claire has discovered a means +of repaying you for your service, and as her happiness is, she +tells me, dependent on my giving my consent to the plan, I tell you +at once that I do so, very heartily. I think you had better wait +for a while, say two or three years, but we need not settle that at +present.</p> +<p>"Come here, Claire."</p> +<p>He placed the girl's hand in Walter's.</p> +<p>"Take her," he said, "and make her happy."</p> +<p>The next day, Mr. Conyers, with his wife and daughter, +accompanied Captain Davenant and Walter back to Davenant Castle, +where they stayed for some days.</p> +<p>The Whitefoots did not long remain neighbours of the Davenants. +Old Zephaniah had passed away, ere the peace was signed, and, soon +after Captain Davenant returned, Jabez called at the castle.</p> +<p>"We are going away," he said. "John has made up his mind to +become a trader, in London, and Hannah and I would be lonely +without him, and, moreover, we are both weary of our life here, and +have far more than enough money laid by for our needs, and for +giving John the means of entering some well-established firm, when +the time shall come. As to the lands here, they are ours now; but +the next turn of the wheel might give them back to you. Besides, we +do not wish to be troubled with their care. I therefore intend to +revert to the offer which you made me, when the Parliament restored +the land to you. I have received a good offer for our house and +farm, and this I have accepted. The rest of the estates I hand back +to you, from whom they were taken by the sword. My wife wishes +this, as well as myself. John is eager that it should be so. He +will be glad that his friend should be heir to the estates of his +ancestors."</p> +<p>"But we could not accept such a generous offer," Captain +Davenant exclaimed. "It is out of all reason."</p> +<p>"That I know not, friend Davenant; but I know that I, and my +wife and John, have so made up our minds, and we are of a race not +given to change. The land would but be an incumbrance and a trouble +to us. John would far rather make his path in life, as he chooses +it, than live upon the rents of ill-gotten lands. You will receive +your own again, and all parties will be satisfied."</p> +<p>Nothing could alter the resolution Jabez and his wife and son +had taken, and so the Davenant estates came back to their former +possessors.</p> +<p>Three years after the conclusion of peace, Walter became Claire +Conyers' husband, and in time succeeded to the wide estates of Mr. +Conyers, as well as those of the Davenants. Godfrey Davenant, on +attaining the age of eighteen, obtained, through Colonel +L'Estrange's interest, a commission in the English army, fought +under Marlborough in the fierce campaign in Flanders, and fell at +the battle of Oudenarde. Happily, during the lifetime of Walter and +Claire Davenant, there was never any renewal of trouble in Ireland, +and they lived to see their children and grandchildren grow up +around them, in peace and happiness.</p> +<p>John Whitefoot became, in time, one of the leading merchants of +the city of London, and spent the greater of the fortune he gained +in trade in works of charity and kindness. The friendship between +him and Walter Davenant remained unchanged to the end of their +lives. They occasionally paid each other visits, and, when a son of +John Whitefoot married a daughter of Walter Davenant, they felt +that this was a fitting termination of the old feud between the +families.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORANGE AND GREEN***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18356-h.txt or 18356-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/3/5/18356">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/3/5/18356</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Henty + + + +Release Date: May 8, 2006 [eBook #18356] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORANGE AND GREEN*** + + +E-text prepared by Martin Robb + + + +ORANGE AND GREEN: + +A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick + +by + +G. A. Henty. + + + + + + + +Contents + + Preface. + Chapter 1: A Shipwreck. + Chapter 2: For James Or William. + Chapter 3: The King In Ireland. + Chapter 4: The Siege Of Derry. + Chapter 5: The Relief Of Derry. + Chapter 6: Dundalk. + Chapter 7: The Coming Battle. + Chapter 8: Boyne Water. + Chapter 9: Pleasant Quarters. + Chapter 10: A Cavalry Raid. + Chapter 11: The First Siege Of Limerick. + Chapter 12: Winter Quarters. + Chapter 13: A Dangerous Mission. + Chapter 14: Athlone. + Chapter 15: A Fortunate Recognition. + Chapter 16: Peace. + + + +Preface. + + +The subject of Ireland is one which has, for some years, been a very +prominent one, and is likely, I fear, for some time yet to occupy a large +share of public attention. The discontent, manifested in the troubles of +recent years, has had its root in an old sense of grievance, for which +there was, unhappily, only too abundant reason. The great proportion of +the soil of Ireland was taken from the original owners, and handed over +to Cromwell's followers, and for years the land that still remained in +the hands of Irishmen was subject to the covetousness of a party of +greedy intriguers, who had sufficient influence to sway the proceedings +of government. The result was the rising of Ireland, nominally in defence +of the rights of King James, but really as an effort of despair on the +part of those who deemed their religion, their property, and even their +lives threatened, by the absolute ascendency of the Protestant party in +the government of the country. I have taken my information from a variety +of sources; but, as I wished you to see the matter from the Irish point +of view, I have drawn most largely from the history of those events by +Mr. O'Driscol, published sixty years ago. There is, however, but little +difference of opinion between Irish and English authors, as to the +general course of the war, or as to the atrocious conduct of William's +army of foreign mercenaries towards the people of Ireland. + +G. A. Henty. + + + +Chapter 1: A Shipwreck. + + +A few miles to the south of Bray Head, on the crest of a hill falling +sharply down to the sea, stood Castle Davenant, a conspicuous landmark to +mariners skirting the coast on their way from Cork or Waterford to Dublin +Bay. Castle Davenant it was called, although it had long since ceased to +be defensible; but when it was built by Sir Godfrey Davenant, who came +over with Strongbow, it was a place of strength. Strongbow's followers +did well for themselves. They had reckoned on hard fighting, but the +Irish were too much divided among themselves to oppose any serious +resistance to the invaders. Strongbow had married the daughter of Dermid, +Prince of Leinster, and at the death of that prince succeeded him, and +the greater portion of Leinster was soon divided among the knights and +men-at-arms who had followed his standard. Godfrey Davenant, who was a +favourite of the earl, had no reason to be dissatisfied with his share, +which consisted of a domain including many square miles of fertile land, +stretching back from the seacoast. + +Here for many generations his descendants lived, for the most part taking +an active share in the wars and disturbances which, with scarcely an +interval of rest, agitated the country. + +The castle had continued to deserve its name until forty years before the +time this story commences, when Cromwell's gunners had battered a breach +in it, and left it a heap of smoking ruins. Walter Davenant had died, +fighting to the last, in his own hall. At that time, the greater part of +his estate was bestowed upon officers and soldiers in Cromwell's army, +among whom no less than four million acres of Irish land were divided. + +Had it not been that Walter Davenant's widow was an Englishwoman, and a +relation of General Ireton, the whole of the estate would have gone; but +his influence was sufficient to secure for her the possession of the +ruins of her home, and a few hundred acres surrounding it. Fortunately, +the dowry which Mrs. Davenant had brought her husband was untouched, and +a new house was reared within the ruins of the castle, the new work being +dovetailed with the old. + +The family now consisted of Mrs. Davenant, a lady sixty-eight years old; +her son Fergus, who was, when Cromwell devastated the land, a child of +five years; his wife Katherine, daughter of Lawrence McCarthy, a large +landowner near Cork; and their two sons, Walter, a lad of sixteen, and +Godfrey, twelve years old. + +Two miles west of the castle stood a square-built stone house, surrounded +by solidly-constructed barns and outbuildings. This was the abode of old +Zephaniah Whitefoot, the man upon whom had been bestowed the broad lands +of Walter Davenant. Zephaniah had fought stoutly, as lieutenant in one of +Cromwell's regiments of horse, and had always considered himself an +ill-treated man, because, although he had obtained all the most fertile +portion of the Davenant estate, the old family were permitted to retain +the castle, and a few hundred acres by the sea. + +He was one of those who contended that the Amalekites should be utterly +destroyed by the sword, and he considered that the retention of the +corner of their domains, by the Davenants, was a direct flying in the +face of the providence who had given them into the hands of the faithful. +Not that, had he obtained possession of the ruined castle, Zephaniah +Whitefoot would have repaired it or set up his abode there. The followers +of Cromwell had no eyes for the beautiful. They were too much in earnest +to care aught for the amenities of life, and despised, as almost sinful, +anything approximating to beauty, either in dress, person, or +surroundings. The houses that they reared, in this land of which they had +taken possession, were bare to the point of ugliness, and their interior +was as cold and hard as was the exterior. Everything was for use, nothing +for ornament. Scarce a flower was to be seen in their gardens, and +laughter was a sign of levity, to be sternly repressed. + +Their isolation, in the midst of a hostile population, caused them no +concern whatever. They cared for no society or companionship, save that +of their own households, which they ruled with a rod of iron; and an +occasional gathering, for religious purposes, with the other settlers of +their own faith. They regarded the Irish as Papists, doomed to +everlasting perdition, and indeed consigned to that fate all outside +their own narrow sect. Such a people could no more mix with the +surrounding population than oil with water. As a rule, they tilled as +much ground in the immediate vicinity of their houses as they and their +families could manage, and the rest of the land which had fallen into +their possession they let, either for a money payment, or, more often, +for a portion of the crops raised upon it, to such natives as were +willing to hold it on these terms. + +The next generation had fallen away somewhat from their fathers' +standards. It is not in human nature to stand such a strain as their +families had been subjected to. There is an innate yearning for joy and +happiness, and even the sternest discipline cannot keep man forever in +the gloomy bonds of fanaticism. In most cases, the immediate descendants +of Cromwell's soldiers would gladly have made some sort of compromise, +would have surrendered much of their outlying land to obtain secure and +peaceful possession of the rest, and would have emerged from the life of +gloomy seclusion, in which they found themselves; but no whisper of any +such feeling as this would be heard in the household of Zephaniah +Whitefoot, so long as he lived. + +He was an old man now, but as hard, as gloomy, and as unlovable as he had +been when in his prime. His wife had died very many years before, of no +disease that Zephaniah or the doctor he called in could discover, but, in +fact, of utter weariness at the dull life of repression and gloom which +crushed her down. Of a naturally meek and docile disposition, she had +submitted without murmuring to her husband's commands, and had, during +her whole married life, never shocked him so much as she did the day +before her death, when, for the first time, she exhibited the possession +of an opinion of her own, by saying earnestly: + +"You may say what you like, Zephaniah, but I do think we were meant to +have some happiness and pleasure on earth. If we were intended to go +through life without laughing, why should we be able to laugh? Oh, how I +should like to hear one hearty, natural laugh again before I die, such as +I used to hear when I was a girl!" + +Jabez Whitefoot inherited his mother's docility of disposition, and, even +when he grew to middle age, never dreamt of disputing his father's +absolute rule, and remained strictly neutral when his wife, the daughter +of an old comrade of his father, settled a few miles away, fought stoutly +at times against his tyranny. + +"You are less than a man, Jabez," she would say to him, indignantly, "to +put up, at your age, with being lectured as if you were a child. Parental +obedience is all very well, and I hope I was always obedient to my +father; but when it comes to a body not being permitted to have a soul of +his own, it is going too far. If you had told me that, when I became your +wife, I was to become the inmate of a dungeon for the rest of my +existence, I wouldn't have had you, not if you had been master of all the +broad lands of Leinster." + +But, though unable to rouse her husband into making an effort for some +sort of freedom, Hannah Whitefoot had battled more successfully in behalf +of her son, John. + +"You have had the management of your son, sir, and I will manage mine," +she said. "I will see that he does not grow up a reprobate or a Papist, +but at least he shall grow up a man, and his life shall not be as hateful +as mine is, if I can help it." + +Many battles had already been fought on this point, but in the end Hannah +Whitefoot triumphed. Although her husband never, himself, opposed his +father's authority, he refused absolutely to use his own to compel his +wife to submission. + +"You know, sir," he said, "you had your own way with my mother and me, +and I say nothing for or against it. Hannah has other ideas. No one can +say that she is not a good woman, or that she fails in her duty to me. +All people do not see life from the same point of view. She is just as +conscientious, in her way, as you are in yours. She reads her Bible and +draws her own conclusions from it, just as you do; and as she is the +mother of the child, and as I know she will do her best for it, I shall +not interfere with her way of doing it." + +And so Hannah won at last, and although, according to modern ideas, the +boy's training would have been considered strict in the extreme, it +differed very widely from that which his father had had before him. +Sounds of laughter, such as never had been heard within the walls of the +house, since Zephaniah laid stone upon stone, sometimes issued from the +room where Hannah and the child were together alone, and Zephaniah was +out with Jabez about the farm; and Hannah herself benefited, as much as +did the child, by her rebellion against the authorities. Jabez, too, was +conscious that home was brighter and pleasanter than it had been, and +when Zephaniah burst into a torrent of indignation, when he discovered +that the child had absolutely heard some fairy stories from its mother, +Jabez said quietly: + +"Father, I wish no dispute. I have been an obedient son to you, and will +continue so to my life's end; but if you are not satisfied with the +doings of my wife, I will depart with her. There are plenty who will be +glad to let me a piece of land; and if I only work there as hard as I +work here, I shall assuredly be able to support her and my boy. So let +this be the last word between us." + +This threat put an end to the struggle. Zephaniah had, like most of his +class, a keen eye to the main chance, and could ill spare the services of +Jabez and his thrifty and hard-working wife; and henceforth, except by +pointed references, in the lengthy morning and evening prayers, to the +backsliding in his household, he held his peace. + +Between the Castle and Zephaniah Whitefoot there had never been any +intercourse. The dowager Mrs. Davenant hated the Cromwellite occupier of +her estate, not only as a usurper, but as the representative of the man +who had slain her husband. She never alluded to his existence, and had +always contrived, in her rides and walks, to avoid any point from which +she could obtain so much as a distant view of the square, ugly house +which formed a blot on the fair landscape. She still spoke of the estate +as if it extended to its original boundaries, and ignored absolutely the +very existence of Zephaniah Whitefoot, and all that belonged to him. But +when her son and Jabez grew to man's estate, at about the same period, +they necessarily at times crossed each other's paths; and as in them the +prejudices and enmities of their elders were somewhat softened, they +would, when they met on the road, exchange a passing nod or a brief "Good +morning." + +Another generation still, and the boys of the two houses met as friends. +Thanks to his mother's successful rebellion, John Whitefoot grew up a +hearty, healthy boy, with a bright eye, a merry laugh, and a frank, open +bearing. + +"One would think," his grandfather remarked angrily one day, as the boy +went out, whistling gaily, to fetch in a young colt Jabez was about to +break, "that John was the son of a malignant, or one of the men of +Charles Stuart, rather than of a God-fearing tiller of the soil." + +"So long as he fears God, and walks in the right way, he is none the +worse for that, father," Jabez said stoutly; "and even you would hardly +say that his mother has failed in her teachings in that respect. I do not +know that, so long as one has the words of Scripture in his heart, he is +any the better for having them always on his lips; in other respects, I +regret not that the boy should have a spirit and a fire which I know I +lack myself. Who can say what may yet take place here! The Stuarts are +again upon the throne, and, with James's leaning towards Papacy, there is +no saying whether, some day, all the lands which Cromwell divided among +his soldiers may not be restored to their original possessors, and in +that case our sons may have to make their way in other paths of life than +ours; and, if it be so, John will assuredly be more likely to make his +way than I should have done." + +"We would never surrender, save with our lives, what our swords have won. +We will hold the inheritance which the Lord has given us," the old man +said fiercely. + +"Yes, father; and so said those whose lands we have inherited. So said +Walter Davenant, of whose lands we are possessed. It will be as God wills +it. He has given to us the lands of others, and it may be that he will +take them away again. The times have changed, father, and the manners; +and I am well pleased to see that John, while I am sure he is as true to +the faith as I am myself, will take broader and, perhaps, happier views +of life than I have done." + +Zephaniah gave a snort of displeasure. He grieved continually at the +influence which his daughter-in-law exercised over her son, and which now +extended clearly to her husband; but Jabez was now a man of +five-and-forty, and had lately shown that, in some respects at least, he +intended to have his way, while Zephaniah himself, though still erect and +strong, was well-nigh eighty. + +"Remember, Jabez," he said, "that it goes hard with those who, having set +their hands to the plough, turn aside." + +"I shall not turn aside, father," Jabez said quietly. "I have gone too +long along a straight furrow to change now; but I am not ill pleased that +my son should have a wider scope. I trust and believe that he will drive +his furrow as straight as we have done, although it may not be exactly in +the same line." + +But neither Zephaniah nor old Mrs. Davenant knew that their respective +grandsons had made friends, although both the boys' fathers knew, and +approved of it, although for somewhat different reasons. + +"The Whitefoot boy," Mr. Davenant had said to his wife, "is, I fancy from +what I have seen of him, of a different type to his father and +grandfather. I met him the other day when I was out, and he spoke as +naturally and outspokenly as Walter himself. He seems to have got rid of +the Puritanical twang altogether. At any rate, he will do Walter no harm; +and, indeed, I should say that there was a solid good sense about him, +which will do Master Walter, who is somewhat disposed to be a madcap, +much good. Anyhow, he is a better companion for the boy than the lads +down in the village; and there is no saying, wife, how matters may go in +this unhappy country. It may be that we may come to our own again. It may +be that we may lose what is left to us. Anyhow, it can do no harm to +Walter that he should have, as a friend, one in the opposite camp." + +Somewhat similar was the talk between Hannah and Jabez, although, in +their case, the wife was the speaker. + +"John has told me, Jabez, that he has several times met young Davenant, +and that the boy is disposed to be friendly with him; and he has asked me +to speak with you, to know whether you have any objection to his making a +friend of him." + +"What do you say, Hannah?" Jabez asked cautiously. "My father, I fear, +would not approve of it." + +"Your father need know nothing about it, Jabez. He is an old man and a +good man, but he clings to the ways of his youth, and deems that things +are still as they were when he rode behind Cromwell. I would not deceive +him did he ask; but I do not see that the matter need be mentioned in his +presence. It seems to me that it will be good for John to be friends with +this boy. He is almost without companionship. We have acquaintance, it is +true, among the other settlers of our faith, but such companionship as he +has there will not open his mind or broaden his views. We are dull people +here for a lad. Had we had other children it might have been different. + +"I have heard my mother speak of her life as a girl, in England, and +assuredly it was brighter and more varied than ours; and it seems not to +me that the pleasures which they had were sinful, although I have been +taught otherwise; but, as I read my Bible, I cannot see that innocent +pleasures are in any way denied to the Lord's people; and such pleasure +as the companionship of the young Davenant can give John will, I think, +be altogether for his good." + +"But the lad is a Papist, Hannah." + +"He is, Jabez; but boys, methinks, do not argue among themselves upon +points of doctrine; and I have no fear that John will ever be led from +the right path, nor indeed, though it is presumption for a woman to say +so, do I feel so sure as our ministers that ours is the only path to +heaven. We believe firmly that it is the best path, but others believe as +firmly in their paths; and I cannot think, Jabez, that all mankind, save +those who are within the fold of our church, can be condemned by the good +Lord to perdition." + +"Your words are bold, Hannah, and I know not what my father and the +elders of the church would say, were they to hear them. As to that I will +not argue, but methinks that you are right in saying that the +companionship of the young Davenant will do our boy no harm. + +"But the lad must have his father's consent. Though I reckon that we +could count pounds where they could count shillings, yet, in the opinion +of the world, they assuredly stand above us. Moreover, as it is only in +human nature that they should regard us as those who have despoiled them, +John must have no dealings with their son without their consent. If that +be given, I have nought to say against it." + +And so John told Walter, next time they met, and learned in reply that +Walter had already obtained his father's consent to going out rambles +with him; so the boys became companions and friends, and each benefited +by it. To John, the bright, careless ease and gaiety of Walter's talk and +manner were, at first, strange indeed, after the restraint and gloom of +his home; but in time he caught something of his companion's tone, until, +as has been said, his altered manner and bearing struck and annoyed his +grandfather. + +On the other hand, the earnestness and solidity of John's character was of +benefit to Walter; and his simple truthfulness, the straightforwardness of +his principles, and his blunt frankness in saying exactly what he thought, +influenced Walter to quite as large an extent as he had influenced John. + +So the companionship between the lads had gone on for two years. In fine +weather they had met once or twice a week, and had taken long rambles +together, or, throwing themselves down on the slopes facing the sea, had +talked over subjects of mutual interest. Walter's education was far in +advance of that of his companion, whose reading, indeed, had been +confined to the Scriptures, and the works of divines and +controversialists of his own church, and whose acquirements did not +extend beyond the most elementary subjects. + +To him, everything that Walter knew was novel and strange; and he eagerly +devoured, after receiving permission from his mother, the books which +Walter lent him, principally histories, travels, and the works of Milton +and Shakespeare. As to the latter, Hannah had at first some scruples; and +it was only after setting herself, with great misgivings as to the +lawfulness of the act, to peruse the book, that she suffered her son to +read it. The volume only contained some ten of Shakespeare's plays; and +Hannah, on handing the book to her son, said: + +"I do not pretend, John, to understand all that is written there, but I +cannot see that there is evil in it. There are assuredly many noble +thoughts, and much worldly wisdom. Did I think that your life would be +passed here, I should say that it were better for you not to read a book +which gives a picture of a life so different from what yours would be; +but none can say what your lot may be. And, although I have heard much +about the wickedness of the stage, I can see no line in this book which +could do harm to you. I do not see it can do you much good, John, but +neither do I see that it can do you any harm; therefore, if you have set +your mind on it, read it, my boy." + +It was a stormy evening in the first week of November, 1688. The wind was +blowing in fierce gusts, making every door and casement quiver in +Davenant Castle, while, between the gusts, the sound of the deep roar of +the sea on the rocks far below could be plainly heard. Mrs. Davenant was +sitting in a high-backed chair, on one side of the great fireplace, in +which a pile of logs was blazing. Her son had just laid down a book, +which he could no longer see to read, while her daughter-in-law was +industriously knitting. Walter was wandering restlessly between the fire +and the window, looking out at the flying clouds, through which the moon +occasionally struggled. + +"Do sit down, Walter," his mother said at last. "You certainly are the +most restless creature I ever saw." + +"Not always, mother; but I cannot help wondering about that ship we saw +down the coast, making for the bay. She was about ten miles out, and +seemed to be keeping her course when I saw her last, half an hour ago; +but I can see, by the clouds, that the wind has drawn round more to the +north, and I doubt much whether she will be able to gain the bay." + +"In that case, Walter," his father said, "if her captain knows his +business, he will wear round and run down for Waterford. + +"I agree with you," he continued, after walking to the window and +watching the clouds, "that a vessel coming from the south will hardly +weather Bray Head, with this wind." + +He had scarcely spoken when the door opened, and one of the servants +entered. + +"Your honour, a boy has just come up from the village. He says that John +Considine sent him to tell you that a large ship is driving in to shore, +and that he thinks she will strike not far from the village." + +"Why, on earth," Mr. Davenant exclaimed, "doesn't he tack and stand out +to sea!" + +"The boy says her foremast is gone, and they have lost all management of +her." + +"In that case, God help them! There is little chance for them on this +rocky coast. However, I will go down at once, and see if anything can be +done. + +"Katherine, do you see that there are plenty of hot blankets ready, in +case any of the poor fellows are washed ashore. I shall, of course, send +them up here. + +"I suppose, Walter, you will come down with me." + +But Walter had already disappeared, having slipped off as soon as he had +heard the message. + +"Don't let that boy get into mischief, Fergus," old Mrs. Davenant said. + +"I am afraid, mother, he is beyond me," her son said, with a smile. "No +Davenant yet could ever keep out of mischief, and Walter is no exception. +However, fortunately for us, we generally get out of scrapes as easily as +we get into them." + +"Not always, Fergus," she said, shaking her head. + +"No, not always, mother; but exceptions, you know, prove the rule." + +"Well, Godfrey, do you want to go?" he asked the younger boy, who had +risen from the table, and was looking eagerly at him. "Of course you do; +but, mind, you must keep close to me. + +"Ah, Father John!" he broke off, as an ecclesiastic, muffled up to the +throat in wrappings, entered the room. "Are you going down, too?" + +"Assuredly I am, Fergus. You don't think a trifle of wind would keep me +from doing my duty?" + +In another two minutes, the two men and Godfrey sallied out. They +staggered as the wind struck them, and Godfrey clung to his father's arm. +Not a word was spoken as they made their way down the steep descent to +the village, which consisted of about a dozen fishermen's huts. Indeed, +speaking would have been useless, for no word would have been heard above +the howling of the storm. + +The vessel was visible to them, as they made their way down the hill. She +was a complete wreck. The light of the moon was sufficient for them to +see that she had, as the boy said, lost her foremast. Her sails were in +ribbons, and she was labouring heavily in the sea, each wave that struck +her breaking over her bows and sweeping along her deck. There was no hope +for her. She could neither tack nor wear, and no anchor would hold for a +moment on that rocky bottom, in such a sea. + +On reaching the village, they joined a group of fishermen who were +standing under the shelter of the end of a cottage. + +"Can nothing be done, Considine?" Mr. Davenant shouted, in the ear of one +of the fishermen. + +"Not a thing, yer honour. She has just let drop one of her anchors." + +"But they could not hope it would hold there," Mr. Davenant said. + +"Not they, your honour, onless they were mad. They hoped it would hoult +so as to bring her head round; but the cable went, as soon as the strain +came. I saw her head go sharp up to the wind, and then fall off again; +not that it would have made much difference in the end, though it would +have given them half an hour longer of life." + +"Could we get a boat off with a line, if she strikes?" + +"Look at the sea, yer honour. Mr. Walter has been asking us; but there's +no boat could get through that surf, not if all Ireland dipinded on it." + +"Where is Walter?" + +"Sure and I can't tell ye, yer honour. He was here a few minutes since; +but what's come of him is more nor I can tell ye." + +"He went off with Larry Doolan," a boy, who was standing next to the +fisherman, shouted. + +"Then, as sure as fate, they are up to some mischief," Mr. Davenant said. +"Walter is bad enough by himself, but with Larry to help him, it would +take a regiment to look after them." + +"They can't be in much mischief tonight, yer honour," the fisherman said. + +"Look, sir, she's coming in fast. She draws a power of water, and she +will strike in a minute or two." + +"She seems crowded with men. Can nothing be done to help them?" the +priest asked. + +"Nothing, your reverence. Praying for them is the only thing that can +help the poor sowls now." + +"You are sure it's not possible to launch a boat, Considine?" + +"Look for yourself, yer honour. There's not a boat on the coast that +could get through them breakers." + +"There she goes." + +Even above the noise of the storm, a loud cry was heard, and the crash of +breaking timber as, with the shock, the main and mizzen masts, weakened +by the loss of the foremast, went over the sides. The next great wave +drove the vessel forward two or three fathoms. + +"That's her last move," Considine said. "The rocks will be through her +bottom, now." + +"They are off," a boy shouted, running up. + +"Who are off?" Considine asked. + +"The young squire and Larry Doolan." + +"Off where?" Mr. Davenant exclaimed. + +"Off in the curragh, yer honour. Me and Tim Connolly helped them carry it +round the Nose, and they launched her there. There they are. Sure you can +see them for yourself." + +The party rushed out from the shelter, and there, a quarter of a mile +along on the right, a small boat was seen, making its way over the waves. + +"Be jabers, yer honour, and they have done it," the boatmen said, as Mr. +Davenant gave a cry of alarm. + +"I didn't think of the curragh, and if I had, she could not have been +launched here. Mr. Walter has hit on the only place where there was a +chance. Under the shelter of the Nose it might be done, but nowhere +else." + +The Nose was a formidable reef of rocks, running off from a point and +trending to the south. Many a ship had gone ashore on its jagged edge, +but, with the wind from the northeast, it formed somewhat of a shelter, +and it was under its lee that Walter and Larry had launched the curragh. + +The curragh is still found on the Irish coast. It is a boat whose +greatest width is at the stern, so much so that it looks like a boat cut +in two. The floor is almost flat, and rises so much to the bow that three +or four feet are entirely out of water. They are roughly built, and by no +means fast, but they are wonderfully good sea boats, for their size, and +can live in seas which would swamp a boat of ordinary build. + +Walter had, with the assistance of Larry Doolan, built this boat for +going out fishing. It was extremely light, being a mere framework covered +with tarred canvas. As soon as Walter had reached the village, and found +that the fishermen considered that no boat could possibly be put out, he +had found and held a consultation with Larry. + +"Do you think the curragh could go out, Larry?" + +"Not she, yer honour. She would just be broke up like an eggshell with +them breakers." + +"But she might float, if we got beyond them, Larry." + +"She might that," Larry agreed, "seeing how light she is." + +"Well, will you go with me, Larry?" + +"Sure and I would go anywhere with yer honour, but she could never get +out." + +"I am thinking, Larry, that if we carry her along beyond the Nose, we +might find it calmer there." + +"Well, we might," Larry agreed. "At any rate, we can try." + +So, calling together two or three other boys, they had lifted the light +boat and carried it with its oars along the shore, until they got beyond +the Nose; but even here, it was a formidable business to launch her, for, +although the rocks broke the full force of the seas, throwing the spray +hundreds of feet up in the air, the waves poured through the intervals, +and dashed over the lower rocks in such masses that formidable waves +rolled in to the shore. + +After much consultation, the boys agreed that their best plan was to +scramble out on the rocks as far as possible, so as to launch the boat +beyond the break of the surf. + +It was a hazardous enterprise, and the whole party were, several times, +nearly washed into the water as they struggled out. At last, they reached +a spot beyond which they could go no farther, as a deep passage was here +broken in the rock. But they were now beyond the line of breakers. + +After several vain efforts to launch the boat, in each of which she +narrowly escaped destruction, they agreed that the only plan was, after a +wave passed, to drop her on to a flat rock, which then showed above the +water, and to jump into her. + +The two boys on shore were to hold the head rope, to prevent her being +dashed towards the land by the next wave, while Larry worked with the +oars to get her away from the ridge. The moment the wave had passed under +them, the head rope was to be thrown off. + +This plan was carried out. The two boys had but just time to jump into +the boat and get out their oars, when the next wave lifted the boat high +on its crest. The lads holding the rope were nearly torn from the rock, +but they held on till the strain ceased, then they threw in the rope, and +Walter and Larry bent to their oars. + +"Row easy, Larry," Walter said, as the next wave passed under them, "and +put her head to each wave." + +Terrible as was the sea, the curragh floated buoyantly over it, though +several times, as she rose to the steep waves, Walter thought that she +would be thrown right over. The worst part of their task was over, when +they got beyond the end of the Nose, for up to that point they were +forced to row across the course of the waves, and continually to turn the +boat, to face the great masses of water which ran between the rocks. But +once beyond the end of the reef they turned her head north, and rowed +straight towards the ship. + +"She has struck, Master Walter," Larry said, glancing over his shoulder, +"and her masts are gone." + +"Lay out, then, Larry, there's no time to lose." + +But, in spite of their efforts, the boat moved but slowly through the +water, for the wind caught her high bow with such force that, at times, +it needed all their strength and skill to keep her head straight. At last +they were close to the ship, which already showed signs of breaking up. +They ranged up alongside of it. + +"Fasten a line to a keg and throw it in," Walter shouted. + +In a minute, a keg was thrown overboard with a line attached. As soon as +it drifted a little way from the vessel's side, they hauled it into the +boat. + +"Now, back, Larry; these waves would sink us in a moment, if we turn our +stern to them." + +The wreck lay within a hundred yards of the shore, and the boat backed +until close to the line where the waves toppled over in a torrent of +foam. + +"Now, Larry, keep her steady. We are as near as we dare go." + +Then Walter stood up in the boat, took the keg and a foot or two of line +in his hand, and waited till the next wave passed under the boat. He +swung the keg round his head, and hurled it towards the shore. Then he +dropped into his seat, and gave two or three vigorous strokes, and, when +safely beyond the line of breakers, sat quiet and watched the result. + +"They have missed it the first time," he said. "Look! They are going to +run into the surf for it." + +The group on the shore joined hands, and the next time the keg was borne +forward, in the tumble of foam, Considine ran forward and seized it. The +back rush took him from his feet, but the others held on, and before the +next wave came, the line was safely on the beach. A strong cable was soon +pulled ashore and firmly fixed. A light line was attached to it, and the +sailors at once began to pass along. + +"Shall we turn back now, Master Walter?" + +"We will keep near the wreck for a few minutes longer, Larry. She can't +hold together long, and maybe we can pick somebody up." + +The vessel was indeed breaking up fast. Her stern was burst in, and the +waves, as they poured in at the opening, smashed up the deck. Many of the +crew had been washed overboard, and had instantly disappeared. + +As the boat approached the wreck, an officer, who had climbed the +shrouds, shouted out: + +"Will your boat hold another?" + +"Yes," Walter shouted back. "She will hold two more." + +"I will try and swim to you," the officer said. + +He threw off the long cloak, in which he was wrapped, and unbuckled his +sword and let it drop, unbuttoned and took off his military coat, and, +with some difficulty, got rid of his high boots. + +"Can you come a bit nearer?" he shouted. + +"We daren't," Walter said. "A touch from one of those floating timbers +would send us to the bottom." + +The officer waved his hand, and then sprang head foremost into the sea. +So long was he in the water, that Walter began to think he must have +struck against something, and was not coming up again; when suddenly he +appeared, within twenty yards of the boat. They rowed towards him, +instantly. + +"You must get in over the stern," Walter said. + +The officer was perfectly cool, and, placing his hands on the stern, drew +himself partly over it, and Walter, grasping his hand, dragged him in. No +sooner was he in, than Walter again hailed the wreck. + +"We can carry one more." + +But those who were still on board were huddled up in the bow, waiting +their turn for the rope. + +"There is a big un coming now," Larry exclaimed. "That will finish her." + +A wave, towering far above its fellows, was indeed approaching. Higher +and higher it rose. There was a wild cry from the wreck as it surged over +it. When it had passed, the sea was covered with floating timbers, but +the vessel was gone. + +"We can do nothing now," Walter said. "We daren't go in among that +wreckage, and any who get hold of floating planks will drift ashore. + +"Now, Larry, back quietly, and let her drift down round the Nose. We must +keep her head to the waves." + +Ten minutes, and they were abreast of the reef. As soon as they were past +it, Walter gave the word, and they rowed along, under its shelter, to the +point where they had embarked. + +"Now, sir," Walter said, "we will back her up to that rock. When we are +close enough, you must jump." + +This was safely accomplished. + +"Now, Larry, row alongside when the next wave comes. We must both +scramble out as well as we can." + +But by this time help was at hand. The boat had been anxiously watched +from the shore, and when, on the disappearance of the wreck, she was seen +to be making her way back to the Nose, Mr. Davenant, with Considine and +the priest, and the boys who had assisted in getting her afloat, hurried +along the shore to meet her, the rest of the fishermen remaining behind, +to aid any who might be washed up from the wreck. + +As soon as it was seen that they intended to land at the spot where they +had started, Considine and Mr. Davenant made their way along the rock, +and joined the officer just as he leapt ashore. The boat came alongside +on the top of the wave, and as this sank it grazed the rock and capsized, +but Walter and Larry grasped the hands stretched out to them, and were +hauled on to the rock, while the next wave dashed the curragh in +fragments on the beach. + + + +Chapter 2: For James Or William. + + +"My dear Walter," his father exclaimed as he embraced his son, as he +scrambled on shore, "you have behaved like a hero, indeed, but you +oughtn't to have done it. + +"And you too, Larry. You both deserve a sound thrashing for the fright +you have given us." + +"They may have frightened you, sir," the officer said; "but assuredly, I +owe my life to these brave lads. I have scarcely thanked them yet, for +indeed, until I felt my foot on the rock, I had but small hopes of +reaching shore safely in that cock boat of theirs. After feeling that +great ship so helpless against the waves, it seemed impossible that a +mere eggshell could float over them. + +"My name, sir, is Colonel L'Estrange, at your service." + +"My name is Davenant, colonel, and I am truly glad that my son has +rescued you; but the sooner you are up at my place, the better, sir. This +is no weather for standing talking in shirtsleeves." + +They now made their way along the rock back to the shore, and then +hurried to the village. There they learned that six men had succeeded in +getting to shore along the rope, before the vessel broke up. + +Telling Larry he had best have a glass of hot spirits, and then turn into +bed at once, and that he was to come up to the house the first thing in +the morning, Mr. Davenant, with the priest, Colonel L'Estrange, and +Walter made his way up to the house, to which the men who had reached the +shore had been already taken. + +The party were met at the door by Mrs. Davenant, who had been extremely +anxious, for Godfrey had been sent home by his father as soon as the +wreck went to pieces, and had brought the news of Walter's doings, up to +that time. + +"He is quite safe, Katherine," Mr. Davenant said, "but you mustn't stop, +either to scold him or praise him, at present. + +"Hurry off, Walter, and get between the blankets. I will bring you up +some hot spiced wine directly. + +"Katherine, this is Colonel L'Estrange, whom Walter has brought ashore in +his boat. You will excuse him, at present, for he has been for hours +exposed to the storm, and must be half frozen as well as half drowned. + +"Now, colonel, if you will come along with me, you will find a bed with +hot blankets ready, and, I doubt not, a blazing fire. + +"Ah, here is the spiced wine. Take a draught of that before you go +upstairs. You can have another, after you are in bed." + +Three more survivors from the wreck were presently brought up. They had +been washed ashore on planks, as indeed had many others, but the rest had +all been beaten to death against the rocks by the breakers. + +Walter slept late the next morning, and, when he came downstairs, found +that the others had already finished breakfast. When he had eaten his +meal, and listened to the gentle scolding which his mother gave him for +risking his life, he joined his father, who was, with Colonel L'Estrange, +pacing backwards and forwards on the terrace in front of the house. The +first fury of the storm was over, but it still blew strongly, and a very +heavy sea was running. + +"Ah, my young friend," Colonel L'Estrange said, advancing, "I am glad to +see you, and to be able to thank you more warmly than I was able to do +last night, when the very words seemed frozen on my lips, for having +saved my life. It was a gallant deed, and one which your father may well +be proud of. It showed not only bravery of the highest kind, but coolness +and judgment, which are virtues even more rare. I predict a brilliant +future for you, and if, in any way, my aid may be of use to you, believe +me, it will be at your service." + +"It was well you were a good swimmer, sir," Walter said, "for we could +not have helped you, if you had not been able to help yourself, for the +sea was covered with pieces of wreck, and as the boat was only covered +with canvas, the slightest touch from one of the jagged ends would have +made a hole in it. I am very much obliged to you for your kind offer of +assistance; but, at present, we have not made up our minds what I am to +be. + +"Have we, father?" + +"No, indeed, Walter. You have told me that you would like, at any rate +for a time, to see something of the world before settling down here for +life; but it is no easy matter to say what is best for you to do. Ireland +offers but little field for anyone's ambition. Since King James came to +the throne, and especially since Tyrconnell became governor, things have +been a little more favourable for us; and I have hopes, yet, that justice +will be done to the Catholic population of this unhappy country. + +"Is it not monstrous, Colonel L'Estrange, that the very men who had a +hand in the rebellion against King Charles the First, should still be in +possession, during the reign of his son, of the lands which were taken +from my father because he was loyal to his king? And so it is all over +Ireland. The descendants of Cromwell's men lord it in the homes of those +who were faithful to King Charles." + +"It certainly seems so, sir," Colonel L'Estrange said; "but I am no +politician. I am simply a soldier, and obey orders; but I own that it +does seem a cruel injustice, that the great portion of the lands of this +country should be held by the descendants of Cromwell's soldiers, while +the lawful owners, whose only fault was that they were loyal to their +king, should still be dispossessed of it." + +"But I think better times are coming," Mr. Davenant said. "There can be +no doubt of the king's leaning towards our religion. He has been +restrained from carrying his goodwill towards us into effect, by his +privy councillors and by the English party here, whose interest it is to +prevent any change being made, and who constantly misrepresent the +feelings of this country. From the days when Strongbow first landed, this +island has been the prey of adventurers, whose only object has been to +wrest the land from the native population." + +"But you are yourself a descendant of one of the early English settlers, +Mr. Davenant." + +"That is true enough," Mr. Davenant said smiling, "and, no doubt, he was +as bad as the rest of them; but, you see, we have held the land for some +centuries now, and, like the other descendants of Strongbow's men, have +come to look at matters from the Irish point of view, rather than the +English. However, I hope for better times." + +"You haven't heard the news, then, about the Prince of Orange?" + +"No; what is the news?" Mr. Davenant asked. "There have been rumours, for +years, that he intended to make a bid for the English throne; but I have +heard nothing else." + +"There was a report, before I left London, that he has already sailed +from Holland," Colonel L'Estrange replied; "and, indeed, I have no doubt +the rumour is well founded." + +"But he will never succeed," Mr. Davenant said eagerly. "He will be put +down as easily as Monmouth was." + +"I do not know," Colonel L'Estrange said gravely. "The Protestant feeling +in England is very strong. Monmouth was vain and empty headed, and he +wrecked his own cause. The Dutchman is a different sort of man +altogether, and one thing is certain: if King James can make a mess of +matters, he is sure to do so. The Stuarts have always been feeble and +indecisive, and James is the most feeble and indecisive of them. If +William succeeds in effecting a landing, I think his chance of success is +a good one." + +"He may reign in England," Mr. Davenant broke in passionately, "but he +will not reign in Ireland. + +"But forgive me," he broke off. "I forgot, for a moment, that you are an +Englishman, and my guest." + +"You need not apologize, Mr. Davenant. As I said, I am a soldier and no +politician. My ancestors were royalists, and I have no great love for the +Dutch stadtholder, who will be supported in England by the class who rose +against King Charles. At the same time, it is difficult to feel much +enthusiasm for the Stuarts. The first was a pedant. The second threw away +his chances, over and over again, by his duplicity and want of faith. The +third was utterly selfish and unprincipled. The fourth is a gloomy bigot. +Charles was, and James is, a pensioner of France. How can men be ready to +sacrifice everything for such a race as this?" + +"That is not the way in which we look at it in Ireland," Mr. Davenant +said. "The wars here are waged under various pretences. Someone is goaded +into rebellion, false charges are preferred wholesale, or there is a +religious pretext; but we all know what is at the bottom of them all, +simply the greed of English adventurers for Irish land; and, not content +with having dispossessed the ancient owners of three-fourths of the +cultivated land of the country, they want the remainder, and under the +pretence that we, the descendants of the early settlers, are in sympathy +with our Irish neighbours, they have marked us out for destruction, and +already a great portion of our estates is in the hands of Cromwell's men. +So gross have been the abuses, that the commission, which the king +appointed to inquire into the seizure of our estates, only ventured to +sit one day, for the proofs brought forward were so overwhelmingly strong +that it was seen at once that, did the inquiry continue, it would be made +manifest to all the world that justice could be satisfied by nothing less +than a clear sweep of all those men who have seized our estates. + +"If Ireland rises in favour of King James, it will not be for any love +for the Stuarts; but it will be to recover the land which has been +illegally wrested from us, and which, if Dutch William and his Whig +adherents gain the upper hand, will be taken from us forever. The +religious element will, of course, count for much. Already we have +suffered persecution for our religion; and, if the Whigs could have their +way, they would stamp it out utterly, with fire and sword. Things have +looked better, during the last five or six years, than they have done +since Cromwell first put foot in Ireland. We have begun to hope for +justice. Tyrconnell has stood up for us, and, with the goodwill of James, +has gained many concessions. We have now what we never had before, an +Irish army. The land thieves have been fairly alarmed, for they have seen +that the long delayed justice will be done us at last. Many have sold +back their lands to the original owners, and have left the country. +Others are only holding out for better terms. Another ten years of +James's reign, and things would have righted themselves; but, if the +Dutchman ascends the throne of England, there is no hope for Ireland, +save in the sword." + +"Well, we must hope it will not come to that," Colonel L'Estrange said. +"I am ready to fight the battles of England on the Continent, but civil +war, with all its horrors, sickens me; and civil war here is not like our +civil war in England. There were no race animosities there, no memory of +cruel wrongs on one side or the other. Men fought for a principle, but +there were no atrocities committed, on either side, like those which have +devastated Germany. The peasant ploughed the land, and the trader kept +open his shop unmolested. It is true that, towards the end, there were +confiscations of the property of those who still continued the strife, +and a few executions of individuals; but, taking it as a whole, no war +has ever caused so little suffering, to the people at large, as did the +civil war in England; but assuredly, a war in Ireland now, like those +which have gone before, would be marked by the foulest atrocities, +massacres, and destruction on both sides." + +"Yes," Mr. Davenant said, "I must own that, for downright brutal and +bloody ferocity, the wars in Ireland rival those of the Huns." + +Walter had listened in silence to this conversation. His father now +turned to him. + +"Have you heard whether Larry has recovered from his adventure of +yesterday as well as you have?" + +"No, father, I have not heard anything about it. I came out here directly +I finished my breakfast. How are the people who were brought up here?" + +"They are going on well, Walter, but they were all so bruised, as they +were being drawn up through the surf, that it will be some days before +any of them can leave their beds. + +"How many had you on board, colonel?" + +"I did not see the list of passengers, but there were twelve or fourteen +aft, and, from what I saw, I should think as many more forward. There +were twenty-three men in the crew. I suppose, altogether, there were some +fifty on board." + +"Are you going to make a long stay in Ireland?" + +"No; I shall only remain here a week or two. I am the bearer of some +letters from the king to Tyrconnell; and that reminds me that I must be +making my way on to Dublin." + +"I will ride in with you," Mr. Davenant said. "I must tell my friends +this news that you bring. It seems to me to be most serious. I will have +a horse round for you here, in half an hour, if that will suit you." + +"Perfectly," Colonel L'Estrange replied. "That will just give me time to +walk round to the village, to see the lad you call Larry, for I could not +go without thanking him for the share he had in preserving my life. + +"Perhaps you will go down with me, Walter, and show me his house?" + +When they reached the shore, they found the whole population of the +village engaged in dragging up the spars, planks, and pieces of timber +with which the rocks were strewn. + +"There is Larry," Walter said. "It is evident that there's nothing the +matter with him." + +Larry was, indeed, just coming up, dragging a piece of timber behind him; +while, in his left hand, he held a large bundle of fragments of wood, of +different sizes, which, as well as the timber, he was taking home for +firing. + +"Larry, come here. The English gentleman wants to speak to you." + +The boy dropped his wood, and came up. + +"My lad," Colonel L'Estrange said, "I am greatly indebted to you for your +work of last night. Take this," and he placed a purse of ten guineas in +Larry's hand. + +"And remember that I am still greatly your debtor, and that if, at any +future time, you should be in a position in which my aid may be useful, +you have only to let me know, and I will stand your friend." + +The sum appeared to Larry to be enormous. + +"Long life to yer honour, and it's proud I am to have been of service to +such a grand gentleman. It's thankful I am for your kindness, and if ever +you want a boy to do a job for you, it's myself that will be proud to do +it. As to yesterday, I just came because the young squire tould me to, +and thankful I am that he got back safe to shore, for, if we had been +drowned, I don't know whatever I should have said to the squire." + +Two days after the shipwreck, Walter and John Whitefoot met at the place +which they had agreed on, when they last saw each other four days before. + +"I heard of your brave deed on the night of the storm, Walter. Everyone +is talking of it; and even my grandfather, who has seldom a good word for +any of you at the Castle, said that it was a noble deed. It was as much +as I could do not to say, 'Yes, he is a friend of mine;' for I felt proud +of you, I can tell you." + +"It is all nonsense, John. I have often been out in a curragh in bad +weather, though never in quite such a storm as that; but, once launched, +she rode lightly enough, and scarce shipped a spoonful of water." + +"I should like to have been there," John said; "but I should have been no +use. My people have always been against my going down to the sea, deeming +it a pure waste of time, except that they let me go down to swim. I can +do that well, you know; but they have always forbidden my going out in +boats. Now, you see, it is proved that it is not a waste of time, for you +have been able to save many lives. The thought must make you very happy." + +"Well, I don't know that it does, particularly," Walter said carelessly. +"Of course, I was glad at the time, but I have not thought much about it +one way or the other, since. You see, the news that has come has driven +everything else out of our heads." + +"Is it true, then, the report that we heard yesterday, that William of +Orange has set out for England?" + +"Yes, it is true enough; and I am afraid, by what I hear, that it is +likely to cause all sorts of troubles." + +"I suppose," John said gravely; "and of course, in this matter my people +think differently from yours. You know we agreed that we would never talk +on these subjects, but I am afraid the time is coming when there will be +nothing else to be talked of." + +"I am afraid so, too, John. My father thinks that there will be civil war +again." + +"Of course my grandfather is delighted," John said quietly. "He has been +greatly disturbed in his mind, for some months, owing to the leanings of +King James towards the Irish, which seem to point to his having to give +up no small portion of the lands." + +"We thought so too, John; and although it is your father who would lose, +and mine who would gain, I don't think that even you can deny that it +would be reasonable. Your grandfather got the land from mine because he +fought for Cromwell against the king, and Cromwell got the best of it. +Well, it seems only reasonable that, when the king again came to the +throne, those who fought for him should get their own again." + +"It does seem so, Walter, I must own; and I am sure I should not have +cared, for myself, if the land was given back again to your father +tomorrow. Then I suppose we should go back to England; and, as I know my +grandfather has done well, and has laid by a good deal of money, they +could take a farm there; and there would be more chance of their letting +me enter upon some handicraft. I would rather that, by a great deal, than +farming. All these books you have lent me, Walter, have shown me what +great and noble deeds there are to be done in the world--I don't mean in +fighting, you know, but in other ways. And they make the life here, +toiling on the farm from sunrise to sunset, with no object save that of +laying by every year more money, seem terribly empty and worthless. + +"By the way, my grandfather was, yesterday evening, rating my father +because, instead of always keeping me hard at work, he allowed me once or +twice a week to be away for hours wasting my time--which means, though he +didn't know it, going about with you. My father said stoutly that he did +not think the time was altogether wasted, for that, in the last two +years, I had made a notable advance in learning, and he was satisfied +that I had benefited much by these intervals of recreation. Thereupon my +grandfather grumbled that I was too fond of reading, and that I was +filling my mind with all sorts of nonsense, whereas true wisdom was to be +found in one book only. + +"My father said that was true of religious wisdom, but that, for the +advancement of the world, it was needed that men should learn other +things. Of course, my grandfather had three or four texts ready at hand; +but my father had him by saying: 'You see, father, all the commands +issued to the Jews are not strictly applicable to us--for example, they +were ordered not to use horses; and I do not remember that Cromwell felt +that he was doing wrong, when he raised his ironsides.' That was a poser, +and so the matter dropped." + +Ten days later, when the boys met, John said: + +"This is the last time we shall meet for some time, Walter, for I am +going up to Derry to stay with a cousin of my father, who is settled +there and exercises the trade of a currier. I said, some months ago, that +I should like to learn a trade, but everyone was against it, then. They +seemed to think that, as I should some day have the land, it was flying +in the face of Providence to think of anything else. But I suppose the +fact that everything is so unsettled now, and that there is no saying +what may come of these events in England, may have made them think +differently. + +"At any rate, my father said to me yesterday: 'We have been talking over +what you said, about wishing to learn a trade. If all goes on well, there +is no occasion for you to learn any business save that of farming; but +none can say what the Lord may not have in store for us, or what troubles +may come upon us. In any case, it will do you no harm to see a little of +the world outside our farm; and, therefore, your grandfather and I have +settled that you shall go for a few months to my cousin, who, as you +know, is a currier in Derry. He has often written, asking you to go and +stay with him, seeing that he has no children of his own. Learn what you +can of his business; and if it should be that you find it more to your +liking than farming, I should not be one to hold you back from following +the bent of your inclinations. + +"'But this is between ourselves. My father's ideas on these subjects you +know, and it would cause much trouble, did he think that you had any idea +of not following in the path in which he and I have trod. But to me it +seems better that each should go on the path towards which his mind is +turned--that is, when he has made quite sure, after long reflection and +prayer, that it is no idle whim but a settled earnest desire. If, then, +after your visit to your uncle, you feel that you are truly called to +follow a life other than that you would lead here, I shall not oppose +you. The Lord has blessed our labours. The land is fertile, and I can +well provide the moneys that will be needful to start you, either in +business with my cousin, or in such way as may appear best.' + +"I thanked him gravely, but indeed, Walter, I had difficulty in +restraining myself from shouting with joy, for a life like that of my +father and grandfather here would be very grievous to me. I have no +desire to gain greater wealth than we have, but I long for a higher life +than this." + +"I don't know, John," Walter said doubtfully. "Unless, as you say, these +troubles make a difference, you will be a large landowner some day; and +these bitternesses will die out in time, and you will take a very +different position from that which your grandfather holds. Of course, we +regard him as a usurper, but you know, in the third generation the +grandson of a usurper becomes a legitimate monarch. My ancestors usurped +the land from the native Irish by the sword, just as your grandfather did +from us; but we came, in time, to be regarded as the natural lords of the +soil, and so will you. But to be a currier! That strikes me as a +tremendous come down!" + +"I care nothing about coming up or coming down," John said simply. "I +long only for an honest mode of life, in which, instead of dwelling +solitary, and seeing no one from year to year save at our Sabbath +meetings, I may mix with others and take part in a more active and busy +life. In itself, I do not suppose that the trade of a currier is a very +pleasant one; but that matters little if, when work is done, one has +leisure for some sort of communication with others, and for improving +one's mind. It will be to me something like what going to court in London +would be to you, Walter. I am most grieved about my mother. She will miss +me sorely. + +"She said to me last night, 'I fear somewhat, John, that the course I +have taken with you has greatly unfitted you for settling down here, as +we have done before you; but although I shall miss you sadly, I do not +blame myself for what I have done. I think myself, my son, that there are +higher lives than that spent in tilling the soil from boyhood to old age. +It is true the soil must be tilled. There must be ever hewers of wood and +drawers of water; but God has appointed for each his place, and I think, +my son, that you have that within you which would render the life with +which your father and grandfather have been well contented an irksome one +for you. + +"'I have no fear that we shall be always separated. Your grandfather is +an old man, and when the Lord pleases to take him, your father and I will +be free to do as we choose, and can, if we like, dispose of this land and +quit this troubled country, and settle in England or elsewhere, near +where you may be. It is true that we shall get little for the land; for, +broad as are its acres, who will give much for a doubtful title? But +there is ample laid by for our old age, and I see not the sense of +labouring incessantly, as does your grandfather, merely to lay up stores +which you will never enjoy. Did I see any signs of a decrease in the +bitter animosity which parties feel towards each other here, I might +think differently; but there is no prospect of peace and goodwill +returning in your time, and therefore, no object in your father and I +toiling on for the rest of our lives, when the return of our labour will +be of little worth to you. Such being so, I do not regret that your +thoughts turn to the world of which you have read in books. The world is +but a secondary consideration to us, 'tis true, but I can see no special +goodness in a life of dull monotony.'" + +"I wonder where your mother got hold of her ideas, John. She is so +different from most of your people." + +"She is indeed," John agreed. "It was from her mother that she received +her teaching. I know she was not happy with her husband, who was as +gloomy and fanatical as is my grandfather, and she ever looked back to +the happy days of her girlhood in England. I think she did for my mother +just what my mother has done for me, only the difference is that she +never had sufficient influence with her husband to enable her to carry +out her views for her daughter, while my mother--" + +"Has managed to have her own way," Walter laughed. + +"I suppose so, and that in spite of my grandfather. Certainly I owe +everything to her, for I am sure, if it hadn't been for her, my father +would never have ventured to oppose the old man, even so far as to let me +know you. It makes one sad to think, Walter, that religion should +sometimes make those who think most of it tyrants in their families. My +grandfather is terribly earnest in his religion. There is no pretence or +mistake about it; but, for all that, or rather because of it, he would, +if he could, allow no one else to have a will or opinion of his own." + +"I don't think it's the religion, John, but the manner of the religion. +My mother and grandmother are both as religious as anyone could be; but I +don't think I ever heard either of them say a hard word of a soul. Their +religion is a pleasure to them, and not a task, and I know that some +years ago, when we had a priest who was always denouncing the +Protestants, they very soon managed to get him changed for another. + +"What a funny thing it is, to be sure, that people should quarrel about +their religion! After all, we believe all the same important things; and +as to others, what does it matter, provided we all do our best in the way +that seems right to us?" + +But this was too liberal for John. He had been brought up in too strait a +sect to subscribe to such an opinion as this. + +"I do think it makes a difference, Walter," he said slowly. + +"I don't," Walter said. "It's just a matter of bringing up. If you had +been born in the Castle, and I had been born in your place, you would +have thought as I do, and I should have thought as you do; and of course, +still more if you had been born in a Catholic country like Italy, where +you would never have heard of Protestantism, and I had been born in a +Protestant country like Holland, where I should never have had a chance +of becoming a Catholic. Very few people ever change their religion. They +just live and die as they have been born and educated." + +"It seems so," John said after a pause; "but the question is too deep for +us." + +"Quite so," Walter laughed, "and I don't want to argue it. + +"Well, when are you going to start?" + +"I am off tomorrow morning. My father has an acquaintance in Dublin who +is starting for Derry, and I am to go in his charge." + +For another hour the boys chatted together, and then, with mutual +promises of writing regularly, whenever they had the chance, they said +goodbye; and the following morning John started with his father to +Dublin, and next day journeyed north towards Derry. + + + +Chapter 3: The King In Ireland. + + +On the 12th of November, a vessel arrived in Dublin with the news that +William of Orange had landed at Torbay on the 5th. The news created the +wildest excitement. The Protestants, who had been deeply depressed, by +the apparent intention of James to hand back, to their original owners, +the land which had been wrested from them, now took heart and began +openly to arm. Upon the other hand, the Catholics felt that, if William +and the Whigs succeeded to the chief power in England, their faith, their +remaining property, and their lives were alike menaced, and they, too, +prepared to fight to the last for all they held dear. + +Walter rode several times with his father into Dublin. The streets +presented a strange spectacle. They were crowded with Protestant +fugitives from the country districts. These had forsaken all, and flocked +into Dublin, fearing that the Irish would retaliate for past grievances +by a general massacre. The banks of the Liffey were crowded by these +fugitives, who, with tears and cries, besought the captains of the +vessels lying there to give them passage to England. All sorts of rumours +of bloodshed, massacre, and destruction circulated through the city. The +Protestants in the north were said to have fallen upon the Catholic +population, and to have put them to the sword, while in the south and +west it was said the Catholics had taken the same measures against the +Protestants. Both reports were equally false, but they were generally +believed, and added to the panic and dismay. + +In fact, however, both parties were waiting. The Protestants dared not +commence hostilities until assured that William was firmly seated on the +English throne, and ready to come to their assistance. The Catholics were +equally desirous to maintain the peace, until assured that no hope +remained save the sword. + +A month after John Whitefoot had left, Walter received a letter from him: + +Dear Friend Walter: + +You will have heard, no doubt, of the troubles that have arisen here. My +father sent me here to learn a trade, but at present, all men's minds are +so agitated that there is no talk save of arms and of fighting. My +kinsman is as bad as the others. He spends the day going hither and +thither among the townsfolk, and has been made an officer in one of the +six companies which have been raised here, and pays no further heed to +business. The town is mightily divided: the younger and more zealous +spirits are all for fighting, while almost all the older and wealthier +citizens are opposed to this. + +"This is how the trouble began. The Earl of Tyrconnell sent, as you know, +three thousand soldiers to help King James, at the first news of the +landing of the prince, and to do so he withdrew the regiment which was in +garrison in this town. On the 7th of this month of December, the people +here heard that the regiment of the Earl of Antrim was approaching the +town to take the place of those troops. When the news arrived, there was +a sort of panic in the town, and the news was spread that this regiment +was intended to massacre the people. + +"Why this should be I do not know, and I cannot but think that the alarm +was a false one. However, the regiment arrived on the river bank, and +some of its officers crossed and entered the city. When they were in +council with some of the leading citizens, a party of apprentices, with +some of the rabble, shut the gates. For some time there was great debate. +The older citizens were mostly in favour of admitting the earl's +regiment. Why, they asked, should Derry alone defy the power of +Tyrconnell and King James? If King William made his cause good, and came +over to Ireland to aid the Protestants, it would be time enough for the +men of Derry to join him, and to fight for their faith; but if they now +stood alone, they could do no good to the cause of King William, and +would bring destruction on themselves and their city. + +"But these arguments were of no avail. The apprentices and all the young +men of the town, and the fugitives who had come in from the country +round, were all for fighting, and so the gates were kept shut; and Lord +Antrim, seeing that he could do nothing against such a strong place as +Derry, marched away with his regiment. This seems to me a fair account of +what has happened. What will come of it I know not; but, being a +Protestant, my feelings would incline me to the side of William. Yet it +seems to me that his friends here have acted hastily, in thus adventuring +themselves against all the forces of King James, and that sore trouble is +like to come upon the town. However, it is not for me to judge. I am as +warm as any of them in defence of our religion, and shall try to do my +best in case of need. I am sorry, dear Walter, that we have to take +different sides in this quarrel, but of course we are each of the opinion +of our elders, and must not blame each other for what is indeed not of +our own choosing. + +"This is a fair city, standing on rising ground by a stately river, and +with strong walls; and at any other time life would be very pleasant +here, although living among so many people seems strange to me, after my +life on the farm. I hear all sorts of tales about fighting in other +parts, and of the slaughter of Protestants by rapparees, but know not +whether they are true. As my cousin, who is an earnest man, is wholly +taken up with the present affairs, and all business is at a stand, I have +little to do, and spend much of my time by the river side, and have taken +to fishing, which I like mightily, and yesterday I caught a fish weighing +three pounds, and we had him for dinner. I often wish you were with me. +Write me a long letter, and tell me all that you are doing. + +"Your affectionate friend, + +"John Whitefoot." + +Indeed, throughout all Ireland preparations for war were going on. All +over the north, the Protestants were banding themselves in arms; and, +under the excuse of some outrages, committed by a few isolated parties of +peasants known as rapparees, were everywhere harrying the Catholics, +carrying fire and sword into quiet villages, burning, slaying, and +carrying off their grain and cattle. Throughout the whole of Ulster, +Charlemont and Carrickfergus alone remained in the hands of King James's +troops. + +England and Scotland had now accepted William as their king, and James +had fled to France. With the exception of Ulster, Ireland remained +staunch to King James. In the south Lord Inshiquin, and in Connaught Lord +Kingston, had each raised corps among the Protestant settlers for +William, and were the first to commence hostilities, and the latter, +marching north, made an attack on Carrickfergus. + +Tyrconnell now issued commissions to several of the Catholic nobility and +gentry, to raise troops for the king's service, and as the people +responded to the call readily, some fifty regiments of foot and several +troops of horse were soon raised. But though men were forthcoming in +abundance, there was a great want of arms and all munitions of war. There +were, in the government stores, only twenty thousand arms, and most of +these were old weapons, that had been returned to store as unserviceable, +and only about a thousand muskets were found to be of any use. There was +no artillery or ammunition, and no money with which these necessaries +could be purchased abroad. The gentry would have willingly contributed, +but all had been well-nigh ruined by the confiscation of their property, +and could do little towards filling the treasury. + +Never did a nation enter upon a war so badly provided with all +necessaries as did Ireland, when she resolved to adhere to the cause of +her king, and to resist the power of England and Scotland, aided by that +of Holland and the Protestant States of Germany. + +Mr. Davenant had been one of the first to respond to the invitation of +Tyrconnell, and had set about raising a troop of horse. He had no +difficulty in getting the number of men in Bray and the surrounding +villages, and the difficulty in mounting them was overcome by the +patriotism of sundry gentlemen and citizens of Dublin, who willingly +contributed their spare horses to the king's service. + +Their arms were various. Some had swords, some short pikes, while a few +only had pistols; but the smiths everywhere toiled hard converting +scythes and reaping hooks into swords and pikes, and before they were +ready to take the field, the whole troop were provided with swords. + +Walter had eagerly begged his father to appoint him cornet of the troop, +and Mr. Davenant might have yielded, had it not been for his wife's +entreaties. Even old Mrs. Davenant, intensely loyal as she was to the +cause of James, sided with her daughter in law. + +"Of course, Fergus, you will do your duty to the king. It would indeed be +a shame for a Davenant to hold back; but, at Walter's age there can be no +occasion for him, as yet, to take a commission. I am ready to give my +son, as I gave my husband, to the king; and when Walter becomes a man, he +too must go, if duty demands it; but for the present, assuredly there is +no reason why such a boy should mix himself up in this unhappy struggle. +Besides, if aught befalls you, it is to him that his mother will have to +look in the future. There are hundreds and thousands of strong and active +men in Ireland, and the necessity has not yet come for boys to take the +field." + +So Walter, to his intense disappointment, was refused the cornetcy of the +troop, but his father, who fully entered into his feelings, finally told +him that, when the troop took the field, he should accompany him. + +"You are not to carry arms, Walter, or to mix yourself up in any way with +it. You will be a sort of camp follower, you know; but you will see all +that goes on, and will be able to prepare yourself to take your place in +the ranks, if the war should, unhappily, go on for any time." + +With this Walter had to be satisfied; and, indeed, although somewhat +disappointed at not being, at once, allowed to join the troop, he felt +sure that it would not be very long before his father, once away from the +influence of his wife and mother, would allow him to join. + +"May I take Larry with me, father? He would look after my horse, and +would be useful to you for running messages, and all sorts of things. He +wants to go very much. You see, his uncle and two or three of his cousins +have joined the troop, and he would have joined, too, if you had not +thought him too young." + +"The worst of you and Larry is, that you are always getting into some +scrape together," Mr. Davenant said, with a smile. + +"But I should not get into scrapes on such a business as this," Walter +said indignantly. "This is a serious affair, and of course, going with +you, I should be very particular." + +"Yes, as long as I was close by, Walter. However, I don't mind your +taking Larry. He would, as you say, be useful, and you will want somebody +to look after your horse and act as your servant. We may be separated, +sometimes, for the troop may be sent on detached service, when I could +not take you with me." + +The permission to take Larry quite reconciled Walter to the downfall of +his hopes of going as cornet, and, in high spirits, he hastened down to +the village, to tell Larry that his father had consented to his +accompanying him. + +All through January, Mr. Davenant was busy drilling his troop. Throughout +all Ireland, both parties were preparing for the storm which was soon to +burst. Lord Mountjoy, a Protestant nobleman, was sent with his regiment, +which consisted for the most part of Protestants, to Derry. He held a +meeting with the leading townspeople, who agreed to admit the Protestant +soldiers, upon the condition that no more troops were sent. Accordingly, +the Protestant troops, under Colonel Lundy, entered the town, and Lord +Mountjoy assumed the governorship. + +Tyrconnell soon perceived that he had made a mistake in sending Mountjoy +to Derry, for instead of overawing the inhabitants, his regiment had, in +fact, become a part of the rebel garrison. He therefore recalled Mountjoy +and sent him over to France, on the pretence of an embassy to King James, +but, as soon as he arrived there, he was treacherously thrown into +prison. + +The people of Derry received quantities of powder and arms from Scotland, +and, on the 20th of February, the Prince of Orange was formally +proclaimed king in Derry; and this example was followed throughout +Ulster. This was, in fact, the beginning of the war. Anxious to save +Ireland from the horrors of civil war, Lord Granard, and other Protestant +noblemen of the council, joined Tyrconnell in issuing a proclamation, +ordering the Protestant corps to lay down their arms; and as they did not +obey, Lieutenant General Hamilton was despatched to the north, with a +thousand regular troops and a considerable number of irregulars. + +These came up with the insurgents at Dromore, and defeated them with +great slaughter. They rallied at Hillsborough, but again were defeated +and scattered. Hamilton divided his force, and, marching through the +north, reduced Ulster to submission, with the exception only of the +fortified towns of Enniskillen and Derry. In the south General M'Carty +was equally successful in clearing Munster of William's adherents, and +defeated Lord Inshiquin in every encounter. + +On the 14th of March, Mr. Davenant, who had ridden into Dublin, returned +in the evening with the news that the king had landed at Kinsale, two +days before, with fifteen hundred Irish troops in the pay of France, and +a hundred French officers, intended to aid in drilling the new levies. + +"I am glad, indeed, that he has arrived, for had he been met on the seas +by the English fleet, all our hopes might have been dashed at a blow. Now +that he is with us, it will rouse the enthusiasm of the people to the +utmost. If he is wise, he will surely be able to unite all Ireland under +him; save of course the fanatics of the north, who, however, can do +nothing against the whole strength of the country, since Hamilton's +little force, alone, has been sufficient to put down all opposition, save +where they remain shut up behind the walls of Derry and Enniskillen. + +"It is not with them that we have to cope alone--they would be utterly +powerless--it is with the army of England and Scotland we shall have to +fight. Unfortunately we have no fleet, and they can land wherever they +choose; but now the king is really among us, all who have hitherto +wavered will join. Let England and Scotland choose their king as they +will, but there is no reason why Ireland should desert its rightful +monarch at their bidding." + +"When will the king arrive at Dublin, father?" + +"He goes first to Cork, Walter. Tyrconnell has set out, and will meet him +there. They say he will be here in about ten days' time. The French +ambassador, the Marquis d'Avaux, comes with him, and many French nobles." + +"Do you think, father, he will at once order that his friends shall +receive the land again which was taken from them by Cromwell's soldiers?" + +"I hope not, my boy. It is his interest and not our own we must think of +now; and if Ireland is to resist, successfully, the English and +continental troops of Dutch William, we must be united--we must be +Irishmen first, Catholics and Protestants afterwards. I trust that he +will issue such proclamations as will allay the alarm of the Protestants, +and bind us all together. + +"King James is not like his father. In no single case, since he came to +the throne, has he broken his royal word once given; therefore, all may +feel confidence in any promises he may make. I have, of course, no hope +that anything he can say will influence the fanatics of Derry and +Enniskillen, but we can afford to disregard them. They are entailing +misery and suffering upon themselves, without the slightest benefit to +the cause they advocate. If we beat the English, of course those places +must finally surrender. If the English beat us, they will get their Dutch +William as king, without any effort on their part. I think, myself, that +it will be very unwise to attempt anything against those two places. The +people there can shut themselves up in their walls, as long as they like, +and by so doing can in no way harm us. If we take their towns, it will +only add to the bad blood that already exists. Better by far leave them +to themselves, until the main battle is fought out." + +On the 23rd, the news came that the king was to arrive in Dublin the next +day, and Mr. Davenant, or, as he was now called, Captain Davenant, went +over, with all the gentry of the neighbourhood, to meet him. + +King James was received with enthusiasm. Addresses were presented to him +by the several public bodies, and by the clergy of the Established +Church. His answer to these addresses gave satisfaction to all. He +promised favour and protection to the Established Protestant Church; +issued an invitation to the Protestants who had fled the kingdom to +return to their homes, and assured them of safety and his particular +care; and he commanded that, with the exception of the military, no +Catholics should carry arms in Dublin. Finally, he summoned a parliament +to meet him in Dublin on the 7th of May. + +One day, a messenger arrived with a despatch for Captain Davenant. + +"We are to move into Dublin, tomorrow, Walter," he said when he read it. +"We are to take the field at once. The king himself is going to march in +command of us against Derry. I think his majesty is wrong; and I know +that Tyrconnell has argued strongly against his intention. There are +three reasons against it. First, as I told you, I think it were better to +leave Derry alone, until the main issue is settled. Secondly, King James +has no military experience whatever, and if ought goes wrong with the +expedition, he will lose prestige. Thirdly, although it were well for him +to be with the army when it fights a foreign foe, it were better that he +should not lead it against men who are, however much they may rebel +against him, his own subjects. + +"I know Tyrconnell has set forth these objections to him; but, unhappily, +obstinacy is a fault of all the Stuart race, and it generally happens +that they are most obstinate when most wrong. However, I trust that when +Derry sees so strong a force marching against it, it will open its gates +without resistance. A siege can only entail horrible suffering on the +town; and that suffering will, in the end, tell against James's cause, +for it will excite the sympathy of the Protestants in England and +Scotland, and make them all the hotter to conquer Ireland." + +The following day, the troop was mustered in front of the castle, and, +after a tender farewell to his wife and mother, Captain Davenant placed +himself at their head and rode off. A quarter of an hour later Walter, +with Larry Doolan on a rough little pony by his side, rode after the +troop. + +Dublin was reached in the afternoon. The town presented a festive +appearance. The principal streets were still draped with the flags which +had been hung out at the king's entry, five days before. The streets were +thronged with people, for loyalists had come in from all parts of the +country to welcome the king. + +Large numbers of men, belonging to the newly raised regiments, wandered +among the crowd, and with these were mingled the French uniforms of the +Irish troops who had come over with James. The troop was loudly cheered +by the crowd, as it passed through the town to the spot assigned to it in +the camp of the force gathered near the city. Walter and Larry rode a +short distance behind the troop, and joined it as soon as it reached the +ground allotted to it. + +"It was a brave sight, father, was it not, to see the city decked out, +and all the people cheering for the king? Dublin is setting a fine +example--isn't it?" + +"You must not set much weight upon the cheering of a crowd, Walter. I do +not say that the people of Dublin may not, at the present moment, be +loyal to the king; but if he were defeated, and William were to march in, +you would see that they would cheer him just as heartily. The mob of +London cheered King James, as he passed through it, a week before he was +so ill advised as to fly; and they threw up their hats for joy, a +fortnight later, for William. No, my boy--there is no dependence on a +mob. They worship success, and the king who is present is sure to be +vastly more dear to them than the king who is absent. + +"And now you had better help Larry picket your horses. Put them by the +side of mine. See how the troopers fasten theirs, and do yours the same. +When that is done, send Larry to get hold of some wood, and light a fire. +It will be cold when the sun goes down. As for food, we have brought +enough with us for tonight. Tomorrow, I suppose, we shall get rations." + +Captain Davenant now posted a certain number of men to look after the +horses, and the rest set off to cut firewood; and, in an hour, four or +five great fires were blazing. Forage was served out for the horses, from +the stores which had been collected, and also a truss of straw to every +three soldiers, as bedding. + +Walter had, in the meantime, strolled away among the other camps, and was +greatly amused at the various shifts and contrivances that the men had +made to make themselves comfortable. A few only of the officers had +tents; for these, as well as all other necessaries of war, were wanting; +and the troops who had, for some little time, been in camp there, had +raised all sorts of shelter from the weather. Some had constructed little +huts of turf, thatched with straw or rushes; others had erected little +tents, some of sailcloth obtained from the shipping, others of blankets, +coarse linen cloaks, or any other articles on which they could lay hands. +All were in high spirits at the prospect of the termination of the +monotony of continued drill, and of the commencement of active +campaigning. Huge fires blazed everywhere, and the country, for some +distance round, had been completely stripped of its wood. + +Everywhere was life and bustle. Men were cleaning their arms, preparatory +to the march of next day. Others were cooking at the fires. Troopers were +grooming their horses. Snatches of song, and loud laughter, rose in the +air. + +After wandering about for an hour, Walter rejoined his father. Captain +Davenant was sitting with the two officers of his troop, Lieutenant +O'Driscoll and Cornet Heron, by a fire, the materials for which the three +troopers who acted as their servants had collected. There was no cooking +to be done, for sufficient cold provisions had been brought with the +troop. + +"You are just in time, Walter," his father said. "We are going to fall +to, at once, at our meal. + +"Hand over that cold chicken, Larry; and do you, Tim Donelly, broach that +keg of claret. Give me the bread, Fergus--that's right. + +"Now, gentlemen, here's a hunk each. Plates are a luxury which we must do +without, in the field. Now let us fall to." + +Walter seated himself on a truss of straw beside his father, and thought +he had never enjoyed a meal so much, in his life, as the bread and cold +chicken, eaten as they were in the open air in front of the crackling +fire. Each was provided with a horn, and these were filled from the keg. + +"Here's to the king, gentlemen. Success to his arms!" + +All stood up to drink the toast, and then continued their meal. Three +chickens vanished rapidly, and the troopers kept their horns filled with +claret. + +"If we always do as well as that," Captain Davenant said, as they +finished the meal, "we shall have no reason to grumble. But I fear that's +too much to expect. + +"Bring me my pipe and tobacco, Larry. You will find them in the holsters +of my saddle. + +"Fergus, do you undo these trusses, and lay the straw out even--that will +do. + +"Now, lads, you will find plenty more provisions in the wallet. Do you go +and get your own suppers, then give an eye to the horses. We shall not +want anything more." + +For two or three hours, the three officers and Walter sat chatting by the +fire, occasionally piling on fresh logs. Gradually the din of voices in +the camp died away, and the bright fires burned down. + +"I think we had better turn in," Captain Davenant said at last. "We must +be astir an hour before daylight, for we march as soon as it's light." + +Rolling themselves in their long cloaks, they lay down upon the straw. It +was some time before Walter got to sleep. The novelty of the situation, +and the strangeness of lying with the night air blowing in his face, made +him unusually wakeful. Occasionally, too, a laugh, from some party who +were sitting late round their fire, attracted his attention, and the +sound of the snorting and pawing of the horses also kept him awake; but +at last he, too, went off to sleep. + +In spite of his warm cloak, he felt stiff and chilled when the sound of +the trumpets and drums roused the camp. + +"Well, Walter, how do you like sleeping in the open?" his father said, as +he rose to his feet and shook himself. + +"I don't mind the sleeping, father, but the waking is not so pleasant. +However, I shall soon get accustomed to it, I suppose. But I always did +hate getting up in the dark, even when we were going out fishing." + +"You won't always get as comfortable a bed as this, Walter; so don't +expect it. The time will come, ere long, when you will look back upon +this as absolute luxury. We are not likely to get straw another night, I +can tell you. + +"Now, Fergus, bring that wallet here. We must breakfast before we get in +the saddle." + +Walter came to the conclusion that breakfast, eaten in the dark, was a +very inferior meal to dinner before a great fire. However, he kept his +thoughts to himself, and, as soon as he had finished, went to aid Larry +in saddling the horses. + +"I suppose I can ride with you today, father?" he said, as he mounted. + +"Yes; there will not be any military display by the way. Many of the +soldiers have got nothing in the way of uniform at present. So you can +ride with me. But if any general officer comes along, you must draw off a +little, and drop behind with Larry, who will follow in the rear of the +troop." + +As soon as daylight appeared, the bugles gave the signal, and the force, +preceded by its cavalry, started on its march towards the north. + + + +Chapter 4: The Siege Of Derry. + + +There was an air of excitement in the streets of Derry. Knots of people +were gathered, talking excitedly. Women stood at the doors of all the +houses, while men moved aimlessly and restlessly about between the +groups, listened for a time to a speaker, and then moved on again. The +work of strengthening the defences, which had gone on incessantly for the +last three months, had ceased, while numbers of persons were gathered on +the walls, looking anxiously towards the south. A general air of gloom +and despondency hung over the place. The storm which Derry had braved was +gathering around it at last. King James and his troops were advancing +against it. + +Opinion was strongly divided in the city. Almost without exception, the +older citizens deprecated resistance. The walls, indeed, were strong, and +the position formidable. The king had no artillery worth speaking of, and +the walls, manned by brave men, might well, for a definite time, resist +assault; but the stores of food could not long support the large +population now gathered in the town, and there seemed no possibility, +whatever, of assistance from England before the horrors of famine would +be upon them. To what purpose, then, oppose resistance, which must, even +if successful, cause frightful sufferings to the inhabitants, and which, +if unsuccessful, would hand over the city to the vengeance of James. + +The garrison had been strengthened by two regiments and a vast quantity +of supplies. But, including everything, there were but provisions for ten +days, and as many weeks might elapse before assistance could come. + +The younger and more ardent spirits were for resistance to the last. + +"Better," they said, "die of hunger, than surrender the Protestant +stronghold to the Papists." + +Every hour brought crowds of fugitives, the inhabitants of all the +villages deserting their homes at the approach of the royal forces, and +flying, with what goods they could carry, to Derry. + +Archdeacon Hamilton had arrived with a message from the king, offering +that if the city would, within four days, surrender, there should be an +amnesty to all for past offences, and that the property of all the +inhabitants should be respected. This proposition was now being +considered by the governor and his council, together with all the +principal officers of the English regiments. + +John Whitefoot had been out all day, and had just returned to his +cousin's house, which was crowded with fugitives, as the tanner had +friends and connections in all the villages, and had opened his doors to +all who sought shelter, until every room was filled. It was a pitiful +sight to see women, with their babies in their arms and their children +gathered round them, sitting forlornly, almost indifferent to the +momentous consultation which was going on, and thinking only of their +deserted homes, and wondering what had befallen them. The men had, for +the most part, been out in the streets gathering news. The tanner's wife, +assisted by two or three of the women, was busy at the great fire on the +hearth, over which hung some huge pots in which broth and porridge were +being prepared. + +One by one, the men dropped in. No news had yet been heard as to the +decision of the council. It was dark when the tanner himself entered. His +face was stern and pale. + +"It is settled," he said shortly. "The council have broken up. I have +just spoken to one of the members. They and the officers are unanimously +in favour of accepting the terms of James." + +Exclamations of anger broke from some of the men. + +"I cannot say aught against it," the tanner said, "though my heart feels +well-nigh broken. Had we only men here, I should say let us fight to the +last, but look at all these women and children! Think what thousands and +thousands of them are in the town. Truly, I cannot blame the council that +they have decided not to bring this terrible suffering upon the city." + +"The Lord will provide for his own," a minister, who had come in with his +flock, said. "Friend, I had looked for better things from you. I thought +that you were steadfast in the cause of the Lord, and now that the time +of trouble comes, you fall away at once. Remember how Sennacherib and his +host died before Jerusalem. Cannot the Lord protect Londonderry +likewise?" + +"The age of miracles is past," the tanner said. "Did we not see, in +Germany, how Magdeburg and other Protestant cities were destroyed, with +their inhabitants, by the Papists? No, Brother Williams, the wicked are +suffered to work their will here, when they are stronger than the godly, +and we must look for no miracles. I am ready to fight, and, had the +council decided otherwise, would have done my share to the last; but my +heart sickens, as I look round on the women, the weak, and ailing. Did +James demand that we should renounce our religion, I would say let us all +die by sword or Famine rather than consent; but he has offered toleration +to all, that none shall suffer for what has been done, and that the +property as well as the lives of all shall be respected. + +"Truly, it seems to me that resistance would be not bravery, but a sort +of madness. There are promises of aid from England; but how long may we +have to wait for them? And there are but ten days' provisions in the +town. If these English officers of King William think that resistance is +hopeless, why should I, who know nought of war, set myself against them?" + +"Because they have not faith," the minister said, "and you should have +faith; because they think only of carnal weapons, and you should trust to +the Lord. Remember Leyden, how help came when all seemed lost." + +"I do," the tanner replied, "and I remember how the women and children +suffered and died, how they dropped in the streets and perished with +famine in their houses. I remember this, and I shrink from saying 'let us +resist to the end.' I should rejoice if they had decided that Derry +should be deserted, that the women and children should be sent away to +shelter in the mountains of Donegal, and that every man should march out +and do combat with the army of James. We are numerous, and far better +armed than the Papists, and victory might be ours; but, were it +otherwise, were every man fated to fall on the field, I would still say +let us march forward. It is not death that I fear, but seeing these weak +and helpless ones suffer. I should not envy the feelings of the men who +decided on resistance, when the time came that the women and children +were dying of hunger around them. There is a time to fight; and a time to +sheath the sword, and to wait until a chance of drawing it successfully +again arrives; and methinks that, having such good terms offered, the +present is the time for waiting." + +The preacher waved his hand impatiently, and, wrapping himself in his +cloak, left the house without another word. The next day the capitulation +was signed, and the following day the army of James was seen approaching, +and presently halted, on a hill within cannon shot of the town. + +Londonderry stands in a bend of the river Foyle, and the position which +the army took up at once isolated it from the surrounding country. The +offer of capitulation had already been sent out to General Hamilton by +Captain White, the bearer receiving instructions to stipulate that the +army should not advance within four miles of the town, until all was +ready to hand over the city. In the meantime, General Rosen, who was in +chief command of the army, stationed it so as to extend from one corner +of the bend of the river to the other, and so to cut off all +communication between the city and the surrounding country; but, in the +course of the day, a country gentleman named Murray made his way through +their lines, with a body of cavalry, and rode up to the gate of the town. + +The governor refused to open it, but, in spite of his orders, some of the +townspeople opened the gate, and Murray rode into the town, and, going +from point to point, exhorted the people not to surrender but to resist +to the last, accusing the governor and council of foul treachery, in thus +handing over the city. + +The confusion and excitement in the streets was now great, and, while +this was going on, the governor sent a trumpeter to the king, requiring +one hour's time before the city should surrender. + +Rosen took no notice of this, and, believing that all was arranged, rode +forward with the king and a portion of the army. But Murray's +exhortations and passionate harangues had their effect. A number of the +townspeople ran to the walls, and, loading the cannon, opened, with these +and their muskets, a heavy fire on the approaching troops. Several of the +soldiers were killed, and among them was Captain Troy, who was riding +close to the king. + +Astonished at this unexpected resistance, the troops drew back, as they +were entirely without means of making an assault upon the city. The +governor and council at once sent Archdeacon Hamilton to the royal camp, +to excuse themselves for what had happened, and to explain that the +firing was the action of a turbulent body of men, whom they were unable +to restrain, and whom they represented as drunken rebels. The better +class of citizens, they said, were all resolved to surrender dutifully, +and were doing all they could to persuade the common people to do the +same. + +As the royal artillery had not yet arrived, James drew off his troops to +Saint Johnston. Murray, with a body of horse, went out and skirmished +with them, but returned into the town on hearing that the council still +intended to surrender, and again harangued the people. + +Eight thousand men assembled on the parade, and, after listening to a +passionate harangue, declared that they would resist to the last. They at +once chose a preacher named Walker, and a Mr. Baker, as joint governors, +appointed Murray as general in the field, divided themselves into eight +regiments, and took the entire control of the city into their hands. +Archdeacon Hamilton, Lundy, and several of the principal citizens at once +left the town, in disguise, and were allowed to pass through the +besieging army. + +John Whitefoot had been present at all the events which had taken place +that day, and, although he had quite agreed with his cousin that +resistance would do no good to the cause, and would entail fearful +sufferings on the besieged, he was carried away by the general +enthusiasm, and shouted as loudly as any in reply to the exhortations of +Murray. The tanner was also present. John was by his side, and saw that +he was deeply moved by the speech, but he did not join in the +acclamations. When all was over, he laid his hand on John's shoulder: + +"The die is cast, my boy. I am glad that no act or voice of mine has had +aught to do with bringing it about, and that the weight of what is to +come will not rest upon my conscience. But, now that it is decided, I +shall not be one to draw back, but will do my share with what strength +the Lord has given me." + +"May I join one of the regiments, too?" John asked. "I am young, but I am +as strong as many men." + +"It were better not, at present, John. Before the end comes, every arm +that can bear weapon may be needed, but, at present, there is no reason +why you should do so. Doubtless, plenty of work will be found for younger +hands, besides absolute fighting, but I think not that there will be much +fighting, save against famine. Our walls are strong, and we have +well-nigh forty pieces of cannon, while they say that James has but six +pieces, and most of these are small. + +"Methinks, then, that they will not even attempt to take the city by +storm. Why should they waste men in doing so, when they can starve us +out? It is famine we have to fight, in this sort of war. I do not think +that James has, in all Ireland, cannon sufficient to batter down our +walls; but ten days will bring our provisions to an end. It will be with +us as with Leyden. We have only to suffer and wait. If it be God's will, +succour will come in time. If not, we must even perish." + +With his spirits somewhat damped by his cousin's view of the case, John +returned with him to the house. He would willingly enough have gone out, +to fight against the besiegers, but the thought of the long slow agony of +starvation was naturally terrible to a lad of good health and appetite. + +The mob of Derry had shown good sense in the choice which they made of +their governors. Baker, indeed, who was a military man, was a mere cipher +in the matter. Walker was, in reality, the sole governor. He was a man of +energy and judgment, as well as enthusiastic and fanatical, and he at +once gave evidence of his fitness for the post, and set himself +diligently to work to establish order in the town. + +He issued orders that all unable to bear arms, who wished to leave the +town, could do so, while the able-bodied men, now formed into regiments, +were assigned every man his place, and every regiment its quarter, on the +walls. No less than thirty thousand fugitives, exclusive of the garrison, +were shut up in the walls of Derry, and the army which was besieging the +town numbered twenty thousand. + +The guns of the besiegers soon opened fire, and those on the walls +replied briskly. The besiegers threw up works, but carried on the siege +but languidly, feeling sure that famine must, ere long, force the town to +surrender; and fearing, perhaps, to engage the fresh and ill-trained +levies against a multitude, animated by the desperate resolution and +religious fanaticism of the defenders of the town. + +Now that the die was once cast, there was no longer any difference of +opinion among the inhabitants, and all classes joined enthusiastically in +the measures for defence. All provisions in the town were given into one +common store, to be doled out in regular rations, and so made to last as +long as possible; and, as these rations were, from the first, extremely +small, the sufferings of the besieged really began from the first day. + +John Whitefoot found that there was but little for him to do, and spent +much of his time on the walls, watching the throwing up of works by the +besiegers. + +A regular cannonade was now kept up on both sides; but, though the shot +occasionally fell inside the town, the danger to the inhabitants from +this source was but slight; for, of the six guns possessed by the +besiegers, five were very small, and one only was large enough to carry +shell. All day the various chapels were open, and here the preachers, by +their fiery discourses, kept up the spirits and courage of the people who +thronged these buildings. The women spent most of their time there, and +the men, when off duty from the walls, however fatigued they might be +with their labour, flocked at once to the chapels, to pray for strength +to resist and for early succour. Never were the whole population of the +town more deeply animated by religious excitement, never a whole +population more thoroughly and unanimously determined to die, rather than +surrender. + +When not upon the walls or in chapel, John spent much of his time in +amusing the children, of whom there were many in the tanner's house. The +change from their country quarters, the crowded town, the privation of +milk, and the scantiness and unfitness of their rations, soon began to +tell upon the little ones, and John felt thankful, indeed, that his mind +had been stored with stories from his varied reading of the last two or +three years. With these, he was able to interest and quiet the children, +who sat round him with wrapt attention, while the booming of the guns and +the occasional rattling of musketry outside passed unheeded. + +Scarce a day passed without active fighting, the initiative being always +taken by the besieged, for, in the royal army, the policy of blockade +rather than assault was steadily adhered to. The besieged, however, +continually sallied out, and attacked the parties engaged in throwing up +works. There was no settled plan of operations; but the commander on each +portion of the walls led out his men against the enemy, whenever he +thought he saw a favourable opportunity. The fights which ensued were +stoutly contested, and many were killed, but no advantage was gained on +either side. If it was the intention of the besieged to incite the +Royalists to make an attack upon the city, they failed altogether, and, +indeed, would have served their purpose better had they remained quietly +within the walls, for the energy and desperation with which they fought +were well calculated to deter even the most energetic commander from +attacking a town defended by eight or nine thousand men, animated by such +fiery energy. + +So confident, indeed, were the besieged, that the gates were often left +open, and taunting invitations to come on and take Derry were shouted to +the besiegers. The supply of provisions found to be stored away was +vastly greater than had been expected, for many of the fugitives had +brought in large stores, and a great number of the inhabitants had been, +for weeks, making preparation for the siege, by buying up quantities of +grain and storing it in their cellars. + +Thus, up to the end of the first month, although the allowance of food +was short, no real suffering was undergone by the inhabitants; but, as +time went on, the supplies doled out became smaller and smaller, and +dysentery and fever broke out in the crowded town. + +Fierce disputes arose between those belonging to the Established Church +and the Nonconformists, and it was with the greatest difficulty that +Governor Walker prevented the two parties from engaging in open strife. +Day and night, the besiegers' fire continued, and many were killed by the +shells which fell in the city. The fighting men on the walls were far +better off than those who had nothing to do but to wait and suffer, and +it was among the women and children, chiefly, that disease at first made +its victims. + +For a time, the children of the families who had taken refuge with the +tanner remained healthy. The visitors were lodged for the most part in +the cellars, so as to be in shelter from the fire of the enemy's mortar; +but John Whitefoot suggested to his cousin that the children would soon +pine and sicken, unless they had air. The tanner gave his consent to +John's establishing a shelter in the yard. A corner was chosen, and a +number of casks were placed along by either wall; on these beams were +laid, for it happened that the tanner had intended, shortly before the +siege, to build a large shed, and had got the timber together for the +purpose. + +On the timber, bark from the now disused pits was heaped to a depth of +some feet, which would effectually break the fall of any shell which +might light upon it, and, along the front of this low triangular +building, two lines of sacks filled with tan were placed. These would +suffice to prevent any fragment of a shell, which might fall and burst in +the courtyard, from entering the shelter; save by the opening, about a +foot deep, between the top of the sacks and the beams. + +When the whole was completed, John gathered the children there, and made +it their headquarters, and established himself as captain of the castle, +as he called it. + +The elders entered warmly into his plans. It was a great relief, to them, +to have the house cleared of the eighteen or twenty children. Their +mothers had no longer any anxiety for their safety, and the children +themselves looked upon it as great fun. There was plenty of air here, +and, in a short time, John persuaded the parents to allow the children to +sleep, as well as to pass the day, in the shelter. Here he told them +stories, constructed toys for them, and kept them amused and quiet, +appointing as his lieutenants three or four of the oldest of the girls, +who had the little ones under their special charge. John was rewarded, +for his pains, by seeing that the children kept their health far better +than did those of their neighbours, and, up to the end of May, not one of +them had succumbed, although several of the parents had already fallen +victims to dysentery and fever. + +Thus the month of May passed. With June, the hardships rapidly increased; +but, on the 13th, shouts of joy were heard in the streets. John ran out +to ascertain the cause, and learned that a fleet of thirty ships had +appeared in Lough Foyle, and was approaching the city. The inhabitants, +frantic with joy, ran to the walls, and both sides suspended their fire +to watch the approaching fleet. + +Suddenly, the ships were seen to turn and sail away. The people could not +believe that they were deserted; but, when they saw that the fleet was +really making off, curses and cries of lamentation and grief rose from +the crowd. + +Why Major General Kirk, who commanded the force on board the ships, which +were laden with provisions, did not attempt to sail up to Londonderry, +which, as was afterwards proved, they could have done without difficulty, +was never satisfactorily explained. The besiegers had erected two or +three small forts on the banks of the river, but these were quite +incapable of arresting the passage of the fleet, had it been commanded by +a man of any resolution. Kirk anchored in Lough Swilly, and contented +himself with sending messages to the town, to hold out to the last. + +A fresh search was now made for provisions, and parties of men entered +houses which had been abandoned, or whose inmates had died, and dug up +the floors of the cellars. Several considerable deposits of grain were +discovered, and many inhabitants, moved by the intensity of the general +suffering, voluntarily brought out hoards which they had hitherto kept +secret. + +Early in the siege, the water in the wells had become turbid and muddy, +partly owing, it was thought, to the concussion of the ground by the +constant firing, partly by the extra supplies which were drawn from them. +As the time went on, many of them dried altogether, and the water in the +others became so muddy that it had to be filtered through cloth or +sacking, before it could be drunk. + +During fishing expeditions, previous to the commencement of the siege, +John had more than once had a drink of water from the well of a peasant, +living in a little hut near the river bank. This hut lay between the +outposts of the two parties, and had, at the commencement of the siege, +been deserted by its owner. After the water became bad, John set out +every evening with a bucket, leaving the town just before the gates were +shut, and making straight down to the river. When it became dark, he +crawled along under the shelter of the banks, unperceived by the outposts +of either party, until close to the hut. Then he filled his bucket at the +well, and returned as he had come, lying down to sleep on the bank, well +in the rear of the Protestant outposts, until morning; when, as soon as +the gates were opened, he carried home the precious supply. + +It was this, as much as the light and air, which kept the children in +comparative health; but, on the further diminution of rations which took +place after Kirk's fleet retired, they began to fade rapidly. + +The horses had now been killed for food. The sufferings of the besieged +inhabitants became greater daily, and numbers died from sheer starvation. +The little inhabitants of John Whitefoot's castle were mere skeletons. +Most of their parents were dead, and a mournful silence pervaded the +town, save when the bells of the chapels called to prayer, or the yells +of the mob announced that the lower orders were breaking into houses in +search of food. + +John could stand the sight of the faces of the suffering children no +longer. He was himself faint and ill from hunger, for he had, each day, +given a portion of his own scanty rations to the weakest of the children, +and he determined to try and get them some food, or to die in the +attempt. + +He set out at his usual hour in the evening. The tide was high, but just +running out, and, entering the river, he floated down with the stream. +Keeping close under the bank, he passed the batteries which the besiegers +had erected there without notice, dived under the great boom which they +had constructed across the river, directly Kirk's expedition had retired, +and continued to float down to the mouth of the river, where he landed +and boldly struck across the country, for he was now beyond the lines of +the besiegers. He knew that his friend Walter was in the Royalist army, +for one of the last mails which entered the city had told him that he was +to accompany his father, and that Captain Davenant's troop would most +likely form part of any army that might march for the north. + +By the morning, his clothes had dried upon him, and he then boldly +entered the Royalist camp, mingling with the peasants who were bringing +in provisions for sale. He soon learned where Captain Davenant's troop +was stationed, and made his way thither. He stood watching for some time +until he saw Walter come out of a tent, and he then approached him. +Walter looked up, but did not recognize, in the thin and pallid lad +before him, his former companion. + +"Do you want anything?" he asked. + +"Don't you know me, Walter?" John said. + +Walter started, and gazed at him earnestly. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed at last. "Why, it can't be John!" + +"It is what remains of me," John replied, with a faint smile. + +"Why, what on earth have you been doing to yourself, John?" + +"I have been starving, in there," John said, pointing to the city. + +"Come into the tent, John," Walter said, grasping his friend's arm, and +then letting it fall again, with an exclamation of horror at its +thinness. "You needn't be afraid. My father is out--not that that would +make any difference." + +John entered the tent, and sat exhausted upon a box. Walter hastened to +get some food, which he set before him, and poured out a large cup of +wine and water, and then stood, looking on in awed silence, while John +devoured his meal. + +"I have wondered, a thousand times," he said at last, when John had +finished, "what you were doing in there, or whether you left before the +siege began. How did you get out?" + +"I floated down the river to the mouth, beyond your lines, last night; +and then worked round here. I thought I might find you." + +"Well, I am glad indeed that you are out," Walter said. "Every time the +mortar sent a shell into the town, I was thinking of you, and wishing +that I could share meals with you, for, of course, we know that you are +suffering horribly in the town." + +"Horribly!" John repeated. "You can have no idea what it is, Walter, to +see children suffer. As for men, if it is the will of God, they must bear +it, but it is awful for children. I have had eighteen of them under my +charge through the siege, and to see them getting thinner and weaker, +every day, till the bones look as if they would come through the skin, +and their eyes get bigger and bigger, and their voices weaker, is awful. +At last I could stand it no longer, and I have come out to fetch some +food for them." + +"To fetch food!" Walter repeated. "Do you mean to say you are thinking of +going back again?" + +"That I am," John said. "I am going to take some food in to them. You +will help me, won't you, Walter? It isn't for the men that fight, but for +little children, who know nothing about King James, or King William, or +the Protestants, or the Catholics, but who are just God's creatures, and +are dying of hunger. No one could grudge food to infants like these." + +"I will help you, of course, John," Walter said, "if I can; but now, tell +me all about it." + +John then gave an account of all he had been doing throughout the siege. + +"And now what have you been doing, Walter? Fighting?" + +"No. I have not been doing any fighting, except that, once or twice, I +was out with the troop, when they had a skirmish with your horsemen, but +I kept in the rear. I hope, ere long, my father will let me enter, but he +is waiting to see what comes of it. No. I have been idle enough. Well, of +course, I know all the officers in the cavalry now, and pretty nearly all +the officers in the camp, and then, with these constant skirmishes and +attacks by your people and ours, there is always plenty to interest one. +General Hamilton has been conducting the siege lately, but General Rosen +returned yesterday and took the command; but there's really not much to +do. We know you cannot hold out much longer." + +"I don't know," John said quietly. "I think that, as long as a man has +strength enough to hold his arms, Derry will not surrender. When you +march in, it will be to a city of dead people. We had such hopes when the +fleet came. If the people could have caught Kirk, they would have torn +him in pieces. He had five thousand soldiers on board, and, if he had +landed them, we could have sallied out and fought, instead of dying of +hunger." + +"Yes," Walter agreed, "we should have retired at once. We have only seven +or eight thousand men here now, and if five thousand English soldiers had +landed, we must have raised the siege at once. I can tell you that, +though he is on the other side, I was almost as angry at Kirk's cowardice +as you must have been. I shall be glad when this awful business is over. +I knew it was bad enough before, but after what you have told me about +the women and children, I shall never think of anything else, and I will +gladly help you in any way I can. There can't be any treason in trying to +prevent children from starving to death. What do you want me to do?" + +"What would do the children more good than anything, the women say, would +be milk. If I could get a keg that would hold two or three gallons--and a +watertight box with about twenty pounds of bread, I could swim back with +them just as I came. I would show you the exact spot where I landed, and +would come out again in four days. If you could put a supply ready for +me, every fourth night, among the bushes at the mouth of the river, with +a little lantern to show me the exact spot, I could come down with the +tide, get the things, and float back again when the tide turns." + +"I could do that, easily enough," Walter said. "The mouth of the river is +quite beyond our lines. But it is very risky for you, John. You might get +shot, if a sentry were to see you." + +"I do not think that there is much fear of that," John said. "Just +floating along as I do, without swimming at all, there is only just my +face above water, and it would be hardly possible for a sentry to see me; +but if I were shot, I could not die in a better cause." + +"I think, John, if you don't mind, I should like to tell my father. I am +quite sure he would not object, and, in case you should happen to get +caught, you could refer at once to him to prove that you were not a spy. +They make very short work of spies. But if you were to demand to be +brought to Captain Davenant, and say you were acting in accordance with +his knowledge, no doubt they would bring you." + +"Do as you think best, Walter, but don't tell him, unless you feel almost +sure that he will not object." + +"There is no fear of that," Walter said. "He is constantly lamenting over +the sufferings of the people of Derry, and has, all along, been in favour +of attempting to storm the place by force, so as to put a stop to all +this useless suffering. Now, John, you had better lie down on that straw +bed of mine, and get a sleep. After that, you will be ready for another +meal. I will tell Larry to go out among the market people, and buy three +gallons of milk and twenty pounds of bread. There are plenty of small +spirit kegs about, which will do capitally for the milk, and I don't +think that we can have anything better than one of them for the bread. We +can head it up, and make it watertight. How do you mean to get into the +town? I should have thought that they were likely to be seized." + +"So they would be," John said. "I shall hide them in some bushes at the +foot of the walls, at the side of the town facing the river. There are +only a few sentries there. Then, when it is light, I shall go in and tell +my cousin; and get him, after dark, to lower a rope from the wall. I +shall of course be below, to tie on the kegs. He can then walk with them +boldly through the street to our house, which is only a short distance +from that part of the walls. If anyone saw him, they would only suppose +he was taking home water from one of the wells." + +John was soon fast asleep. Walter sat watching him until, two hours +later, his father returned with his troop. John still slept on, while +Walter told his father the errand on which he had come. + +"He is a brave lad," Captain Davenant said, "and I honour him for his +conduct. It is not many men who, at a time like this, would risk their +lives for a number of children who are not any relation to them. +Certainly, I will gladly assist him. I am sick at heart at all this. My +only consolation is, that it is brought on solely by the acts of these +men, who, though comparatively a handful, set themselves up against the +voice of all Ireland. If they had risen when an English army arrived to +their assistance, I should say nothing against it. As it is, without +doing any good to their cause, they are entailing this horrible suffering +upon thousands of women and children. + +"By all means, help the poor lad, and if he should fall into the hands of +our people, let him mention my name. Rosen would no doubt disapprove of +it, but I cannot help that. All the Irish gentlemen in the army would +agree that I had done rightly, and, even if they didn't, my own +conscience would be quite sufficient for me to act upon. I am fighting +against the king's enemies, not warring against women and children. + +"How soundly the poor lad sleeps, and how changed he is! He is a mere +skeleton. I should not have known him in the least. If this is the +condition into which a strong, healthy lad has fallen, what must the +women and children have suffered! I wish Kirk had not turned coward, but +had landed his troops. We could then have brought up our scattered +forces, and could have fought them in a fair field, with something like +equal forces. That would have been vastly more to my taste than starving +them, like rats in a hole." + + + +Chapter 5: The Relief Of Derry. + + +It was late in the afternoon before John woke. He started up, as his eyes +fell upon Captain Davenant. + +"You have had a good sleep, and I hope you are all the better for it," +Captain Davenant said, kindly. "My son has been telling me all about your +expedition, and I honour you very much, for the courage you have shown in +thus risking your life to get food for those starving children. I quite +approve of the promise Walter has given to assist you, and if you should, +by any chance, be taken prisoner, I will stand your friend." + +John expressed his gratitude warmly. + +"It is a sad thing, in these civil wars, when friends are arrayed against +friends," Captain Davenant said. "Who would have thought, three months +ago, that you and Walter would be arrayed on opposite sides? It is true +you are neither of you combatants, but I have no doubt you would gladly +have joined in some of the sallies, just as Walter is eager to be riding +in my troop. If we must fight, I wish, at any rate, that it could be so +managed that all the suffering should fall upon the men who are willing +to take up the sword, and not upon the women and children. My heart +bleeds as I ride across the country. At one time, one comes upon a ruined +village, burned by the midnight ruffians who call themselves rapparees, +and who are a disgrace to our cause. At another, upon a place sacked and +ruined by one of the bands of horsemen from Enniskillen, who are as cruel +and merciless as the rapparees. Let the armies fight out their quarrels, +I say, but let peaceful people dwell in quiet and safety. But wholesale +atrocities have ever been the rule on both sides, in warfare in Ireland, +and will, I suppose, remain so to the end. + +"And now, we are just going to have dinner, and another hearty meal will +do you good. Each night, when my son brings down the supplies for you, he +will bring a substantial meal of cold meat and bread, and you must give +me your promise, now, that you will eat this at once. You will need it, +after being so long in the water, and having another swim before you, +besides. Although I approve of sending in milk for the children, I can be +no party to the supply of food for the garrison. Do you promise?" + +"Yes, sir, I promise," John said, "though I would rather save all but a +mouthful or two for the people who are starving at home. Still, of +course, if you insist upon it, I will promise." + +"I do insist upon it, John. The lives of these children of yours depend +on your life, and even one good meal, every four days, will help you to +keep enough strength together to carry out the kind work you have +undertaken." + +Larry now brought in the dinner. He had been told by Walter of John's +arrival, but he otherwise would have failed to recognize, in him, the boy +who had sometimes come down to the village with Walter. + +"Are you quite well, Larry?" John asked him. + +"I am," Larry replied; "but I need not ask the same question of yourself, +for you are nothing but skin and bone, entirely. Dear, dear, I wouldn't +have known you at all, at all, and such a foine colour as ye used to +have." + +"I don't think starving would suit you, Larry," Captain Davenant said +with a smile. + +"Sure an' it wouldn't, yer honour. It's always ready to eat I am, though, +as mother says, the victuals don't seem to do me much good, anyway." + +"You won't be able to come out and go back again the same night next +week, John," Captain Davenant said, presently. "The tide won't suit, so +you must come up here, as you have done today. You will always find a +hearty welcome, and Walter shall go down and meet you early in the +morning, near the mouth of the river, so you can come up with him; and +then, if you fall in with any of the other parties, no questions will be +asked. I think everyone in camp knows him now. + +"I wonder what your grandfather would say, if he saw you sitting here at +dinner with Walter and me?" + +John laughed. + +"I am afraid he would disown me, then and there, without listening to +explanations." + +"I have no doubt it's a sore grievance to him that he is not in Derry, at +present," Captain Davenant said. + +"I am sure it is," John replied; "but the fasting would be a great trial +to him. My grandfather is a capital trencherman. Still, I am sure he +would have borne his part." + +"That he would," Captain Davenant agreed. "He and the men of his class +are thorough, fanatics as I consider them. Hard and pitiless as they +proved themselves, to those against whom they fought, one cannot but +admire them, for they were heart and soul in their cause. There was no +flinching, no half measures, no concessions for the sake of expediency. +On the ground on which they took their stand, they conquered or died. +Would that a like spirit animated all my countrymen!" + +After nightfall, Larry brought round Walter's horse, saddled, and his own +rough pony. Walter mounted the former, and John the latter. The two kegs +were slung across Walter's horse. + +"Will you meet me at the clump of trees, half a mile out of camp, Larry?" +Walter said. "In the dark, no one will notice the difference between you +and John." + +Captain Davenant had furnished Walter with a password, and now walked +beside the two boys till they were well beyond the camp, and then +returned to his tent. The lads made their way, without meeting with +anyone, down to the mouth of the river. The kegs were then taken off the +horse and placed in the water--they floated just above the surface. + +"That is exactly right," John said. "They will not show any more than +will my face. When I come down next time, I shall fill them with water, +so as to keep them just at this level." + +"I am afraid the moon will be up next time, John." + +"Yes, it will. I shall lay some boughs of bush across my face and the +kegs, so that there will be no fear of my face showing; and if a sentry +should happen to catch sight of it, he will suppose that it is merely a +bush drifting in the stream." + +"Well, goodbye, John, and may you get through without trouble." + +"I have no fear, Walter. I am in God's hands, and He will take me safely +through, if He thinks fit." + +The journey was achieved without detection, the only difficulty being the +sinking of the kegs under the boom; this, however, was successfully +accomplished, and by midnight, the kegs were safely hidden in some bushes +at the foot of the wall, and there John lay down and waited for morning. + +As he entered the yard, the children ran out to meet him. There were no +loud rejoicings; they had no longer strength or spirit to shout and +laugh; but the joy in the thin worn faces was more eloquent than any +words could have been. + +"We have missed you so, John. We have wanted you so much. Lucy and Kate +and Deby were so bad yesterday, and they did cry so for you. We were all +so hungry. We don't mind so much, when you are here to talk to us and +tell us stories. Why did you stop away, John, when we wanted you so?" + +"I went away to see if I could manage to get you something to eat." + +"And did you?" was the anxious cry. + +"I have got a little; but you must wait till evening, and then you will +each have--" and he stopped. + +"What, John? Oh, do tell us!" + +"You will each have some milk and bread. + +"Not much, dears," he went on, as there was a cry of gladness, which was +pitiful from the intensity of joy it expressed, "but there will be some +for tonight, and a little curds and whey and bread for you tomorrow and +next day, and I hope always, as long as this lasts. Now go, dears, into +your castle. I will come to you presently. I have brought you some water, +as usual." + +"I am heartily glad to see you back, John," his cousin said, as he +entered the house. "The children were in a sad state without you, +yesterday. I suppose you can tell me, now, what you have been doing. You +told me you would be away two nights, and begged me not to ask any +questions; but, although I know you to be discreet and prudent, I have +been worrying." + +"I will tell you now," John said, and he recounted the details of the +expedition which he had accomplished. + +"And you have swum the river twice, and been in the camp of the Papists. +Truly it is surprising, John, and I know not what to do. Should your +visit there be discovered, you will assuredly be accused of treachery." + +"They may accuse me of what they like," John said quietly. "I have done +it, and I am going to do it again, every fourth night, and there is the +milk and bread at the foot of the wall, ready for you to haul up as soon +as it gets dark." + +"It ought to be fairly divided," the tanner said. + +"It will be fairly divided, between our children," John said; "but nobody +else will get a drop or a crumb. I have risked my life to get it for +them. If other people want to get it, let them do the same. Besides, as I +told you, Captain Davenant and his son both procured it for me for the +sake of the children, and them only, and I should be breaking faith with +them if any others touched it, save those for whom it was given me. It is +little enough among eighteen children for four days--a pound of bread and +a little over a pint of milk, each. They must each have a quarter of a +pint, when you bring it in tonight, and the rest had better be curdled. +That way it will keep, and they can have a portion each day of curds and +whey, and a fourth share of their bread. It is little enough; but I trust +that it may keep life in them." + +"Well, John, I will do as you say," the tanner said, after a pause. "It +goes somewhat against my conscience; but, as you say, it will make but a +meagre portion for each of them, and would be nothing were it fairly +divided; besides, you have brought it with the risk of your life, and I +know not that any save you have a right to a voice in its partition." + +Before the gates were closed, John went out, and presently had the +satisfaction of hearing a small stone drop from the wall above him, +followed presently by the end of a rope. He sent up the kegs, and then +lay down among the bushes, and enjoyed the satisfaction of thinking of +the joy of the little ones, when the milk and bread were served out to +them. As soon as the gates were open in the morning, he went in. + +"Thank you, oh, so much, for the milk and bread last night. We heard how +you had swum so far, and gone into danger to get it for us, and we're +going to have some more for breakfast." + +"It was not much, dears," John said. + +"Oh, no, it was not much; but it was so nice, and we did all sleep so +well last night--even little Lucy didn't waken and cry once--and Ruth +Hardy said we ought to call you the Raven; but we don't like that name +for you." + +"The Raven, Ruth!" John said, mystified. "Why did you want to call me the +Raven?" + +"I wouldn't do it if you didn't like it, dear John; but you know that +chapter that Master Williams read us, the other day, about the ravens +that fed somebody in a cave, and we have been wishing the ravens would +feed us; and so you see, when you sent us the milk last night, I thought +you ought to be called the Raven. I did not mean any harm." + +"No, my dear, of course not, and you can all call me the Raven, if you +like." + +"No, no, John. You are John, and that's much better than the Raven. They +brought the man food, but they didn't nurse him and tell him stories, as +you do." + +"Now, run inside the castle," John said, "and I will go in and get your +breakfasts." + +John soon returned, with a great bowl of curds and whey, a platter piled +up with slices of bread and a score of little mugs, and the feast began. +Scarce a word was said while the children were eating. Their hunger was +too keen, and their enjoyment too intense, to admit of speech. When each +had finished their portion, there was a general exclamation. + +"Oh, John, you haven't had any. Why didn't you have some, too?" + +"Because there is only enough for you," he said. "If I were to have some, +and Cousin Josiah, and all the others, there would be a very little share +for you; besides, when I went out the day before yesterday, I had as much +as I could eat." + +"Oh, dear, that must have been nice," one of the boys said. "Only think, +having as much as one can eat. Oh, how much I could eat, if I had it!" + +"And yet I daresay, Tom," John said, "that sometimes, before you came +here, when you had as much as you could eat, you used to grumble if it +wasn't quite what you fancied." + +"I shall never grumble again," the boy said positively. "I shall be +quite, quite content with potatoes, if I can but get enough of them." + +"The good times will come again," John said cheerily. "Now we will have a +story. Which shall it be?" + +As the children sat round him, John was delighted to see that even the +two scanty meals they had had, had done wonders for them. The listless, +hopeless look of the last few days had disappeared, and occasionally +something like a hearty laugh broke out among them, and an hour later the +tanner came to the entrance. + +"Come to the walls with me, John." + +"What is it? What is the matter?" John said, as he saw the look of anger +and indignation on the wasted features of his cousin. + +"Come and see for yourself," the latter said. + +When they reached the walls, they found them crowded with the +inhabitants. Outside were a multitude of women, children, and old men. +These General Rosen, with a refinement of cruelty, had swept in from the +country round and driven under the walls, where they were left to starve, +unless the garrison would take them in, and divide their scanty supply of +food with them. + +"It is monstrous," John cried, when he understood the meaning of the +sight. "What are we to do?" + +"We can do nothing," the tanner replied. "The council have met, and have +determined to keep the gates closed. We are dying for the cause. They +must do so too; and they will not die in vain, for all Europe will cry +out when they hear of this dastardly act of cruelty." + +The people outside were animated by a spirit as stern as that of the +besieged, and the women cried out, to those on the walls, to keep the +gates shut and to resist to the last, and not to heed them. + +The ministers went out through the gates, and held services among the +crowd, and the people on the walls joined in the hymns that were sung +below. So, for three days and nights, the people within and without +fasted and prayed. On the third day, a messenger arrived from King James +at Dublin, ordering General Rosen at once to let the people depart. + +The indignation, among the Irish gentlemen in the camp, at Rosen's brutal +order had been unbounded, and messenger after messenger had been sent to +Dublin, where the news excited a burst of indignation, and James at once +countermanded the order of the general. The gates were opened now, and +the people flocked out and exchanged greetings with their friends. A few +able-bodied men in the crowd entered the town, to share in its defence, +while a considerable number of the women and children from within mingled +with them, and moved away through the lines of the besiegers. + +John had, the day before, gone out when the gates were opened for the +preachers, and at night had again safely made the passage to the mouth of +the river and back. He found the lantern burning among the bushes, and +two kegs placed beside it, with a bountiful meal of bread and meat for +himself. + +So the days went on, each day lessening the number of the inhabitants of +the town. Fever and famine were making terrible ravages, and the +survivors moved about the streets like living skeletons, so feeble and +weak, now, that they could scarce bear the weight of their arms. + +On the 30th of July, three ships were seen approaching the mouth of the +river. They were part of Kirk's squadron, which had all this time been +lying idle, almost within sight of the town. The news of his conduct had +excited such anger and indignation in England that, at last, in obedience +to peremptory orders from London, he prepared to make the attempt; +although, by sending only two store ships and one frigate, it would +almost seem as if he had determined that it should be a failure. + +The besiegers as well as the besieged saw the three ships advancing, and +the former moved down to the shore, to repel the attempt. The batteries +on either side of the boom were manned, and from them, and from the +infantry gathered on the banks, a heavy fire was opened as the ships +approached. + +So innocuous was the fire of the artillery, that it has been supposed +that Kirk had previously bribed the officers commanding the forts. At any +rate, the ships suffered no material damage, and, returning the fire, +advanced against the boom. The leading store ship dashed against it and +broke it, but the ship swerved from her course with the shock, and struck +the ground. A shout of dismay burst from those on the walls, and one of +exultation from the besiegers, who rushed down to board the vessel. + +Her captain, however, pointed all his guns forward, and discharged them +all at the same moment, and the recoil shook the vessel from her hold on +the ground, and she floated off, and pursued her way up the river, +followed by her consorts. + +The delay of Kirk had cost the defenders of Londonderry more than half +their number. The fighting men had, either by disease, famine, or in the +field, lost some five thousand, while of the non-combatants seven +thousand had died. The joy and exultation in the city, as the two store +ships ranged up under its walls, were unbounded. Provisions were speedily +conveyed on shore, and abundance took the place of famine. + +Five days later, General Rosen raised the siege and marched away with his +army, which had, in the various operations of the siege, and from the +effect of disease, lost upwards of three thousand men. + +"This has been a bad beginning, Walter," Captain Davenant said, as they +rode away from the grounds on which they had been so long encamped. "If +the whole force of Ireland does not suffice to take a single town, the +prospect of our waging war successfully against England is not hopeful." + +"It seems to me that it would have been much better to have left Derry +alone, father," Walter said. + +"It would have been better, as it has turned out, Walter; but had the +king taken the place, as he expected, without difficulty, he would have +crossed with a portion of the army to Scotland, where a considerable part +of the population would at once have joined him. The defence of Derry has +entirely thwarted that plan, and I fear now that it will never be carried +out. + +"However, it has had the advantage of making soldiers out of an army of +peasants. When we came here, officers and men were alike ignorant of +everything relating to war. Now we have, at any rate, learned a certain +amount of drill and discipline, and I think we shall give a much better +account of ourselves, in the open field, than we have done in front of a +strong town which we had no means whatever of storming. Still, it has +been a frightful waste of life on both sides, and with no result, beyond +horribly embittering the feeling of hatred, which unfortunately prevailed +before, between the Catholic and Protestant populations." + +The mortification and disgust, caused by the failure of Londonderry, was +increased by a severe defeat of a force under General Justin McCarthy, +Lord Mountcashel, at Newtown Butler, on the very day that Derry was +relieved. General McCarthy had been detached, with a corps of six +thousand men, against the Enniskilleners. He came up with them near +Newtown Butler. Although but two thousand strong, the Enniskilleners, who +were commanded by Colonel Wolseley, an English officer, at once attacked +the Irish, only a portion of whom had come upon the ground. + +McCarthy, who was a brave and experienced officer, sent orders to the +cavalry to face to the right, and march to the support of the wing that +was attacked. The officer gave the order "right--about face," and the +cavalry turned and trotted towards the rear. The infantry, believing that +they were deserted by the horse, at once lost heart and fell into +confusion. + +McCarthy, while endeavouring to remedy the disorder, was wounded and +taken prisoner, and the flight became general. The Enniskilleners pursued +with savage fury, and during the evening, the whole of the night, and the +greater part of the next day, hunted the fugitives down in the bogs and +woods, and slew them in cold blood. Five hundred of the Irish threw +themselves into Lough Erne, rather than face death at the hands of their +savage enemies, and only one of the number saved himself by swimming. + +After leaving Derry, the army returned to Dublin, where the parliament +which James had summoned was then sitting. Most of the soldiers were +quartered on the citizens; but, as the pressure was very great, Captain +Davenant easily obtained leave for his troop to go out to Bray, where +they were within a very short distance of his own house. + +The day after his return home, Walter went over to give Jabez Whitefoot +and his wife news of John, from whom they had heard nothing, since a +fortnight before the siege had begun. + +"Your son is alive and well," were his first words. "He has been all +through the siege of Derry, and has behaved like a hero." + +"The Lord be praised!" Jabez said, while his wife burst into tears of +relief, for she had gone through terrible anxiety during the long weeks +that Derry had been suffering from starvation. + +"But how do you know, Master Walter?" Jabez asked. "Seeing that you were +on the side of the besiegers, how could you tell what was passing on the +inside of the walls? How do you know John is alive?" + +"Because I saw him first, a month before the end of the siege, and +because he came regularly afterwards, to fetch away some provisions which +I had placed for him." + +And Walter then gave a full account of John's visit to the camp, in +search of food for the children who were sheltered in the tanner's house. + +"That is just like John," his mother said. "He was ever thoughtful for +others. I am more pleased, a hundred times, that he should have so risked +his life to obtain food for the little ones, than if he had taken part in +the fighting and proved himself a very champion of Derry." + +Parliament had met on the 7th of May. The session had been opened by a +speech from the throne, in which the king commended the loyalty of his +Irish subjects, declared his intention to make no difference between +Catholics and Protestants, and that loyalty and good conduct should be +the only passport to his favour. He stated his earnest wish that good and +wholesome laws should be enacted, for the encouragement of trade and of +the manufactures of the country, and for the relief of such as had +suffered injustice by the Act of Settlement; that is, the act by which +the lands of the Catholics had been handed over, wholesale, to Cromwell's +soldiers and other Protestants. + +Bills were speedily passed, abolishing the jurisdiction of English courts +of law and of the English parliament in Ireland, and other bills were +passed for the regulation of commerce and the promotion of shipbuilding. +The bill for the repeal of the Act of Settlement was brought up on the +22d of May. It was opposed only by the Protestant bishops and peers, and +became law on the 11th of June. Acts of attainder were speedily passed +against some two thousand Protestant landed proprietors, all of whom had +obtained their lands by the settlement of Cromwell. + +A land tax was voted to the king, of twenty thousand pounds a month, and +he proceeded to raise other levies by his private authority. The result +was that the resources of Ireland were speedily exhausted, money almost +disappeared, and James, being at his wits' end for funds, issued copper +money stamped with the value of gold and silver; and a law was passed +making this base money legal tender, promising that, at the end of the +war, it should be exchanged for sterling money. + +This was a measure which inflicted enormous loss and damage. At first, +the people raised the prices of goods in proportion to the decrease in +the value of the money, but James stopped this, by issuing a proclamation +fixing the prices at which all articles were to be sold; and having done +this, proceeded to buy up great quantities of hides, butter, corn, wood, +and other goods, paying for them all with a few pounds of copper and tin, +and then shipping them to France, where they were sold on his own +account. It need hardly be said that conduct of this kind speedily +excited great dissatisfaction, even among those who were most loyal in +his cause. + +Captain Davenant was shocked at the state of things he found prevailing +in Dublin. + +"I regret bitterly," he said, when alone with his wife and mother, "that +I have taken up the sword. Success appears to me to be hopeless. The +folly of the Stuarts is incredible. They would ruin the best cause in the +world. With a spark of wisdom and firmness, James might have united all +Ireland in his cause, instead of which he has absolutely forced the +Protestants into hostility. His folly is only equalled by his rapacity, +and both are stupendous." + +This was said, one evening, when he had just returned from a visit to +Dublin, depressed and disheartened by all he heard there. + +"I am astonished, Fergus," his mother said sharply, "to hear you speak in +that way. Who would have thought that it was a Davenant who was speaking! +Doubtless there have been mistakes, as was only natural, but everything +will come right, in time. I have been longing for you to come home, +looking forward with such joy to welcome you as the possessor of the +broad lands of the Davenants. Thank God I have lived to see the +restoration of my dear husband's lands, and the discomfiture of those +Cromwellian knaves, who have so long possessed them. It was a grand day +when the act was passed, repealing all Cromwell's grants handing over the +best part of Ireland to his soldiers; and I saw in the Gazette, among the +two thousand grants specially mentioned as cancelled, was that of the +Davenant estate to Zephaniah Whitefoot. I am told that the old man and +his son have taken no notice of the act, but go about their work as if +they were still the owners of the land; but of course, now that you are +back, there will soon be an end of this." + +Captain Davenant was silent. + +"I shall be in no hurry, mother," he said, after a pause. "It is true +that an act of the Irish parliament has cancelled the iniquitous work of +Cromwell, and restored the land to its rightful possessors. I do not say +that this is not just, but I am quite sure that it is not politic. These +men have been planted on the soil for two generations. They have built +houses and tilled the fields, and made homes for themselves. It was +essentially a case for arrangement, and not for setting right the first +act of confiscation by another as sweeping. It has rendered the +Protestants desperate. It has enlisted the sympathy of the Protestants of +England in their behalf, and has done much to popularize the war there. +It would have been vastly wiser, had a commission been ordered to examine +into the circumstances of each case. + +"In the great proportion of cases, the estates which the Cromwellites +took possession of were vastly larger than they were able to till +themselves; and, as in the case of Zephaniah Whitefoot, they let out the +greater portion to tenants. All these lands I would have restored to +their former owners, leaving to the Cromwellites the land they till +themselves, and the houses they have built upon it. + +"As to turning the Whitefoots out, I shall certainly take no step that +way, at present. It will be time enough to do so, when King James is +firmly established on the throne. As things go at present, I have but +very faint hopes that will ever be. He has utterly failed to conquer the +Protestants of the north of Ireland, and we have all the strength of +England to cope with, yet. It will be well, mother, if, at the end of +this strife, we can keep Davenant Castle over our heads, with the few +acres that still remain to us." + +Two days afterwards, Captain Davenant mounted his horse and rode over to +the Whitefoots. Zephaniah and Jabez came to the door. + +"I suppose you have come over to turn us out, Fergus Davenant," the old +man said; "but I warn you, that it will not be for long. The triumph of +the ungodly is short, and the Lord will care for his own people." + +"You are mistaken," Captain Davenant said quietly. "I have come over for +no such purpose. I am, of course, aware that parliament has passed a law, +reinstating me in my father's lands; but I came over to tell you that, at +present, I do not propose to take advantage of that law. I shall do +nothing, until this war is at an end. If King William's cause triumphs, +the act will remain a dead letter. If King James's wins, and the act is +upheld, I wish to tell you that I shall never disturb you in the land +which you, yourselves, occupy. Your tenants, on the other hand, will be +my tenants; but in the house which you have built, and in the fields +which you have tilled, you will remain masters. + +"I have thought the matter over, and this appears to me to be a just +settlement, and one which I give you my word that I will hold to, should +King James triumph in the end. I think that the law turning out the +Protestant settlers, from the land which they have held for forty years, +is well nigh as unjust as that which gave it to them." + +"I will take no gifts at the hands of the wicked," Zephaniah began, but +Jabez interrupted him. + +"Hush, father!" he said. "It is not thus that kindness should be met." + +Then he stepped forward, leaving his father too surprised, at this sudden +assumption of command on the part of his son, to interrupt him. + +"Captain Davenant," he said, "I thank you most sincerely, on the part of +myself, my wife and son, and, I may say, of my father, too, although at +present he may not realize the kindness of your offer. I do not think it +likely that, if James Stuart prevails, and Ireland is rent from England, +we shall avail ourselves of your offer, for we have more than sufficient +of this world's goods to remove to England, and there settle ourselves +and our son, for assuredly Ireland would be no place where a Protestant +could dwell in peace and quietness. Nevertheless, I thank you heartily, +and shall ever gratefully bear in mind the promise you have made, and the +fact that, although you have the power to turn us from our home, you have +stayed from doing so. There has been much wrong done on both sides; and, +from a boy, when I have seen you ride into or from your home, I have felt +that I and mine wronged you, by being the possessors of your father's +lands." + +"They were the spoil of battle," Zephaniah broke in fiercely. + +"Yes, they were the spoil of battle," his son repeated; "but there are +limits, even to the rights of conquerors. I have read history, and I know +that nowhere but in Ireland did conquerors ever dispossess whole peoples, +and take possession of their lands." + +"The Israelites took the land of Canaan," Zephaniah interrupted. + +"I am speaking of modern wars, father. For centuries, no such act of +wholesale spoliation was ever perpetrated; and considering, as I do, that +the act was an iniquitous one, although we have benefited by it, I +consider the offer which Captain Davenant has made to us to be a noble +one. + +"I have to thank you, sir, also, for your kindness to my son--a kindness +which doubtless saved his life, as well as that of many others in +Londonderry; and believe me that, whatever comes of this horrible war, I +and mine will never forget the kindnesses we have received at your +hands." + +"The affair was my son's, rather than mine," Captain Davenant said; "but +I was glad to be able to assist him in aiding your brave boy. He is a +noble fellow, and you have every reason to be proud of him." + +"I must add my thanks to those of my husband," Hannah said, coming out +from the house, having listened to the conversation through an open +window. "We had suffered so, until your son brought us news of John, two +days since. It is strange, indeed, that your son should have been the +means of saving one of a household whom he cannot but have learnt to +regard as the usurpers of his father's rights. It was but last night I +was reading of Jonathan and David, and it seemed to me that, assuredly, +the same spirit that they felt for each other was in our sons." + +"The boys are very fond of each other, Mrs. Whitefoot, and I am glad of +it. They are both manly fellows, and there is no reason why the feuds of +the fathers should descend to the children." + +With a cordial goodbye, Captain Davenant rode off. + +"Jabez," Zephaniah said, as they turned into the house, "I had not +thought to hear a son of mine rise in rebellion against his father." + +"Father," Jabez said, "for forty-five years I have been a good son to +you; but it is time that I took my stand. It seems to me that the +principles upon which the soldiers of Cromwell fought, were the +principles which animated the Israelites of old. Exodus, Judges, and +Kings were the groundwork of their religion, not the Gospels. It has +gradually been borne upon me that such is not the religion of the New +Testament, and, while I seek in no way to dispute your right to think as +you choose, I say the time has come when I and my wife will act upon our +principles." + +"It is written, Honour thy father and thy mother," Zephaniah said +sternly. + +"Ay, father, I have honoured you, and I shall honour you to the end; but +a man has no right to give up his conscience to his father; for it is +written, also, that a man shall leave father and mother, and wife and +home to follow the Lord. I have heard you, father, and the elders of our +church, quote abundant texts from Scripture, but never one, that I can +recall, from the New Testament. Hitherto, I have been as an Israelite of +Joshua's time. Henceforward, I hope to be a Christian. I grieve to anger +you, father, and for years I have held my peace rather than do so; but +the time has come when the spirit within me will no longer permit me to +hold my peace. In all worldly matters, I am still your obedient son, +ready to labour to my utmost to gather up wealth which I do not enjoy, to +live a life as hard as that of the poorest tenant on our lands; but, as +touching higher matters, I and my wife go our own way." + +Without a word, Zephaniah took his hat and strode away from the house, +and, after much angry communing with himself, went to the minister and +deacons of his chapel, and laid the facts of the rebellion before them, +and asked their advice. + +They were in favour of peace, for two of them were his tenants, and they +knew that the time could not be very far off when Jabez would take the +old man's place, and it would be a serious matter, indeed, to the chapel, +were he to be driven from its fold. + +"We cannot expect that all shall see with our eyes, Zephaniah," the +minister said, "and, indeed, the offer, which thou sayest the man +Davenant made, was a generous one. It would be well, indeed, for our +brethren throughout Ireland, did all the original owners of their lands +so treat them. Thousands who, but a few months since, were prosperous +men, are now without a shelter wherein to lay their heads. The storm is +sweeping over us, the elect are everywhere smitten, and, should James +Stuart conquer, not a Protestant in Ireland but must leave its shores. +Therefore, although I would counsel no giving up of principle, no +abandonment of faith, yet I would say that this is no time for the +enforcement of our views upon weak vessels. I mourn that your son should, +for the time, have fallen away from your high standard, but I say it were +best to be patient with him." + +At home, there were few words spoken after Zephaniah had gone out. Hannah +had thrown her arms round her husband's neck, and had said: + +"I thank God for your words, Jabez. Now I am proud of you, as I have +never been proud before, that you have boldly spoken out for liberty of +conscience. I feel like one who has for many years been a slave, but who +is, at last, free." + +Jabez kissed her, but was silent. To him, it had been a great trial to +rebel. He knew that he was right, and would have done it again, if +necessary; but it was a terrible thing to him to have openly withstood +the father to whom he had, from childhood, rendered almost implicit +obedience. + +On his return, Zephaniah did not renew the subject; but from that time, +there was a great change in the moral atmosphere of the house. Zephaniah +was still master in all matters of daily work; but in other respects, +Jabez had completely emancipated himself. + + + +Chapter 6: Dundalk. + + +After the failure before Derry, the utmost confusion prevailed in the +military councils, arising chiefly from the jealousies and conflicting +authorities of the French and Irish commanders. James was entirely under +the control of the French ambassador, who, together with all his +countrymen in Ireland, affected to despise the Irish as a rude and +uncivilized people; while the Irish, in turn, hated the French for their +arrogance and insolence. Many of the Irish gentlemen, who had raised +regiments at their private expense, were superseded to make room for +Frenchmen, appointed by the influence of the French ambassador. These +gentlemen returned home in disgust, and were soon followed by their men, +who were equally discontented at being handed over to the command of +foreigners, instead of their native leaders. + +Every day, the breach widened between the French and Irish, and the +discontent caused by the king's exactions was wide and general; and if +William, at this time, had offered favourable terms to the Catholics, it +is probable that an arrangement could have been arrived at. + +But William was busily at work, preparing an army for the conquest of the +country. Had Ireland stood alone, it is probable that England would, at +any rate for a time, have suffered it to go its own way; but its close +alliance with France, and the fact that French influence was all powerful +with James, rendered it impossible for England to submit to the +establishment of what would be a foreign and hostile power, so close to +her shores. Besides, if Ireland remained under the dominion of James, the +power of William on the throne of England could never have been +consolidated. + +Although he had met with no resistance on his assumption of the throne, +he had the hearty support of but a mere fraction of the English people, +and his accession was the work of a few great Whig families, only. His +rule was by no means popular, and his Dutch favourites were as much +disliked, in England, as were James' French adherents in Ireland. + +In Scotland, the Jacobite party were numerous and powerful, and were in +open rebellion to his authority. Thus, then, if William's position on the +throne of England was to be consolidated, it was necessary that a blow +should be struck in Ireland. + +Torn by dissension, without plan or leading, the Irish army remained, for +months, inactive; most of the regiments having, after the northern +campaign, returned to the districts in which they were raised; and thus, +no preparation was made to meet the army which was preparing to invade +the country. + +This, ten thousand strong, under the command of General Schomberg, who, +although eighty years of age, was still an able, active, and spirited +commander, embarked on the 8th of August at Chester, and on the 13th +landed near Bangor, in Carrickfergus Bay. There was no force there of +sufficient strength to oppose him. + +Schomberg found Antrim and Belfast deserted; but the garrison at +Carrickfergus, consisting of two regiments, prepared vigorously for a +siege. Schomberg at once prepared to invest it, and in a short time +attacked it by land and sea. The siege was pressed with vigour, but the +garrison, under M'Carty Moore, defended themselves with the greatest +skill and bravery. As fast as breaches were battered in their walls, they +repaired them, and repulsed every attempt of the besiegers to gain a +footing in the town. The garrison were badly supplied with ammunition, +but they stripped the lead from the roofs of the castle and church to +make bullets. + +But all this time, no attempt whatever was made to relieve them. The +French and Irish generals were disputing as to what was the best plan of +campaign. The king was busy making money with his trade with France; and, +after holding out until they had burned their last grain of powder, the +gallant garrison were forced to capitulate. Schomberg was too glad to get +the place to insist on hard terms, and the garrison marched out with all +the honours of war--drums beating, and matches alight--and were conveyed, +with all their stores, arms, and public and private property, to the +nearest Irish post. + +The effect of this determined resistance, on the part of the little +garrison at Carrickfergus, was to impress Schomberg with the fact that +the difficulty of the task he had undertaken was vastly greater than he +had supposed. The success with which Londonderry had defended itself +against the Irish army had impressed him with the idea that the levies of +King James were simply contemptible; but the fighting qualities of the +garrison of Carrickfergus had shown him that they were a foe by no means +to be despised, and convinced him that the force at his command was +altogether inadequate to his necessities. + +He therefore moved south with extreme caution. He found the country +altogether wasted and deserted. The Protestants had long since fled, and +were gathered round Derry and Enniskillen. The Catholics had now deserted +their homes, at his approach; and the troops, in their retreat, had +burned and wasted everything, so that he had no means of subsistence for +his army, and was obliged to rely upon the fleet, which he ordered to +follow him down the coast. + +Schomberg was soon joined by three regiments of Enniskillen horse. The +appearance of these troops astonished the English. They resembled rather +a horde of Italian banditti than a body of European cavalry. They +observed little order in their military movements, and no uniformity of +dress or accoutrement. Each man was armed and clad according to his own +fancy, and accompanied by a mounted servant, carrying his baggage. But, +like the Cossacks, whom they closely resembled, they were distinguished +by an extreme rapidity of movement, and a fierceness and contempt of all +difficulty and danger. They calculated neither chances nor numbers, but +rushed to the attack of any foe with a ferocity and fanaticism which +almost ensured success, and they regarded the slaughter of a Papist as an +acceptable service to the Lord. They plundered wherever they went, and +were a scourge to the Irish Protestants as well as Catholics. + +The troops furnished by Derry were similar in character to those from +Enniskillen. They could not endure the restraints of discipline, and were +little use in acting with the regular army, and, like the Cossacks, were +formidable only when acting by themselves. Schomberg and his successor, +and, indeed, the whole of the English officers, soon came to abhor these +savage and undisciplined allies. + +Still, the Irish army made no move. Report had magnified Schomberg's +strength to more than twice its real numbers, and the military leaders +could not believe that, after so many months of preparation, William had +despatched so small an army for the conquest of Ireland. + +Confusion and dismay reigned in Dublin. The French Marshal, De Rosen, +advised that Dublin and Drogheda should be abandoned, and that the Irish +army should be concentrated at Athlone and Limerick; but Tyrconnell went +to Drogheda, where the council of war was sitting, and strenuously +opposed this, promising that by the next night twenty thousand men should +be assembled there. Expresses were sent out in all directions; and by +forced marches, the Irish troops stationed in Munster directed their +course to Drogheda, in high spirits and anxious to meet the enemy. + +Schomberg, although he had been reinforced by six thousand men from +England, fell back at the news of the gathering, and formed an intrenched +camp in a strong position between Dundalk and the sea. His approaches +were covered by mountains, rivers, and morasses; his communication was +open to the sea, and here he resolved to wait for reinforcements. + +Captain Davenant became more and more despondent as to the cause in which +he had embarked. + +"Without the king, and without his French allies," he said bitterly to +his wife, "we might hope for success; but these are enough to ruin any +cause. Were the king's object to excite discontent and disgust among his +subjects, he could not act otherwise than he is now doing. His whole +thoughts are devoted to wringing money out of the people, and any time he +has to spare is spent upon superintending the building of the nunneries, +in which he is so interested. As to the French, they paralyse all +military operations. They regard us as an inferior race, and act as if, +with their own five or six thousand troops, they could defeat all the +power of England. It is heartbreaking seeing our chances so wasted. + +"Had advantage been taken of the enthusiasm excited when King James +landed; had he himself been wise and prudent, disinterested for himself, +and desirous of obtaining the affections of all classes; and had he +brought with him none of these French adventurers, he would, long ere +this, have been undisputed King of Ireland from end to end, and we should +have stood as one people in arms, ready to oppose ourselves to any force +that England could send against us. Never were chances so frittered away, +never such a succession of blunders and folly. It is enough to break +one's heart." + +"I do hope, father, that when the troop marches again you will take me as +cornet. I am six months older than I was, and have learned a lot in the +last campaign. You have not filled up the place of Cornet O'Driscoll. I +did think, when he was killed in that last fight you had before Derry, +you would have appointed me." + +"In some respects I am less inclined than ever, Walter," Captain Davenant +said; "for I begin to regard success as hopeless." + +"It will make no difference, father, in that way, for if we are beaten +they are sure to hand all our land over to the Protestants. Besides, +things may turn out better than you think; and whether or no, I should +certainly like to do my best for Ireland." + +"Well, we will think about it," Captain Davenant said; and Walter was +satisfied, for he felt sure that his father would finally accede to his +wishes. + +It was late at night, when the mounted messenger dashed up to the door of +the castle and handed in an order. Captain Davenant opened it. + +"We are to march, in half an hour's time, to Drogheda. The whole army is +to assemble there." + +"Hurray!" Walter shouted. "Something is going to be done, at last." + +A man was sent down to the village at once, to order the twenty men +quartered there to saddle and mount instantly, and ride up to the castle; +while another, on horseback, started for Bray to get the main body under +arms. Mrs. Davenant busied herself in packing the wallets of her husband +and son. She was very pale, but she said little. + +"God bless you both," she said, when all was finished, "and bring you +back again safely. I won't ask you to take care of yourselves, because, +of course, you must do your duty, and with all my love I should not wish +you to draw back from that. When home and religion and country are at +stake, even we women could not wish to keep those we love beside us." + +There was a last embrace, and then Captain Davenant and his son sprang on +their horses, which were waiting at the door, took their place at the +head of the party which had come up from the village, and rode away into +the darkness, while the two Mrs. Davenants gave free vent to the tears +which they had hitherto so bravely restrained. + +At Bray, Captain Davenant found the rest of his troop drawn up in +readiness, and after a brief inspection, to see that all were present +with their proper arms and accoutrements, he started with them for +Dublin, and after a few hours' rest there continued his way towards +Drogheda. + +The army then proceeded north to Dundalk, and bitter was the +disappointment of the troops when, on arriving there, they found that +Schomberg, instead of advancing to give battle, had shut himself up in +the intrenchments he had formed, and could not be induced to sally out. + +In vain King James, who accompanied his army, formed it up in order of +battle within sight of the invaders' lines. Schomberg was not to be +tempted out, and, as the position appeared to be too strong to be +attacked, the Irish were forced to endeavour to reduce it by the slow +process of starvation. The English army was soon reduced to pitiable +straits--not from hunger, for they were able to obtain food from the +ships, but from disease. The situation of the camp was low and unhealthy. +Fever broke out, and swept away vast numbers of the men. + +The Dutch and Enniskilleners suffered comparatively little--both were +accustomed to a damp climate. But of the English troops, nearly eight +thousand died in the two months that the blockade lasted. Had James +maintained his position, the whole of the army of Schomberg must have +perished; but, most unfortunately for his cause, he insisted on +personally conducting operations, and when complete success was in his +grasp he marched his army away, in the middle of November, to winter +quarters; thereby allowing Schomberg to move, with the eight thousand men +who remained to him, from the pest-stricken camp to healthier quarters. + +The disgust, of those of James's officers who understood anything of war, +at this termination of the campaign was extreme. The men, indeed, were +eager to return to their homes, but would gladly have attempted an +assault on the English camp before doing so; and, as the defenders were +reduced to half their original strength, while most of the survivors were +weakened by disease, the attack would probably have been successful. +James himself was several times on the point of ordering an attack, but +his own vacillation of character was heightened by the conflicting +counsels of his generals, who seemed more bent on thwarting each other +than on gaining the cause for which they fought. + +The cavalry were not idle, while the blockade of Schomberg's camp +continued, frequently making excursions over the country to bring in +cattle for the army; for the villagers had, for the most part, deserted +their homes, and herds of cattle were grazing without masters. One day, +Captain Davenant's troop had ridden some thirty miles out of camp, and +had halted for the night in a village. In the morning, they broke up into +small parties and scattered round the country. Walter, with fifteen of +the troopers, had collected some cattle and stopped for an hour, to feed +and rest the horses, in a deserted village. He took the precaution to +place two or three men on sentry round it. + +The men were sitting on the doorsteps, eating the food they had brought +with them, when one of the outposts dashed in at full gallop, shouting +that the enemy were upon them; but his warning came too late, for, close +behind him, came a body of wild-looking horsemen, shouting and yelling. +There was a cry of "The Enniskilleners!" and the men ran to their horses. + +They had scarcely time to throw themselves in the saddle, when the +Enniskilleners charged down. For a minute or two there was a confused +medley, and then three or four of the troopers rode off at full speed, +hotly pursued by the Enniskilleners. + +Walter had discharged his pistols and drawn his sword, but before he had +time to strike a blow, his horse was rolled over by the rush of the +enemy, and, as he was falling, he received a blow on the head from a +sabre which stretched him insensible on the ground. He was roused by two +men turning him over and searching his pockets. A slight groan burst from +his lips. + +"The fellow is not dead," one of the men said. + +"We will soon settle that," the other replied. + +"Don't kill him," the first speaker said. "Wait till the captain has +spoken to him. We may be able to get some information from him. We can +finish him afterwards." + +Walter lay with his eyes closed. He well knew that the Enniskilleners +took no prisoners, but killed all who fell into their hands, and he +determined to show no signs of returning consciousness. Presently, he +heard the sound of a party of horsemen returning, and by the exclamations +of disappointment which greeted the news they gave, he learned that some, +at least, of his men had made their escape. + +Some time later, several men came up to him. One leaned over him, and put +his hand to his heart. + +"He is alive." + +"Very well," another voice said. "Then we will take him with us. He is an +officer, and will be able to tell us all about their strength. + +"Watkins, you have a strong beast, and do not weigh much. Do you mount, +and then we will tie him to your back." + +A minute later Walter was lifted up, and felt that he was placed on a +horse with his back to that of the rider. A rope was wound several times +round his body. He remained perfectly passive, with his head hanging down +on his breast. Then a word of command was given, and the troop set off. + +For a time, there was no need for him to pretend insensibility, for the +pain of his wound and the loss of blood overpowered him, and for some +time he was unconscious. After two hours' riding, the troop was halted. +Walter felt the rope taken off him. Then he was lifted down, dragged a +short distance, and thrown down on some straw. Then a door shut, and he +heard a key turned. He felt sure that he was alone, but for some time lay +perfectly quiet, as it was possible that one of the men might have +remained to watch him. + +After a quarter of an hour, hearing not the slightest sound, he opened +his eyes and looked round. He was, as he supposed, alone. The place in +which he was lying was a stable, lighted only by a small opening high up +in the wall. Certain, therefore, that he was not overlooked, he made an +effort to rise to his feet, but he was so weak and giddy that he was +obliged, for some time, to remain leaning against the wall. Seeing a +bucket in one corner, he made to it, and found, to his delight, that it +was half full of water, for he was parched with a devouring thirst. + +After taking a deep draught he felt greatly revived, and then made a +thorough survey of his prison. It evidently formed part of the house of a +well-to-do man, for it was solidly built of stone, and the door was +strong and well fitted. + +The opening in the wall was out of his reach. He could, at ordinary +times, by standing on the upturned bucket, have reached it with a spring, +and pulled himself up to it, but at present he was wholly incapable of +such exertion. He thought, however, that after a night's rest he would be +able to do it. + +The door was so strong that he had no hope of escape in that direction. +As he might at any moment be disturbed, he returned to the straw on which +he had at first been thrown, laid himself down, and in a very short time +dropped off to sleep. + +It was dark, before he was awoke by the turning of the key in the lock, +and two men entered, one of them bearing a horn lantern. + +"Where am I?" Walter asked, in a feeble tone, as they approached him. + +"Never mind where you are," one said roughly. "Get up." + +Walter seemed to make an effort, and then fell back with a groan. + +The man repeated his order, emphasizing it with a kick. Walter again made +an effort, and, as before, sank back. + +"Here, catch hold of him," the man said, impatiently, "it's no use +fooling here with him." + +The men took Walter under the arms and lifted him up, and half dragged, +half carried him out of the stable and into the house adjoining. He was +taken into a room where four or five men were sitting. + +"Now, young fellow," one said sharply, "tell us what corps you belong +to." + +Walter looked stupidly at his questioner, but made no answer. + +"Answer my question," the man said, levelling a pistol at him, "or I will +blow out your brains at once." + +Still Walter stared at him stupidly, and made no reply, except to mutter, +"Water." + +"It's no use," one of the other men said. "He hasn't got his right senses +yet. It's no use shooting him now, after we have had the trouble of +bringing him here. In the morning, he will be able to answer you." + +"He had better," the other said savagely, "or we will light a fire and +roast him over it. There, take him back to the stable, and give him a +drink of water. I don't want him to slip through our fingers, after the +trouble we have had with him." + +Walter was taken back, as before, to the stable, and one of the men +brought him a mug of water, and held it to his lips. He drank eagerly, +and then the man placed the mug down beside him, the door was again +closed and locked, and Walter was alone. He rose at once to his feet, and +felt that his sleep had greatly refreshed and strengthened him. + +"I will have another sleep, before I try," he said to himself. "It will +not be light till six, and it must be eight or nine o'clock now. I must +make up my mind, before I doze off, to wake in about three or four hours; +but first, I must see what I can find, here." + +He felt round the walls, but failed to find anything like a rope. + +"I must trust to luck," he said; "I don't suppose they will post many +sentries. These fellows are not real soldiers, and no doubt they will all +be sound asleep in a couple of hours." + +So saying, he again lay down, and was speedily asleep. When he woke, he +felt sure that he had not exceeded the time he had given himself. He +listened intently. He could hear a low, confused sound, which he knew was +made by horses feeding, but he could hear no human voices. He drank the +rest of the water in the mug, then he turned up the bucket, placed it +under the opening, and mounted on it. + +His first spring failed to reach the sill, and he stood for a few +minutes, before making another attempt. He knew that it was a matter of +life or death, for he had no doubt whatever that, even if he gave the +required information, which he was determined not to do, however much he +might suffer, he would be shot afterwards. He braced himself to the +utmost, took a long breath, and then sprang. His fingers caught on the +ledge of stonework, and, with a desperate effort, he drew himself up, +aided by his feet. He had, before making the attempt, removed his boots, +partly to avoid the scraping noise which these would make, partly to +enable him the better to avail himself of the inequalities in the +stonework. + +It was a desperate struggle; and when he got his shoulders in the +opening, which was just wide enough to admit them, he lay for three or +four minutes, panting heavily, with the perspiration streaming down his +face. The aperture was too small to admit of his turning in any way, and +there was nothing for it, as he knew, but to drop head foremost. + +Gradually, he drew himself through the opening, lowering himself as much +as he could by holding on to the upper edge by his feet. Then, stretching +out his arms to save himself, he let go. Fortunately, the ground was +soft, for a garden adjoined the stable; but the shock was a heavy one, +and he lay for a minute or two without moving, having some doubt whether +he had not broken his neck. Then he got up, and listened. + +Everything was still and quiet, and, indeed, his fall had been almost +noiseless. He rose to his feet, felt along the wall until he encountered +a low paling, climbed over it, and was in the road. + +He had, when he jumped for the window, tied his boots to his back, and +now carried them in his hand. The night was very dark; but his eyes, +accustomed to the greater darkness of the stable, had no difficulty in +following the road. He walked slowly, for the exertion he had undergone +and the shock of the fall had drawn greatly from his small stock of +strength. + +After going a quarter of a mile, he put on his boots, and, climbing a +wall of sods which bordered the road, struck across country. There were +no stars to guide him, and a slight mist had begun to fall. There was but +little wind, but this was sufficient to give a direction to the rain. +Walter noticed this, and at once struck out in a direction which kept the +rain falling upon the right side of his face; and he knew that, by so +continuing, he was going in a tolerably straight line. As near as he +could tell he walked for two hours, and then, utterly exhausted, lay down +on the lee side of a turf wall. + +There was, as yet, no gleam of light in the sky, and in a very few +minutes he was again sound asleep. He woke up with a feeling of bitter +cold, and, on rising, found that his limbs were completely stiffened by +the wet. It was morning now, the wind had got up, and a driving rain shut +out the view on all sides. Walter stamped his feet and swung his arms for +some time to restore the circulation. + +He had no idea in which direction he had been travelling, for he did not +know whether the road from which he had started ran north, south, east, +or west. He noticed that the wind had changed; for, whereas he had lain +down under the lee of the wall, it was now the weather side. He walked in +the same direction as before for two hours, and could then go no farther. +He had seen no signs of human habitation, and had not crossed a road or +even a footpath. Since starting in the morning he had passed no more +walls or fences, and, as far as his eye could reach through the driving +rain, nothing was to be seen save a desolate expanse of moor and bog. He +was, at any rate, free from pursuit for the time, and he thought more of +obtaining food and shelter than of the Enniskilleners. + +It was useless pushing further on, even had he been able to do so, while +the rain lasted; for he might have passed within a quarter of a mile of a +habitation without seeing it. He accordingly threw himself down beside +some low bushes, which afforded him some slight protection from the rain. + + + +Chapter 7: The Coming Battle. + + +Some hours passed, and he was on the point of dropping off to sleep +again, when he heard a whistle repeated once or twice, followed by the +sharp bark of a dog. It was but a short distance away, and, leaping to +his feet, he saw a peasant standing at a distance of two or three hundred +yards. + +Walter hurried towards him at a speed of which, a few minutes before, he +would have thought himself incapable. The man continued whistling, at +short intervals, and did not notice Walter till he was within twenty +yards distant; then he turned sharply round. + +"Who are you?" he asked, clubbing a heavy stick which he held in his +hand, and standing on the defensive. + +The dress and appearance of the man assured Walter that he was a +Catholic, and therefore a friend, and he replied at once: + +"I belong to one of the Irish troops of horse. The Enniskilleners +surprised a party of us, yesterday, and wounded me, as you see. +Fortunately, I escaped in the night, or they would have finished me this +morning. I have been out all night in the rain, and am weak from loss of +blood and hunger. Can you give me shelter?" + +"That I can," the man said, "and gladly. Those villains have been killing +and destroying all over the country, and there's many a one of us who, +like myself, have been driven to take refuge in the bogs." + +"Is it far?" Walter asked; "for I don't think I could get more than a +mile or two." + +"It is not half a mile," the man said. "You do look nearly done for. +Here, lean on me, I will help you along; and if you find your strength +go, I will make a shift to carry you." + +"It is lucky I heard you whistle," Walter said. + +"It is, indeed," the man replied, "for it is not likely anyone else would +have come along today. My dog went off after a rabbit, and I was +whistling to him to come to me again. + +"Ah! Here he is. He has got the rabbit, too. Good dog! Well done!" + +He took the rabbit and dropped it into the pocket of his coat. Seeing +that Walter was too exhausted to talk, he asked no questions, and said +nothing till he pointed to a low mound of earth, and said: "Here we are." + +He went round by the side; and Walter perceived that there was a sharp +dip in the ground, and that the hut was dug out in the face of the slope; +so that, if it were approached either from behind or on either side, it +would not be noticed, the roof being covered with sods, and closely +matching the surrounding ground. + +The man went to the low door, and opened it. + +"Come in, sir," he said; "you are quite welcome." + +The hut contained two other men, who looked up in surprise at the +greeting. + +"This is a young officer, in one of our horse regiments," the man said. +"He has been in the hands of the Enniskilleners, and has got out from +them alive--which is more than most can say. He has had a bad wound, has +been wet through for hours, and is half starving. Look sharp, lads, and +get something hot, as soon as possible. + +"Now, sir, if you will take off those wet things of yours, and wrap +yourself in that rug, you will find yourself the better for it. When a +man is in health, a few hours wet will not do him any harm; but when he +is weak from loss of blood, as you are, the cold seems to get into his +bones." + +Fresh turfs were at once put on the smouldering fire, which one of the +men, leaning down before it, proceeded to blow lustily; and, although +much of the smoke made its way out through a hole in the roof, enough +lingered to render it difficult for Walter to breathe, while his eyes +watered with the sharp fumes. A kettle had been placed on the fire, and +in a very short time, a jar was produced from the corner of the hut, and +a horn of strong spirits and water mixed. + +"Here are some cold praties, sir. It's all we have got cooked by us now, +but I can promise you a better meal, later on." + +Walter ate the potatoes, and drank the warm mixture. The change from the +cold damp air outside, to the warm atmosphere of the hut, aided the +effects of the spirits; he was first conscious of a warm glow all over +him, and then the voices of the men seemed to grow indistinct. + +"You had better stretch yourself on that pile of rushes," the man said, +as Walter gave a start, being on the point of rolling over. "Two or three +hours' sleep will make a man of you, and by that time dinner will be +ready, and your clothes dry." + +Walter fell almost instantaneously off to sleep, and it was late in the +afternoon before he woke. + +"I am afraid I must have slept a long time," he said, sitting up. + +"You have had a fine sleep, surely," one of the men replied; "and it's +dinner and supper, all in one, that you will have." + +Walter found his uniform and underclothes neatly folded up by his side, +and speedily dressed himself. + +"That sleep has done me a world of good," he said. "I feel quite myself +again." + +"That's right, yer honour. When you've had your food, I will make a shift +to dress that wound at the back of yer head. Be jabbers, it's a hard +knock you have had, and a mighty lot of blood you must have lost! Yer +clothes was just stiff with it; but I washed most of it out. + +"And now, lads, off with the pot!" + +A large pot was hanging over the fire, and, when the lid was taken off, a +smell very pleasant to Walter's nostrils arose. Four flat pieces of wood +served the purpose of plates, and, with a large spoon of the same +material, the man who had brought Walter to the hut, and who appeared to +be the leader of the party, ladled out portions of the contents. These +consisted of rabbit and pieces of beef, boiled up with potatoes and +onions. A large jug filled with water, and a bottle of spirits were +placed in the centre, with the horn which Walter had before used beside +it. + +"We are short of crockery," the man said with a laugh. "Here are some +knives, but as for forks, we just have to do without them." + +Walter enjoyed his meal immensely. After it was finished, the wooden +platters were removed, and the jug replenished. + +"Now, your honour, will you tell us how you got away from the Protestant +rebels, and how was it they didn't make short work of you, when they +caught you? It's a puzzle to us entirely, for the Enniskilleners spare +neither man, woman, nor child." + +Walter related the whole circumstances of his capture, imprisonment, and +escape. + +"You fooled them nicely," the man said, admiringly. "Sure your honour's +the one to get out of a scrape--and you little more than a boy." + +"And what are you doing here?" Walter asked, in return. "This seems a +wild place to live in." + +"It's just that," the man said. "We belonged to Kilbally. The +Enniskilleners came that way, and burned it to the ground. They murdered +my wife and many another one. I was away cutting peat with my wife's +brother here. When we came back, everything was gone. A few had escaped +to the bogs, where they could not be followed; the rest was, every +mother's son of them, killed by those murdering villains. Your honour may +guess what we felt, when we got back. Thank God I had no children! We +buried the wife in the garden behind the house, and then started away and +joined a band of rapparees, and paid some of them back in their own coin. +Then, one day, the Enniskilleners fell on us, and most of us were killed. +Then we made our way back to the old village, and came up here and built +us this hut. It's a wonder to us how you got here; for there are bogs +stretching away in all directions, and how you made your way through them +bates us entirely." + +"Yours is a sad story, but unfortunately a common one. And how have you +managed to live here?" + +"There are plenty of potatoes, for the digging of 'em," the man said, +"for there are a score of ruined villages within a day's walk. As for +meat, there are cattle for the taking, wandering all over the country; +some have lately strayed away; but among the hills there are herds which +have run wild since the days when Cromwell made the country a desert. As +for spirits, I brew them myself. Barley as well as potatoes may be had +for the taking. Then, sometimes, the dog picks up a rabbit. Sometimes, +when we go down for potatoes, we light on a fowl or two; there's many a +one of them running wild among the ruins. As far as eating and drinking +goes, we never did better; and if I could forget the old cottage, and the +sight that met my eyes when I went back to it, I should do well enough, +but, night and day I am dreaming of it, and my heart is sore with longing +for vengeance." + +"Why don't you join the army?" Walter asked. "There's plenty of room for +good men, and yesterday's affair has made some vacancies in my own troop. + +"What do you say, lads? You would have a chance of crossing swords with +the Enniskilleners, and you could always come back here when the war is +over." + +"What do you say, boys?" the man asked his companions. "I am just +wearying for a fight, and I could die contented, if I could but send a +few of those murdering villains to their place, before I go." + +The other two men at once agreed. They talked well into the night, and +Walter heard many tales of the savage butchery of unoffending peasants, +by the men who professed to be fighting for religious liberty, which +shocked and sickened him. + +It was arranged that they should start on the following morning. The men +said that they could guide him across country to Dundalk without +difficulty, and assured him that he would be little likely to meet with +the enemy, for that the whole country had been so wasted, by fire and +sword, as to offer but little temptation even to the most insatiable of +plunderers. + +Accordingly, the next morning they set out, and arrived late that evening +at the camp. Walter found that his father and his followers were absent. +They had returned, much surprised at not having been rejoined by Walter's +party, but on their arrival they had found there the survivors of his +command, who had ridden straight for Dundalk. + +After a few hours' stay, to rest the horses, Captain Davenant, with his +own men and two of the troops of cavalry, had ridden out in search of the +Enniskilleners. Larry, who had been almost wild with grief when the news +of the surprise, and, as he believed, the death of Walter, had been +brought in, had accompanied the cavalry. + +It was late on the following afternoon before they rode into camp. Larry +was the first to come in, having received permission from Captain +Davenant to gallop on ahead. They had met the enemy, and had inflicted a +decisive defeat upon them, but the greater part had escaped, by taking to +the hills on their wiry little horses, which were able to traverse bogs +and quagmires impassable to the heavy troopers. + +Captain Davenant had closely questioned two or three wounded men who fell +into his hands. These all declared that a young officer had been +captured, in the previous fight, that he had been severely wounded, and +carried away senseless, but that he had, in some extraordinary manner, +managed to escape that night. This story had greatly raised Captain +Davenant's hopes that Walter might yet be alive, a hope which he had not +before allowed himself, for a moment, to indulge in; and as he neared +Dundalk, he had readily granted leave for the impatient Larry to gallop +on ahead, and discover if any news had been received of Walter. + +Larry's delight, at seeing his young master standing at the door of the +tent, was extreme. He gave a wild whoop, threw his cap high up into the +air, and then, without a word of greeting, turned his horse's head and +galloped away again, at the top of his speed, to carry the good news to +Captain Davenant. Half an hour later, the column rode into camp, and +Walter was clasped in his father's arms. + +That evening, Walter's three companions were enrolled in the troop, and, +hearing that there were vacancies for fifteen more, volunteered to return +to the hills, and to bring back that number of men from the peasants +hiding there. This mission they carried out, and, by the end of the week, +Captain Davenant's troop was again made up to its full strength. + +The unsuccessful result of the siege of Schomberg's camp greatly damped +Walter's enthusiasm. He had been engaged in two long and tedious +blockades, and, with the exception of some skirmishes round Derry, had +seen nothing whatever of fighting. Neither operation had been attended by +any decisive result. Both had inflicted extreme misery and suffering upon +the enemy, but in neither was the success aimed at attained. At the same +time, the novelty of the life, the companionship of his father and the +other officers of the regiment, and, not least, the good humour and fun +of his attendant, Larry, had made the time pass far more cheerfully to +him than to the majority of those in the army. + +As before, when the army arrived at Dublin, Captain Davenant's troop was +posted in and around Bray, the greater portion of it being permitted to +reside in their own homes, until again wanted for active service. Walter, +on his return, was glad to find that his friend John Whitefoot had made +his way home from Derry, and their pleasant intercourse was at once +renewed. + +Schomberg's army, when moved to healthy quarters and bountifully supplied +with all kinds of food and necessaries from England, speedily recovered +their health and discipline, and, in a very short time, were again in +condition to take the field. + +Early in February, 1690, Brigadier Wolseley, with a detachment of +Enniskilleners and English, marched against Cavan. James had no longer an +army with which he could oppose Schomberg's enterprises. While the latter +had been recovering from the effects of his heavy losses, nothing had +been done to put the Irish army in a condition to take the field again. +They lacked almost every necessary for a campaign. No magazines had been +formed to supply them, when they should again advance; and so short of +forage were they, that it was considered impossible to make any move in +force, until the grass should grow sufficiently to enable the horses to +get into condition. + +Nevertheless, the Duke of Berwick marched with eight hundred men from +Dublin, and Brigadier Nugent with a like force from West Meath and +Longford, and arrived at Cavan a few hours before the English reached the +town. The Irish force was composed entirely of infantry, with the +exception of two troops of cavalry. The English force consisted of seven +hundred foot, and three hundred cavalry. + +As Cavan did not offer any advantages in the way of defence, the Duke of +Berwick moved his army out into the open field. The English lined the +hedges, and stood on the defensive. The Irish horse commenced the battle +with a furious charge on the Enniskilleners and dragoons, and drove them +from the field; but the English infantry maintained their position so +stoutly that, after a prolonged fight, the Irish retreated into a fort +near the town. The English and Enniskilleners entered Cavan, and at once +began to plunder the place. + +Hearing what was going on, the Duke of Berwick sallied out from his fort +to attack them, and gained considerable advantage. Brigadier Wolseley, +being unable to restore discipline among the Enniskilleners, who formed +the great majority of his force, ordered the town to be set on fire in +several places. The troops then collected, and repulsed the Irish with +considerable loss. + +The Duke of Berwick had two hundred killed, amongst whom were Brigadier +Nugent and many officers. As the Irish remained in possession of the +fort, and the town was almost entirely destroyed by fire, Brigadier +Wolseley returned with his force to Dundalk. + +Shortly afterwards, the Fort of Charlemont was invested by a strong +detachment of Schomberg's army. Teigue O'Regan, the veteran governor, +defended the place with the greatest bravery, and did not capitulate +until the 14th of May, when the last ounce of provisions was consumed. +The garrison were allowed honourable terms, and the eight hundred men who +defended the place, with their arms and baggage, and some two hundred +women and children, were allowed to march away. The Enniskilleners +treated the Irish soldiers and their families with great brutality, as +they passed along, but Schomberg humanely ordered that a loaf of bread +should be given to each man at Armagh. The Irish army were not in +condition to render any assistance to the hard pressed garrison of +Charlemont, until after they had capitulated. + +In the meantime, a great army, which was to be led by King William in +person, was being collected in England. It consisted of a strange medley, +collected from almost every European nation--English, Scotch, Irish +Protestants, French Huguenots, Dutch, Swedes, Danes, Brandenburghers, +Swiss, Norwegians, and Hessians. More than half, indeed, were foreigners. +All were well disciplined, armed, and clothed. In all, including the +force under Schomberg, the army amounted to forty-three thousand men, and +fifty cannon. + +King William landed at Carrickfergus, on the 14th of June, and the +combined army at once began their southward march. Against this force, +King James collected but twenty thousand men. Of these, six thousand were +French. They had arrived, under the command of the Count de Lauzun, in +March, but they had not increased the numbers of King James's troops, for +he had been obliged to send, in exchange, an equal number of his +best-trained soldiers, under Lord Mountcashel, for service in France. Of +the fourteen thousand native troops, the Irish horse, which was raised +and officered by Irish gentlemen, was excellent, but the infantry was +composed for the most part of raw levies, but half armed, and the only +artillery consisted of twelve guns, which had arrived with the infantry +from France. + +It was a sad parting, when Captain Davenant and Walter left home for the +front. The former was filled with gloomy forebodings. He could scarcely +hope that the ill-trained levies of James could succeed against the +vastly superior force, of disciplined troops, with whom they had now to +cope; especially as the latter were led by an able and energetic general, +while the former were hampered by the incompetence and vacillation of +James. + +The day before they started, Captain Davenant rode over to the Whitefoots +and had a talk with Jabez. + +"I know not how the campaign will go," he said. "If we are beaten, we +shall probably retire to the west, and maintain the war there. In that +case, Dublin will of course fall into the hands of William. Should this +be so, I will ask you to reverse our late position, and to extend what +assistance you can to my wife and mother. It may be that, if I do not +return here, none will disturb them. I have not made myself obnoxious to +my Protestant neighbours, and no one may take the trouble to bring it +before the notice of the English that I am absent, fighting with the army +of King James. If, however, they should do so, and the castle and what +remains of the estates be confiscated, will you lend what aid you can to +the ladies, and my younger boy, until I or Walter return from the war?" + +"That will I do, right gladly," Jabez said, heartily. "Should I hear any +talk of what you speak of, I will go up to Dublin with some of our +friends and ministers, and we will testify to the good relations which +have existed between you and your Protestant neighbours, and entreat that +no measures be taken against your estate. Should we not prevail, be +assured that I will look after the comfort of the ladies, as if they were +of my own family. + +"I can well understand that Mrs. Davenant, the elder, would not accept +the shelter of our roof, whatever her extremity. She belongs to the +generation of my father, and cannot forget the past; but I will see that +they are well lodged in Bray, and have every protection from molestation +and annoyance there. Should I find, as, alas! may be the case, that the +spirit of religious persecution is fiercely abroad, I will consult with +them, as to whether they may wish to cross the sea until you can join +them, and will make arrangements, as they may direct, for their passage." + +"I am truly obliged to you," Captain Davenant said. "It will make me +comfortable to know that, whatsoever may befall me, they will have a +friend in these stormy times." + +"Say nought about it," Jabez replied. "Did not you and your son succour +my boy in his extremity? If I do all, and more than all that I can in +this matter, I shall not deem that we are quits." + +The Irish army moved forward to the Boyne, which William was approaching +from the north. James's officers endeavoured to dissuade him from setting +everything on the hazard of the battle. They represented that his army, +though now quite unequal to the contest, was rapidly improving in skill +and confidence in itself; that reinforcements were every day expected +from France, which would at least make them equal to the enemy in +numbers; that they were in want of arms, artillery, and stores, all which +might be expected also from France, in a short period; and that their +policy was clearly to protract the war, and wear out the enemy by a +contest of posts and sieges. + +Unskilled as his troops might be in the field, they had proved themselves +steady and resolute in the defence of fortified places. They held all the +great fortresses of the kingdom, and it would be easy to provide for the +defence of these, and to occupy William's army in small affairs, till the +winter, when the climate would do execution upon the invaders, while the +Irish would suffer little. Then would be the time to fight. + +In the meantime, it was urged, the intrigues the French were actively +carrying out in Britain would have produced some effect. The French fleet +was, every day, expected on the coast of England, and William would soon +be compelled to return to that country, if not to recall the greater part +of his army. In Scotland, too, the French were busy; and there were +materials in that country for creating a powerful diversion. To fight now +would be to forego every advantage, and to meet the views of William, +whose obvious interest it was to bring the contest to an immediate +decision, now, while every circumstance was in his favour. + +But James, who had hitherto shown nothing but timidity and hesitation, +was now seized with an impulse of valour. Having acted with unfortunate +cowardice before Derry, and Schomberg's camp at Dundalk, he was, as +unfortunately, now seized with ardour to fight, when prudence and +discretion would have been his best policy. But while James was +determining to fight, in the teeth of the opinion and advice of his +bravest officers, his true character was shown in his taking every +precaution for his personal safety. He sent off his heavy baggage, and +engaged a vessel, at Waterford, to convey him to France. + +William, on the other hand, was naturally eager for an early engagement. +He was still very insecurely seated upon the English throne. The people +were either discontented or indifferent. They looked with impatience and +indignation at the crowd of Dutch officers and civilians, whom William +had brought over with him; while the cold and ungracious manner of the +king contrasted, most unfavourably, with the bearing to which they had +been accustomed in English monarchs. + +In Scotland, the Jacobite spirit was gathering in strength, and William +knew that, unless he speedily broke the strength of James's party in +Ireland, he would very shortly be confronted with difficulties and +dangers on all sides. + +The position which the Irish army occupied was a strong one. Its right +rested upon Drogheda, a strong town in their possession. In front was the +Boyne, with steep banks lined with thick hedges, with cottages scattered +here and there, offering an excellent position for light troops. On the +left, the Boyne turned almost at a right angle, and formed a defence on +this flank. To the rear, the Irish position was covered by high hills and +the village of Donore. Further back was the pass of Duleek. The hedges +and cottages by the river side were occupied by the Irish infantry, and +upon some little hillocks, which ran along the water's edge, they erected +some light batteries. + +King William reconnoitred the position with great attention, and saw that +it had been well chosen, and its advantages turned to account. +Notwithstanding the reports of deserters and others, he showed much +anxiety to determine the exact strength of the Irish. After examining the +position for some time from a height, he rode down towards the river, +accompanied by several of his officers. When within musket shot of the +bank, near the ford and village of Old Bridge, he perceived that a small +island in the Boyne was occupied by a party of the Irish horse. Near the +ford some field works had been thrown up. It was at this point that the +king determined to cross the river, and he spent some time conversing +with his officers, as to the arrangements for the passage. + +He then rode slowly along the river bank, until he arrived nearly +opposite the left of the Irish line. Here he alighted from his horse, and +sat down on rising ground, watching his own battalions, which were +marching, with the greatest regularity and order, into the positions +assigned to them. + +While he was so engaged, some officers of James's army were observed, +riding quietly along the opposite bank of the river, and also engaged in +watching the movements of the British troops. These were General +Sarsfield, the Duke of Berwick, the Marquis of Tyrconnell, the Count de +Lauzun, and others. Some of the English dragoons approached the river, +and were fired upon by the Irish. They returned the fire, and, while the +attention of both sides was engaged by the skirmish, a party of Irish +cavalry moved slowly down towards the river and halted behind a low +hedge, and then, wheeling about, again retired. + +The movements of the king, and the group of officers accompanying him, +had been observed in the Irish army, and two field pieces were sent down, +concealed in the centre of the cavalry. The guns had been placed behind +the hedge when the horsemen withdrew, and, when William rose from the +ground and mounted his horse, fire was opened. The first cannon shot +killed two horses, and a man by his side. The next grazed the king's +right shoulder, tearing away his coat and inflicting a slight flesh +wound. Had the aim been slightly more accurate, or had the gunners fired +with grape, instead of round shot, it is probable that the whole course +of history would have been changed. + +The rumour spread through both armies that the king was killed; but the +wound was a slight one, and, having had it hastily bound up, the king +rode quietly through the camps, in order to show the men that the hurt +was not serious. In the evening, he called a council of war. The Duke of +Schomberg was strongly opposed to an attack upon the enemy, while posted +in so strong a position, and urged that, by making a turning movement and +marching straight upon Dublin, the enemy would be obliged to fall back, +and fight under less advantageous circumstances. But the king, relying +upon his superior numbers and the discipline of his veteran troops, +determined to attack at once, knowing that it was all important to bring +the matter to a decision, as early as possible. + +Schomberg then urged the necessity of occupying the pass of Slane, upon +the Boyne, considerably to the west of the Irish line, as he would thus +cut off their retreat, and, in the event of victory, render their defeat +a decided one; but the king saw that he should require his whole force to +dislodge the Irish from their position, and that it was useless to occupy +the pass of Slane with a small detachment, as these would be overwhelmed +by the retiring Irish. + +It was twelve o'clock at night, before the council terminated, and then +the king mounted his horse and rode through the camp. He examined into +the state and preparation of each regiment, saw that the soldiers were +abundantly supplied with food and refreshment for the morning, and that +sufficient ammunition for the day's work had been served out. He directed +the men to wear green branches in their caps, and gave "Westminster" as +the word for the day. + +The order of the battle finally determined upon was that the right wing +of the army, under General Douglas and Count Schomberg, son of the duke, +should pass the river at Slane and endeavour to turn the Irish left, +between Slane and Duleek. The left wing were to penetrate between the +Irish right and Drogheda; the centre to force the passage of the river, +at the ford of Old Bridge. + +A council was also held in James's camp, and here also there was +difference of opinion. Some of the generals wished to hold the pass of +Slane in force, but James decided against this. As the morning +approached, the king's newborn courage began to die out. He ordered some +movements to the rear, and sent forward more of his baggage. He would +probably have declined the combat altogether, had it not been too late. +Finally, just as day was breaking over the council, he determined that +the army should retreat during the battle, and not commit themselves in a +decisive engagement. The French formed the left, and were to lead the +retreat, while the Irish held the right and centre. + +It is almost certain that, if James had kept to his resolution to fight, +imprudent as it appeared to be, and had brought the French battalion into +action, instead of leading them out of the field, the result of the +battle of the Boyne would have been a very different one. + + + +Chapter 8: Boyne Water. + + +The morning of Tuesday, the 1st of July, 1690, broke calm and bright. At +about six o'clock in the morning the English right wing, under General +Douglas and Count Schomberg, marched towards Slane. It consisted of +twenty-four squadrons of horse, and six battalions of infantry. As they +marched along at the back of the river, they discovered several shallows, +and crossed without proceeding as far as Slane. No serious resistance was +offered to their passage of the Boyne, as the Irish had here only some +parties of skirmishers, who fell back as they advanced. + +After forming the troops in order, Douglas and Schomberg advanced, but +presently perceived the French battalions and a great part of the Irish +cavalry, forming the left wing of James's army, drawn up in order at some +distance. They consequently halted, and sent for reinforcements. When +these arrived, they extended their lines to the right, so as to outflank +the enemy, and, supporting their cavalry by alternate battalions of +infantry, again moved forward. + +The Irish skirmishers fell back before their advance, taking advantage of +the banks of the ditches, which divided the ground into small fields, and +keeping up a galling fire upon the British as they advanced. With some +difficulty, the latter passed over this broken ground and formed in order +of battle, on the edge of what appeared to be a plain, but which was in +fact a deep bog, which completely covered the Irish left. Here they came +to a standstill. + +William had waited, until he believed that his right would have had time +to fall upon the Irish left, and then ordered his centre to advance and +force the passage at Old Bridge. The Dutch guards, whom William relied +upon as his best and most trustworthy troops, advanced in splendid order +to the river side, with their drums beating the march. When they reached +the water's edge the drums ceased, and the soldiers entered the river. +The stream rose as the dense column marched in and dammed it up, and the +water reached the shoulders of the grenadiers, but they still moved on, +in regular order, keeping their arms and ammunition dry by holding them +above their heads. On the opposite bank, the hedges near the brink of the +river were lined with skirmishers, while in the rear, in a hollow covered +by some little hills, seven regiments of Irish infantry, supported by ten +troops of horse and Tyrconnell's regiment of cavalry, were drawn up. The +hills protected them from the fire of the British batteries, which passed +over their heads. + +The Dutch troops continued their way unmolested, until they reached the +middle of the river, when a hot fire was opened upon them from the Irish +skirmishers; but the Dutch moved on, unshaken, and soon gained the +opposite bank, where they rapidly formed up, the skirmishers retiring +before them. Scarcely had the Dutch formed their squares, when the Irish +horse burst down upon them at full speed, and charged them with +impetuosity. + +They stood the charge unbroken, but again and again the Irish horse +charged down upon them, with the greatest gallantry. William pushed two +regiments of French Huguenots and one of British across the river, to the +assistance of the Dutch guards, and ordered Sir John Hanmars and the +Count of Nassau's regiment to cross, lower down the stream, to support +them. + +As the supports were making a passage, General Hamilton advanced, at the +head of a body of Irish infantry, to the water's edge, and, dashing into +the river, encountered the French Huguenot regiments in the middle of the +stream. A desperate fight ensued, but the French made their way across, +and Hamilton, falling back with his infantry, opened to the right and +left, permitting the Irish horse to charge through them. + +These rushed with fury upon the French regiment of Colonel La Callimot, +and cut their way right through them. Then, wheeling, they charged them +in flank again, broke them, and drove them into the river. La Callimot +himself was killed, and but few of his regiment regained the opposite +bank. + +In the meantime the Dutch guards, now reinforced, were advancing slowly, +the Irish infantry holding fast to the hedges and brushwood, and +contesting every inch of the ground, while, wherever the ground permitted +it, the Irish horse burst down upon them, evincing a gallantry and +determination which would have done honour to the finest cavalry in +Europe. The king continued to make repeated efforts to support his Dutch +troops, and, after the French were broken, he pushed forward the Danish +horse; but no sooner had they crossed the bank than the Irish cavalry +burst down upon them, broke them, and drove them back into the river. +They fled across the stream in disorder, and dispersed in all directions. + +So far, success had rested principally with the Irish; the Dutch guards +alone remained unbroken in the centre; the French infantry and Danish +horse were broken and destroyed. Old Duke Schomberg exerted himself to +the utmost, to restore the battle at this point, and, having rallied the +French infantry advanced with them, and a few French cavalry, towards the +river, where he was met by some of the Irish horse returning from the +pursuit of the Danes. The old duke was cut down and his party again +routed, and at the same moment Walker, the clerical commander of Derry, +received a mortal wound. + +After his successful defence of Derry, this man had gone to London, where +he had been feted and made much of, and had then attached himself to King +William's army, where he posed as a high military authority, although +much discouraged by the king, whom his arrogance and airs of authority +displeased. + +While in the centre William's forces were getting worsted, and on his +right Douglas and Count Schomberg were inactive and powerless, he himself +was leading his left wing across the river. The passage was a difficult +one, and the king himself was only extricated, with much exertion, from a +quicksand into which his horse had plunged. + +The Irish did not oppose the crossing, and as soon as his forces were +across the stream, William ranged them in order. They consisted of a +large body of Danish, Dutch, and Enniskillen horse, and a considerable +force of infantry. As soon as all were in order the king, though still +suffering from the wound he had received the day before, drew his sword +and put himself at the head of his troops. + +The Irish right wing, which consisted chiefly of infantry, moved forward +to meet them, but perceiving the numerous cavalry, led by the king +himself, preparing to take them in flank, they halted, faced about and +marched slowly to the little hill of Donore. Having gained this point, +they again faced round and charged down upon the British, who had +followed them closely. + +At this moment the Irish cavalry, who had moved rapidly from the centre +to the support of the right, charged down upon the Danish and Dutch horse +led by the king, and no sooner had they come in contact than the Danes +and Dutch turned and rode off, with the Irish cavalry in pursuit. The +king rode towards the Enniskilleners. Colonel Wolseley told his men that +it was the king, and asked if they wished to follow him. They replied +with a shout, and the king, placing himself at the head, rode towards the +Irish infantry; but as they advanced they were met by a well-directed +volley, and, being much more fond of plundering and slaughtering than of +close fighting, they turned horse and rode away. + +Again and again the king rallied his infantry and brought them back to +the fight, but the Irish infantry stood their ground with great +steadiness, until Hamilton, their general, was wounded and taken in a +charge of cavalry. After this, they fell back from Donore upon Duleek in +good order, the enemy not wanting to molest them, and the rest of the +Irish infantry followed their example. + +No more singular battle than that of the Boyne was ever fought. In the +morning, at break of day, part of James's army, with most of his +artillery, were in march for the pass of Slane, and actually on their +retreat. The left wing, composed chiefly of French infantry, supposed to +be the best troops in the army, never fired a shot. The centre and right, +composed entirely of Irish, most of whom had never before been in battle, +were alone engaged. With the exception of his Dutch guards, all William's +foreign troops had been repeatedly broken; his cavalry had been driven +off the field by the Irish horse, while no division of the Irish was +broken or suffered a decided defeat, until the infantry from the hill of +Donore were compelled to retreat, which they did in perfect order. + +Throughout the day, the Irish cavalry showed a vast superiority to those +of the British, and even broke and destroyed regiments of infantry; and +when the whole army fell back they closed up the rear, and effectually +prevented any attempt at pursuit. Thus, the battle of the Boyne was +fought rather to cover a retreat than defend a position. The loss on +either side was estimated at about five hundred, and General Hamilton was +the only prisoner taken by the British. + +The honours of the fight certainly rested with the Irish, who, against a +vastly superior force, comprising some of the best troops in Europe, +maintained themselves throughout the day, and gained, indeed, in most +points, a decided advantage. + +King James's valour had entirely evaporated before the first shot was +fired. Instead of following William's example, and leading his troops in +the conflict which was to decide the fate of his crown, and which he +himself had precipitated, he took up his position at a safe distance from +danger, on the hill of Donore, and as soon as the battle approached that +point he rode off to Duleek, where he placed himself at the head of the +French troops, and led their retreat. He soon, however, rode on ahead, +and arrived in Dublin in a state of consternation and despair, the first +fugitive from the field of battle. In the meantime the army was whole and +unbroken, marching in perfect order from the field of battle, while its +king and commander was doing his best to ruin the cause by spreading +dismay and alarm throughout the country. + +The next morning the king sent for the mayor and corporation of Dublin, +and told them that he was under the necessity of taking care of himself, +and recommended them to do the same, and to make the best terms they +could with the enemy. He then at once mounted and made his flight to +Waterford, ordering the bridges to be broken down behind him, although +the British army had not yet moved from its position on the Boyne. On +reaching Waterford James at once embarked on board the ship he had +ordered to be in readiness, and sailed for France. His conduct, and his +conduct alone, converted the battle of the Boyne, which was in effect a +kind of drawn battle, into a great victory for William. + +It had, indeed, more than answered the object which the Irish commanders +proposed to themselves. Their plan was to accustom the new and badly +armed levies to stand firm against the steadiness and experience of +William's veteran troops, and then to withdraw without committing +themselves to a decisive combat, with a view of protracting the campaign +until William should be forced to leave Ireland, and his foreign army +should be worn out by winter service in an uncongenial climate. Every day +would, they calculated, improve their own army and weaken and reduce that +of the enemy. + +Their position at the Boyne enabled them to try their plan of partial +combat to what extent they chose, without danger of being forced into a +more extensive action than they deemed expedient. The Irish troops had +greatly surpassed the expectation of their own officers, and had filled +William's generals with amazement; and it is probable that, if a large +part of the infantry and artillery had not been sent off early in the +day, the experiment might have been turned into a brilliant victory. As +it was, William was so surprised and alarmed at the resistance he had +encountered, that he remained some days at the Boyne without advancing. +He had been told by all, except the Duke of Schomberg, that the +resistance of the Irish would be contemptible, and the most forward of +those who had scoffed at the courage of the Irish had been the +Enniskilleners, who had themselves, on the day of battle, shown so +unmistakably the white feather. After this the king disliked and despised +these troops, and hung them without ceremony, when taken in those acts of +plunder and slaughter to which they were so much addicted. + +So far from the flight of King James discouraging the army, it caused +universal joy. It was his constant vacillation, interference, and +cowardly action which had paralysed his troops; and they felt that, now +they were free to act without his interference, they would be able to +cope with the invaders. + +William at once offered favourable terms, if Ireland would submit to his +authority; but these were declined, partly owing to the powerful +influence of France, partly to the fear that the terms would not be +observed, partly to the apprehension of all the gentry, that the lands +which they had but just recovered from the hands of Cromwell's settlers +would be again taken from them. + +At the battle of the Boyne, Walter Davenant, with his father's troop, had +taken part in all the desperate charges upon the enemy. During the long +hours the battle had lasted, the cavalry had been incessantly engaged. +Time after time they had charged down upon the Dutch squares, and no +sooner had the ranks been reformed, after recoiling from the line of +fixed bayonets, than they were called upon to charge in another +direction. + +Walter's heart beat high as they dashed into the midst of the French +infantry, or shattered and drove before them the Danish horse; but there +was little time to think, and, looking back upon the day when all was +over, it seemed to him a chaos of excitement and confusion, of which he +could hardly recall even the chief incidents. + +As the troops halted for the night, they were in no way dispirited at the +result of the battle, as the retreat had been begun before a blow was +struck. They knew that it was neither intended nor hoped that the ground +would be successfully held; and every man felt a pride in the thought +that some eighteen thousand newly-raised Irish levies, of whom but a +small portion of the infantry were armed with muskets, had sustained, +throughout a long summer's day, the attacks of more than double their +number of veteran troops, supported by fifty pieces of artillery. + +The loss of the Irish horse had been comparatively small. Charging a +square, in the days when the bayonet was fixed in the muzzle of the gun, +was not the desperate undertaking that it now is, when from the hedge of +steel issues a rolling and continuous fire. The French regiment, once +broken, had been cut down with scarce any resistance, while the mercenary +cavalry had been defeated with the greatest ease. Thus, among the brigade +of the Irish horse there were but few fallen friends to mourn, and +nothing to mar the pride that every man felt, in the behaviour of the +Irish troops against such overwhelming odds. That the king had fled, +everyone knew, but the feeling was one of relief. + +"His absence is more than a victory to us," Captain Davenant said, as, +with a group of officers, he sat by a fire, made of a fence hastily +pulled down. "His majesty has his virtues, and, with good counsellors, +would make a worthy monarch; but among his virtues military genius is not +conspicuous. I should be glad, myself, if Lauzun and the French would +also take their departure, and let us have Mountcashel's division back +again from France. If we are left to ourselves, with our own generals, +Sarsfield and Mountcashel, we can tire out this continental riffraff that +William has gathered together. The dissensions caused by French +interference have been our ruin, so far; leave us to ourselves, and we +shall do. The Irish today have proved their fighting qualities; and, if +proper use is made of the resources and difficulties of the country, I +defy them to conquer us. I feel more hopeful now than I have done since +the first day we took the field." + +"Do you think we shall fight another battle before Dublin, father?" +Walter asked. + +"I have no idea what the generals will decide, Walter, but I should +imagine that we shall march to the west. We had a strong position today, +but in the open field, at present, we could not hope to cope with +William's superior numbers and great artillery train. His guns were +little use to him yesterday; but on level ground they would tear our +ranks to pieces, without our being able to make any return. Among the +rivers and bogs and mountains of the west, we should find scores of +places which we could hold against them. Besides, in my opinion we should +not fight pitched battles, but should harass them with continuous marches +and attacks, leaving them masters only of the ground they stand on, +until, at last, we completely wear them out and exhaust them." + +"Then you think we shall abandon Dublin altogether?" + +"I think so, Walter." + +"But will they not persecute the Catholics, when they have them in their +power?" + +"There may be some disturbance in the city, Walter, before the English +troops march in; but William will, no doubt, put an end to this as soon +as he arrives. He cannot wish to drive the Catholics of Ireland to +desperation. At any rate, I do not think we need feel at all uneasy about +those at home. Lying on the coast to the east of the town of Dublin, and +altogether out of the track of the movements of troops, there is little +fear of trouble there. In our district there is little preponderance, in +numbers, of one religion over the other; and unless the presence of +troops, or worse, of those savages from Enniskillen or Derry, excite +them, there is little fear of the Protestants of that neighbourhood +interfering with our people, especially as they have no grounds for +complaint in the past. No, I do not think that you need disquiet +yourself, in the slightest, about those at home." + +As Captain Davenant had thought probable, the Irish army, after marching +into Dublin in good order, with flags flying and music playing, left on +the following day for the west. They were accompanied by most of the +leading Catholic families; and on their departure the corporation at once +wrote to William, inviting him to enter the capital. Before his arrival, +however, the Protestant mob destroyed a great quantity of property +belonging to the Catholics, and carried their excesses to such a point +that the town would probably have been destroyed by fire, had not the +better classes of Protestants armed themselves, and taken energetic steps +to repress the tumult. + +As the troops marched into Dublin, Walter said to Captain Davenant: + +"Can I ride over to see how they are at home? They will have heard of the +battle. Mother and grandmother must be terribly anxious." + +"I shall be glad for you to go, Walter, for it would greatly ease their +minds at home; but we are to start again, almost immediately, and +probably the whole army will have marched off before you get back in the +morning. There is no saying what may occur, after we have gone. There may +be a general attack upon the Catholics. At any rate, it will be dangerous +in the extreme for a single officer, in our uniform, to be riding through +the town after we have left. Even in the country villages there must be +intense excitement, and anyone in the king's uniform might be fired at, +in passing through any of the Protestant settlements." + +"Well, father, suppose I do not start until it gets dark, then I can get +home without attracting notice. There I can put on a suit of my old +clothes, and bring my uniform out in my valise." + +"Well, perhaps you might manage in that way, Walter; and I should be very +glad to relieve their minds at home, and to know how they are going on. +If you like, you can stop there for a day or two. I don't suppose that +William will be here with his troops, for a few days. He has learned that +our army is not to be despised, and he may hesitate to advance upon +Dublin, until he receives certain news that we have moved away, and that +he will not have to fight another battle for the possession of the city. +Should you hear that William's troops have arrived in the town, you will +of course make a detour, so as to avoid it, on your way to rejoin us; and +now I will write a letter, at once, for you to take to your mother." + +As soon as it was dark, Walter mounted and started for Bray, where he +arrived without molestation on the way. His arrival was an immense relief +to the ladies, who had been suffering an agony of suspense since the news +of the battle had reached them. King James's hurried arrival, and panic +flight to Waterford, had caused the most alarming reports as to the +battle to circulate throughout the country, and by many it was supposed +that his army had been utterly destroyed. Walter's arrival, then, with +the news that his father, as well as himself, had passed through the day +unhurt, was an immense relief; and they were grateful to learn that, so +far from having been routed, the Irish army had accomplished its object, +of fighting the battle and then falling back in perfect order and without +molestation. + +"Father says, mother, that he believes next time, when we shall be no +longer hampered by the interference of the king, we shall be able to make +even a better fight of it, especially if, as we all hope, the French +officers will follow the king's example and take themselves off." + +"How long are you going to stay, Walter?" + +"I shall stay over tomorrow, mother, and start next morning early. I +ought to be able to come up to the army before night, but, if not, I +shall overtake them on the march next day." + +"I wish I was older," Godfrey, who had been listening to the account of +the battle, said. "It is so hard to have to stay at home here, while you +and father are having such fun!" + +"You would not think it was fun, if you were with us, Godfrey," Walter +said. "I used to think it would be fun, but I don't think so now. Just +while the fighting is going on, one is so excited that one doesn't think +of the danger, but when it is over, it is awful to see the gaps in the +ranks, and to know that so many of those who were riding with you have +fallen, and that it may be your turn, next time." + +"Ah, it's all very well for you to talk, Walter, because you are going +through it all, but you would think just the same as I do, if you were in +my place." + +"That is true enough, Godfrey. Anyhow, I am glad you are not old enough. +I don't mean that I should not like to have you with us, but then there +would be nobody at home with mother. Now, if anything happens to father +and me, she has got you, and as you grow up you will be able to look +after her, and take care of her. It is bad enough for her having two of +us in the war. It would be worse, still, if there were three." + +As, the next evening, Walter heard that there was news that William's +troops had not yet moved from the Boyne, he thought that it was safe to +take the direct road through Dublin. He had laid aside his uniform, on +reaching home, and in the morning started in his civilian clothes, with +the uniform in the valise, strapped behind the saddle. He carried his +sword, as usual, for almost all gentlemen at that time rode armed, and +this would therefore excite neither comment nor attention. He carried +also a brace of pistols, in a belt underneath his coat. + +On arriving in Dublin, he found the greatest uproar and excitement +prevailing. Mobs of men were marching through the streets, smashing the +windows of Catholics and sacking the houses. Fortunately, he was warned, +before he got into the thick of the tumult, by meeting some women running +and crying loudly. He asked what was the matter, and learned that their +houses had been sacked, and that any Catholic found in the street was +being beaten and ill treated. As Walter was anxious to avoid anything +which might arrest his journey westward, he made his way out of the town, +as soon as possible, and was heartily glad when he reached the outskirts, +and gave rein to his horse. + +He passed many groups of people as he rode. Some were Protestants, making +their way to Dublin to join in the greeting to William and his army, on +their arrival. Others were Catholics, afraid to remain in their abodes +now that the army had retired west, and journeying to the capital, where +they believed that William would prevent disorder and pillage. It needed +no inquiry, as to the religion of the respective groups. The Protestants +were for the most part men, and these came along shouting and waving +their weapons, wild with exultation over the triumph of their cause. The +Catholics were of all ages and both sexes. Many of them had carts, and +were carrying with them their most valued possessions. All wore an +expression of grief and anxiety. + +As Walter rode into one village, a fray was going on. A party of +Protestants, riding boisterously along, had knocked down a woman with a +child in her arms, and had answered the angry remonstrance of the +peasants with jeers and laughter. Stones had begun to fly. The +Protestants had drawn their swords; the villagers had caught up hoes, +spades, and other weapons, and a fierce fight was going on. The women, +with shrill cries, encouraged the peasants, and aided them by hurling +stones at the rioters. Walter saw that his interference would be of no +avail, and, with a heavy heart at the bitter hatred which the two parties +in Ireland exhibited for each other, he turned from the road, made a +circuit round the village, and continued his way. After that, he avoided +all towns and villages, and slept at night in the cabin of a peasant, +lying some little distance from the road. The following day he again +pressed on, and before evening overtook the retiring army. + +On the arrival of King William with his army in Dublin, a proclamation +was issued assuring all, save those who resisted his authority, of his +protection, and threatening severity against those who disturbed the +peace or committed outrage on personal property. Letters of protection +were granted to all who applied for them and, hearing this, Jabez +Whitefoot at once went into Dublin, to apply for protection for the +family of Captain Davenant. On hearing, however, that no persecution of +Catholics would be allowed, and that the army was likely to march west, +at once, in pursuit of the Irish, he thought it better to leave the +matter alone, as his application would only draw the attention of the +authorities to the fact of Captain Davenant and his son being engaged in +the hostile army. He felt sure that the ladies need fear no molestation, +save from the soldiers or Northerners, as his own influence with the +Protestants of his neighbourhood would suffice to prevent these from +interfering with the household at the castle. + +The Irish army marched towards the Shannon, and were concentrated part in +the neighbourhood of Athlone, and part at Limerick. William shortly +prepared to follow them. He, too, divided his army into two columns. The +main body, under his own command, took the road to Limerick; while the +other division, consisting of five regiments of cavalry and twelve of +infantry, was despatched, under the command of General Douglas, for the +purpose of investing the fortress of Athlone. + +As the armies marched west, their path was marked by wholesale outrage +and destruction. Although protections were granted to the peasants and +inhabitants of the towns and villages through which the armies marched, +they were entirely disregarded by the soldiers, who plundered, ill used, +and sometimes murdered the defenceless people, carrying away without +payment all provisions on which they could lay their hands. + +The king sometimes hanged those who were caught in these acts of plunder +and slaughter, but this had but little effect. The Dutch soldiers, alone, +maintained their order and discipline. The foreign mercenaries, composed +for the most part of the sweepings of the great cities, behaved with a +brutality and cruelty almost without example, and which was acknowledged +by all the historians of the time, Protestant as well as Catholic. +Indeed, the Protestant inhabitants suffered even more than the Catholics, +for many of the latter fled at the approach of the army, while the +Protestants, regarding them as friends and deliverers, remained quietly +at home, and suffered every insult and outrage at the hands of this horde +of savages, who were perfectly indifferent as to the religion of those +they plundered. + +Captain Davenant's troop was with the force which had retired to Athlone, +and there awaited the approach of the column of General Douglas. The +reports of the conduct of the enemy, that were brought in by the flying +peasants, filled the Irish troops with indignation and rage, and when, on +arriving before the town, General Douglas sent a messenger to demand its +surrender, Colonel Grace, who commanded, only replied by firing a pistol +towards him. + +Athlone stood on either side of the Shannon. The town on the eastern bank +of the river was called "the English town," that on the western "the +Irish "--a distinction existing in many of the Irish towns, where the +early English settlers found it expedient to live apart from the Irish, +for mutual protection against attack. Colonel Grace had retired to the +west bank of the river, which was strongly fortified, destroying the +English town and breaking down part of the bridge across the river. + +The garrison consisted of three regiments of foot and nine troops of +horse; and when Douglas erected his batteries and opened fire on the +castle, they replied briskly, and their guns got the better of those in +the batteries. A strong detachment of horse and mounted grenadiers was +sent by Douglas to Lanesborough, some miles north of the town, with +orders to pass the river at that point, but the post was held by Irish +troops, who easily repulsed the attempt. + +It was next proposed to pass the river at a ford a short distance from +the bridge; but the troops had little heart for the enterprise, as the +ford was covered by field works erected by the Irish. + +The assailants were already reduced to considerable straits. They had +consumed all provisions found in the town, plundering without mercy the +Protestant inhabitants, who had been well treated by the Irish troops, +while the conduct of the army effectually deterred the country people +from bringing in provisions. + +The circulation of the report that General Sarsfield, with fifteen +thousand men, was on the march to cut off the besiegers of Athlone, +determined General Douglas to make a speedy retreat. In his fear of being +cut off, he abandoned all his heavy baggage, and, quitting the high road, +made his way by unfrequented routes, which added to the hardships of the +march. In its retreat, the column was accompanied by the unhappy +Protestant inhabitants, who feared to remain behind, lest the Irish +should retaliate upon them the sufferings which had been inflicted upon +their countrymen. + +In the meantime, the main English army had done but little. In Dublin, a +commission had been appointed to examine into and forfeit the lands of +all Catholics, and adherents of King James, and having set this machine +at work, the king proceeded with his army southward through Carlow, +Kilkenny, and Waterford, all of which places surrendered, the garrisons +being allowed to march out, with their arms and baggage, to join their +main army on the Shannon. + +At Waterford, the king received such serious news as to the state of +things in England, that he determined to return home. On arriving at +Dublin, he was overwhelmed with petitions from the inhabitants, as to the +shameful conduct of the troops left in garrison there, especially those +of Trelawney's, Schomberg's, and some other regiments of horse, who, the +people complained, treated them, although Protestants, far worse than +James's Catholic soldiers had done. Inquiry showed these complaints to be +well founded, and, finding it impossible to restore order and discipline +among them, the king at once sent these regiments back to England. + +Then, receiving better news from home, he again started to rejoin his +army, and marched towards Limerick, being joined on his way by the +division under Douglas, which had driven along with them all the cattle +and horses of the country through which they had passed. + +Limerick was, at that time, the second city in Ireland. The country, for +a long distance along the mouth of the Shannon, was much wooded, but in +the immediate vicinity of the town it was surrounded by thick inclosures, +houses, orchards, gardens, and plantations. The cultivated land was +everywhere divided into small fields, inclosed by hedges and intersected +by lanes. To the east of the town the Shannon divides itself, forming an +island on which part of the city is situated. + +This was called the English town, and was connected by a bridge, called +Thomond Bridge, with the Clare side of the river on the north; and on the +south, by another bridge, with the Irish town on the county of Limerick +side. The Thomond Bridge was defended by a strong fort and some field +works on the Clare side, and on the city side by a drawbridge, flanked by +towers and the city walls. The bridge was very long and narrow. + +The position of the English town was, indeed, almost impregnable. It was +built upon a rock of considerable extent, and the land outside the walls +was low and marshy, and could at any time be flooded. The Shannon was +broad and rapid. The Irish town on the Limerick shore was not strong, +being defended only by ordinary walls. If this were captured, however, +the English town could still hold out. + +The king made his approaches to the city slowly, being obliged to level +the numerous inclosures as he moved on. These were occupied by the Irish +infantry, who, lining every hedge, kept up a galling fire, falling back +gradually as heavy bodies of troops were brought up against them, until +they reached the cover of the guns of the city and fort. Upon these +opening fire, William's army halted and encamped before the Irish town. + +Here, as at the Boyne, the king had a narrow escape, a cannonball from +the walls striking the ground at his foot as he was passing through a gap +in a hedge. + +The king had learned that great dissensions existed between the Irish and +French, and relied upon this, as much as upon the strength of his arms, +to obtain possession of the city. His information was, indeed, correct. +King James, in his flight, had left no orders as to who should assume the +supreme command. The Duke of Berwick had considerable claims. Lauzun and +the French officers declined altogether to receive orders from +Tyrconnell, and the Irish officers equally objected to act under the +command of a Frenchman. Consequently, during the whole siege, the main +Irish army, which, by acting upon William's rear, could speedily have +made his position untenable, remained inactive. Monsieur Boileau, a +French officer, was governor of the town, but Lauzun, having examined the +fortifications, pronounced the place wholly incapable of defence, +declaring that the walls could be knocked down with roasted apples, and +so ordered the entire French division to march to Galway, and there await +an opportunity for embarking for France, leaving the Irish to defend the +city if they chose. + +Lauzun, in fact, was a courtier, not a soldier. He desired to get back to +Versailles at any hazard, and had so inspired his officers and men with +his own sentiments that there was a general cry among them to be recalled +to France. They had, indeed, no interest in the cause in which they +fought. They looked with contempt at their half-armed and half-trained +allies, and they grumbled continually at the hardships which they had to +undergo. It was indeed an evil day, for King James's cause, when he +exchanged Mountcashel's fine division for these useless allies, who, +throughout the war, not only did no service, but were the cause of +endless dissension and disaster. + +As soon as King William had taken up his position in front of Limerick, +he sent a summons to Boileau to surrender. The latter consulted with +Tyrconnell, Sarsfield, and some other officers, for, even to the last +moment, it was a question whether the place should be defended. + +At last, however, a decision was made. The reply was addressed to +William's secretary, Sir Robert Roultwell, as Boileau could not +acknowledge the prince as king, and was too polite to hurt his feelings +by a denial of the royal title. He expressed great surprise at the +summons he had received, and said that he hoped to merit the good opinion +of the Prince of Orange better by a vigorous defence, than by a shameful +surrender, of the fortress which had been committed to his charge by his +master King James the Second. + +The king's camp was now formed in regular order; he himself taking his +place on its right, having near him the Horse Guards, and the Blue Dutch +Guards, who were always his main reliance. To the left of these were the +English and Dutch regiments, further on the French and Danes, while the +Brandenburghers and other German regiments formed the extreme left of the +line. To their great satisfaction, the post assigned to the Danes was one +of the rude circular redoubts called, in Ireland, Danish forts, and +probably constructed by their own far-off ancestors. + + + +Chapter 9: Pleasant Quarters. + + +After the termination of the short siege of Athlone, the troop of Captain +Davenant were despatched to join the army near Limerick, and, on their +arrival there, were ordered to take up their quarters at the house of a +Protestant gentleman named Conyers, four miles from the town on the +Limerick side of the river. + +It was a mansion of considerable size, standing in large grounds, for its +proprietor was one of the largest landowners in the county of Limerick, +his grandfather having been a colonel in one of Cromwell's regiments. Mr. +Conyers himself had gone to Dublin, upon the passing of the act +sequestrating the property of all the Protestants by James's parliament, +to endeavour to obtain a remission of the decree, so far as it concerned +his house and adjoining grounds. As he had influential friends there, he +had remained, urging his petition, until the battle of the Boyne and the +entry of King William into Dublin entirely changed the position. But he +then, owing to the disturbance of the country, and the fact that the +Irish army had retired to Limerick, found it impossible to return home. +He had, however, travelled with William's army, to which he was able to +give much useful information regarding the defences, and details of the +country round the town. + +As Captain Davenant's troop rode up to the house, a lady, with a girl of +some sixteen years old, appeared at the door. Both looked very pale, for +they feared that the brutal conduct of which they had heard, of William's +army, would be followed by reprisals on the part of the Irish. They were +somewhat reassured, however, by Captain Davenant's manner as that officer +dismounted, raised his hat, and said: + +"Madam, I have received orders to quarter my troop in the house, but I am +anxious, I can assure you, to cause as little inconvenience and annoyance +as possible, under the circumstances." + +"We are only women here, sir," Mrs. Conyers said. "The house is at your +disposal. I myself and my daughter will move to the gardener's cottage, +and I trust that you will give orders to your men that we shall be free +from molestation there." + +"I could not think of disturbing you in that manner," Captain Davenant +said. "I myself have a wife and mother alone at home, and will gladly +treat you with the same courtesy which I trust they will receive. Allow +me, in the first place, to introduce to you my lieutenant, Mr. O'Moore, +and my cornet, who is also my son, Walter. I see that you have extensive +stables and outbuildings. I am sure that my men, who are all good +fellows, and many of them the sons of farmers, will make themselves very +comfortable in these. I myself, and my two officers, will quarter +ourselves in the gardener's cottage you speak of." + +"You are good, indeed, sir," Mrs. Conyers said gratefully; "but I could +not think of allowing you to do that, and shall indeed be pleased, if you +and your officers will take up your residence here as my guests." + +"I thank you kindly; but that I could not do. My men will be well content +with the outhouses, if they see that we are content with the cottage; but +they might not be so, if they saw that we took up our quarters in the +house. Therefore, if you will allow me, I will carry out my own plan; but +I need not say that we shall be very pleased to visit you in the house, +at such times as may be agreeable to you." + +After expressing their grateful thanks, Mrs. Conyers and her daughter +withdrew into the house. Captain Davenant then addressed a few words to +his men. + +"The house will not hold you all, lads, and there are only ladies here, +and I am sure you would not wish to disturb and annoy them by crowding +their house. Therefore, I have arranged that you shall take up your +quarters in the outhouses, and that we shall occupy a little cottage on +the grounds. I hope, lads, that, for the honour of the country and the +cause, all will behave as peacefully and quietly as if in our own homes. +It would be a poor excuse that, because William's soldiers are behaving +like wild beasts, we should forget the respect due to lonely women." + +A fortnight was spent here pleasantly for all. The first alarm past, Mrs. +Conyers felt safer than she had done for months. Ever since the troubles +had began, she had felt the loneliness of her position as a Protestant, +and she would have, long before, made her way with her daughter to +Dublin, had it not been that she thought that, so long as she continued +in the house, it might be respected by the Catholic peasantry, while, +were she to desert it, it would probably be plundered, perhaps burned to +the ground. Still, the position was a very trying one, especially since +the Jacobite army began to gather in force round Limerick. + +She now felt that her troubles were comparatively over. The troops caused +no annoyance, and she heard but little of them, while she found in +Captain Davenant and his officers pleasant guests. The troops, on their +part, were well satisfied. Mrs. Conyers gave instructions that they were +to be supplied with all they needed, and their rations of bread and meat +were supplemented with many little comforts and luxuries from the house. + +While Mrs. Conyers entertained the two elder officers, Walter naturally +fell to the share of her daughter, and the two soon became great friends, +wandering in the grounds, and sometimes riding together when Walter was +not engaged with the troop. The news came daily of the movements of +William's army, and when it approached, Captain Davenant's troop went far +out to observe its movements, and obtain an accurate idea of its +strength. + +It was late in the evening when they returned, and Captain Davenant said +at supper: + +"This is our last meal with you, Mrs. Conyers. We leave at daybreak, and +a few hours afterwards William's army will arrive before Limerick. We +shall be the losers, but you will be the gainer if, as you suppose, Mr. +Conyers is with them." + +"I shall be really sorry for your going, Captain Davenant. It seemed a +terrible thing having a troop of hostile horse quartered upon one; but in +reality it has been a pleasant operation, rather than not, and I have +felt safer than I have done for months. I do hope that when these +troubles are over we shall renew our acquaintance, and that you will give +my husband an opportunity of thanking you for the kindness with which you +have treated us." + +"The thanks should be on my side," Captain Davenant said. "You have made +what promised to be an unpleasant duty a most pleasant one. Our stay here +has been like a visit at a friend's, and I regret deeply that it has to +come to an end, a regret which I am sure Lieutenant O'Moore and my son +share." + +"We do, indeed," the lieutenant said. + +Walter and Claire Conyers said nothing. They had talked it over early +that morning before the troop started, and Walter had expressed his deep +regret that their pleasant time was at an end; and, although the girl had +said little, she was far less bright and happy than might have been +expected, considering that upon the following day she should probably see +her father. + +Captain Davenant's troop rode off at daybreak, kept down the Shannon to +Limerick, and, crossing the bridge, entered the city, and received orders +there to take up their quarters in a village some four miles up the +river. Thus, they were less than a mile distant from Mrs. Conyers' house, +although separated from it by the Shannon; and from an eminence near the +village, the roof and chimneys of the mansion could be seen rising above +the trees by which it was surrounded. + +During the day, the sound of the firing before Limerick could be plainly +heard; but little attention was paid to it, for it was certain that no +attack could be made in earnest upon the town, until the battering +artillery came up, and there was but little hope that the cavalry would +be called up for any active service at present. + +After dinner, Walter strolled out to the eminence, and looked across +towards the house where he had spent so happy a time, and wondered +whether Mr. Conyers had by this time arrived, and whether, in the +pleasure of his coming, all thought of the late visitors had been +forgotten. Presently Larry sauntered up, and took a seat on a wall a few +paces away. Larry was a general favourite in the troop. He did not ride +in its ranks, but accompanied it in the capacity of special servant of +Walter, and as general attendant to the three officers. + +"We had a good time of it, yer honour," he said presently. + +Walter turned round sharply, for he had not heard him approach. + +"We had, Larry," he said, with a smile. "We shall find it rougher work +now." + +"We shall, yer honour. + +"I was thinking to myself," he said, confidentially, "that if you might +be wanting to send a bit of a letter, it's meself could easily make a +boat, with some osiers and the skin of that bullock we had given us for +the rations of the troops today." + +"Send a letter, Larry! Who should I be sending a letter to?" + +"Sure yer honour knows better than me. I thought maybe you would be +liking to let the young lady know how we're getting on now, and to find +out whether her father has come home, and how things are going. Yer +honour will excuse me, but it just seemed natural that you should be +wishing to send a line; and a sweeter young lady never trod the sod." + +Walter could not help laughing at the gleam of quiet humour in Larry's +face. + +"I don't know, lad. You have pretty well guessed my thoughts; but it +can't be. The opposite bank will be swarming with William's men--it would +be a most dangerous business. No, it's not to be thought of." + +"Very well, yer honour, it's just as you like; but you have only got to +hand me a bit of paper, and give me a wink of your eye, and I will do it. +As to William's sodgers, it's little I fear them; and if all one hears of +their doings be true, and I had a pretty young creature a mile away from +me, with those blackguards round about her, it's anxious I should be for +a line from her hand;" and Larry got down from his seat, and began to +walk away towards the village. + +Walter stood silent for a moment. + +"Wait, Larry," he said. + +Larry turned, with a look of surprise upon his face. + +"Come here," Walter said impatiently. "Of course I am anxious--though I +don't know how you could have guessed it." + +"Sure yer honour," Larry said with an innocent look, "when a gentleman +like yourself is for ever walking and riding with a purty colleen, it +don't need much guessing to suppose that you would be worrying after her, +with such creatures as the Northerners and the furreners in her +neighbourhood." + +"And you seriously think you could take a letter across to her, Larry?" + +"Sure and I could, yer honour. The nights are dark, and I could get +across the river widout a sowl being the wiser, and make my way to the +stables, and give it to one of the boys, who will put it in the hands of +Bridget, Miss Claire's own maid; and I could go back, next night, for the +answer." + +"But if you can do it, I can," Walter said. + +"What would be the good, yer honour? It's only the outside of the house +you would see, and not the young lady. Besides, there's a lot more risk +in your doing it than there is with me. You are an officer of the king's, +and if you were caught on that side of the river, it's mighty little +trial they'd give you before they run you up to the bough of a tree, or +put a bullet into you. With me, it's different. I am just a country boy +going to see my cousin Pat Ryan, who works in the stables at the house. +Pat would give me a character, no fear." + +"Well, I will think of it," Walter said. + +"And I will get the boat ready at once, your honour. A few sticks and a +green hide will make a boat fit for Dublin Bay, to say nothing of +crossing a smooth bit of water like this." + +After Larry had left him, Walter walked up and down for some time. He had +certainly thought, vaguely, that he should like Claire Conyers to know +that he was still within sight of her house; but the possibility of +sending her word had not occurred to him, until his follower suggested +it. Larry's suggestion of possible danger to her made him uneasy. Even if +her father was with the king, and had already returned home, he would +frequently be absent in the camp, and who could tell but some band of +plunderers might visit the house in his absence! The Protestants had been +plundered and ill-used by William's men round Athlone, and might be here. +It would certainly be well to know what was going on across the water. + +After the kindness they had received, surely it would be only civil to +let the Conyers know where they were posted. At any rate, Claire could +not be offended at his writing; besides, he might arrange some plan by +which he might get news from Larry's friend, Pat Ryan. + +As he went down to the village he heard roars of laughter, and, passing a +cottage, saw Larry with five or six of the troopers round him. Larry was +seated on the ground, making a framework in the shape of a saucer four +feet in diameter. + +"And what are you wanting a boat for, Larry?" + +"Sure, I am mighty fond of fishing," Larry said. "Didn't you know that?" + +"I know you are a fisherman at home, Larry; but if it's fishing you want, +there are two large boats hauled up on the bank." + +"They are too big," Larry said. "I should want half a dozen men to launch +them, and then you would want to go with me, and the bare sight of you +would be enough to frighten away all the fish in the Shannon. But I will +have a look at the boats. The captain might want a party to cross the +river, and it's as well to see that they are in good order, and have got +the oars and thole pins handy. I will see to them myself, for there are +not half a dozen of ye know one end of the boat from the other." + +When Walter reached his quarters, he at once sat down to write. After +many attempts he finished one as follows: + +"Dear Miss Conyers: + +"After the kindness shown to us by Mrs. Conyers and yourself, I feel sure +that you will like to know where we are posted. We are at Ballygan, just +across the Shannon opposite to your house, and I can see your roof from a +spot fifty yards from the village. It seems a pleasure to me to be so +close, even though we are as much divided as if there were the sea +between us. + +"I hope that Mr. Conyers has returned, and that you will have no trouble +with William's troops, whose reputation for good behaviour is not of the +best. I hope that, now that you are among your friends, you have not +quite forgotten us, and that you will let me have a line to say how you +are, and how things are going on with you. My boy Larry is going to take +this across, and will call tomorrow night for an answer, if you are good +enough to send one." + +"When will your boat be finished, Larry?" he asked his follower, as the +latter came in, just as it was getting dusk. + +"She will be finished tomorrow. The framework is done, and I could make a +shift, if your honour wished, just to fasten the skin on so that it would +take me tonight." + +"If you could, I would rather, Larry." + +"All right, your honour!" Larry said, with a slight smile. "Two hours' +work will do it." + +"I know where you are making it, Larry, and will come round when I go to +inspect sentries, at eleven o'clock. We shall post ten men, a quarter of +a mile apart, on the bank, and I will give orders for them to look out +for you. The word will be 'Wicklow;' so when you come across they will +shout to you, 'Who comes there?' You say, 'Wicklow;' and it will be all +right." + +At the hour he had named, Walter went round for Larry, who was working by +the light of a torch stuck in the ground. + +"I have just finished it, yer honour; but I was obliged to stop till the +boys got quiet; they were so mighty inquisitive as to what I was in such +a hurry about, that I had to leave it alone for a while." + +"Look here, Larry, here is the letter, but that's not the principal +reason why I am sending you across. You will give it to Pat Ryan, as you +suggested, to pass on through Bridget to Miss Conyers; but I want you to +arrange with him that he shall, tomorrow, get some dry sticks put +together on the bank opposite, with some straw, so that he can make a +blaze in a minute. Then do you arrange with him that, if any parties of +William's troops come to the house in the absence of Mr. Conyers, and +there should seem likely to be trouble, he is to run as hard as he can +down to the river. If it is day, he is to wave a white cloth on a stick. +If it is night, he is to light the fire. Tell him to arrange with Bridget +to run at once to him and tell him, if there is trouble in the house, +for, as he is in the stables, he may not know what is going on inside. + +"I have been looking at those boats. They will carry fifteen men each at +a pinch; and if the signal is made, we shall not be long in getting +across. Pat would only have about half a mile to run. We will get the +boats down close to the water's edge, and it won't take us many minutes +to get across. Anyhow, in twenty minutes from the time he starts, we +might be there." + +"That will be a moighty good plan, yer honour. Now, if you will go down +to the water with me, I will be off at once. I sha'n't be away half an +hour; and I can slip up into the loft where Pat sleeps, and not a sowl be +the wiser, if there was a regiment of William's troops about the house." + +"All right, Larry! I shall wait here for you till you get back." + +Larry raised the light craft and put it on his head. He had made a couple +of light paddles, by nailing two pieces of wood on to mop sticks. + +Walter accompanied him to the water's edge, and told the sentry there +that Larry was crossing the river on business, and would return in half +an hour's time, and that he was not to challenge loudly when he saw him +returning. + +The night was dark, and Walter soon lost sight of the little boat. Then +he waited anxiously. He had, however, but little fear that the enemy +would have posted sentries so far down the river, especially as he would +only just have pitched his camp opposite Limerick. + +It was three-quarters of an hour before he heard a faint splash in the +water. The sentry heard it, too. + +"Shall I challenge, sir?" + +"No. Wait for a minute. We shall soon see whether it is Larry. Should +there be anyone on the opposite bank, he might hear the challenge, and +they would keep a sharp lookout in future." + +The sound came nearer and nearer. + +"Who goes there?" Walter said in a quiet voice. + +"'Wicklow!' and it's mighty glad I am to hear your voice, for it's so +dark I began to think I had lost myself entirely." + +"Is all well, Larry?" Walter asked, as the light boat touched the bank. + +"All is well, your honour," Larry said, stepping ashore, and lifting the +light boat on to his head. + +"You had better stow it away close here, Larry, till the morning. It's so +dark that you will be sure to pitch over something, if you go further. + +"Now, tell me all about it," he went on, as Larry stowed away the boat +among some bushes. + +"There is little enough to tell, yer honour. I just rowed across and +landed, and made straight for the house. Everything was quiet and still. +I went round to the stables, and up into the loft where Pat sleeps. + +"'Are you there, Pat Ryan,' says I? + +"'Who is it calls Pat Ryan?' says he. + +"'It's myself, Larry, Mr. Davenant's boy.' + +"'Why, I thought you had gone,' says he. 'Are you sure it's yourself?' +says he. + +"'And who else should it be, Pat Ryan? Don't yer know my voice?' + +"By this time I had got into the corner where he slept, and touched him. + +"'I am glad to feel you, Larry,' says he, 'for I wasn't sure that you +hadn't fallen in with the troopers, and it wasn't your ghost that come to +visit me.' + +"'Whist,' says I, 'I have no time to waste upon ye. The master and the +troops are stationed just across the river, at Ballygan. Mr. Davenant has +given me a letter for Miss Conyers, telling her all about it. I don't +exactly know what he said, and maybe she would like it given privately, +so do you hand it to Bridget in the morning, and ask her to give it to +her mistress, and to hand over to you any answer there may be. I will +come across for it tomorrow night. But that's not all, Pat. You know the +devil's work that William's men have been carrying on, on the march.' + +"'Av course, everyone has heard the tales of the villains' doings, +Larry.' + +"'Well, the young master is mighty anxious about it, as you may guess. +Has Mr. Conyers come?' + +"'Yes. He rode in at four this afternoon.' + +"'Well, Mr. Davenant says you will all be safe as long as he's here, but +maybe that at some time, when he's away, you may have a troop of these +villains of the world ride in here, and little they care whether it's +Protestants or Catholics that they plunder. So, if they come here and +begin their devilries, you run for your life down to the river, opposite +Ballygan, with a white cloth or a shirt, if it's daytime, and wave it. +You are to have a pile of sticks and straw ready, and, if it's night, ye +will just set it in a blaze, and there will be help over before many +minutes. You stop there till they come, to tell them how strong the enemy +are. + +"'The master says you are to tell Bridget about it, so that, if they +misbehave themselves inside the house, she can slip out and let you know. +You understand that?' + +"'I do,' says he; 'and its a comfort to me, for it's fretting I have been +over what might happen, if a troop of those murderin' villains were to +come here, and not a sowl save me and the other boys to take the part of +the mistress and Miss Claire.' + +"'Well, you know now, Pat, what's to be done, and see you do it; and now +I must go, for the master is waiting for me. I will be with you tomorrow +night for the answer.' + +"And so I came back, and I lost ten minutes looking about for the boat, +for it was so mighty dark that I could not see a fut. I kicked against it +and very near fell over it. It's well I didn't, for I should have knocked +it into smithereens, entirely!" + +"Capital, Larry! you couldn't have done better. Now I shall feel +comfortable." + +After breakfast, Walter told his father of the mission on which he had +sent Larry, and the arrangement he had made with Pat Ryan. + +"You ought to have told me at first, Walter. I do not blame you, but you +should not do things on your own responsibility." + +"But so far, father, it has not been a regimental affair. I simply sent +my own boy with a note to Miss Conyers, just to say where we were; but, +as it may be an affair in which some of the troop may have to act, I have +told you about it, so that you can make what arrangements you like." + +"It's rather a fine distinction, Walter," his father said, smiling. "It +seems to me that you have engaged us to send a detachment across the +river, in case of trouble at Mrs. Conyers'. However, I heartily agree +with you that our kind friends should be protected from injury and +insult. + +"How many will the boats hold?" + +"Thirteen or fourteen men each." + +"Very well, then. I authorize you, at any time, if I am away with a +portion of the troop, to take twenty-five men across if the signal is +made. If I am here I shall, of course, go over myself. You can take any +measures of preparation you may think necessary." + +Walter availed himself of the permission, and at once gave orders to the +sentry posted on the river, in front of the village, that if a white flag +was waved by day, or a fire lit by night on the opposite bank, he was to +shout loudly and fire his pistol, and that these orders were to be passed +on to the sentry who succeeded him at the post. Then he picked out +twenty-five men, and told them that, at any time in the night or day, if +they heard a shot fired by the sentry they were to seize their arms, rush +down to the boats, launch them and take their places, and wait for +orders. He told them to sleep without removing any of their clothes, so +as to be ready for instant action. + +The next night, Larry again crossed and brought back a little note from +Claire Conyers, thanking Walter for letting her know they were so close, +telling him of her father's return, and saying that there was no fear of +her mother or herself forgetting their late visitors. It was a prettily +written little note, and Walter was delighted at receiving it. + +"Well, my boy," Captain Davenant said with a little smile, when Walter +told him next morning that he had heard from Miss Conyers, "as you seem +specially interested in this affair, I will let you have the honour and +glory of being the first to come to the rescue of Miss Conyers and her +mother, if they should need it; and therefore, whether I am here or not, +I give you permission to cross at once, in the two boats, if you get the +signal. But on reaching the other side you are to send the two boats back +at once, with two men in each, and I will bring the rest of the troop +across as fast as possible. There is no saying what force you may find +there. I shall leave it to your discretion to attack at once, or to wait +until I come up with reinforcements. You will, of course, be guided +partly by the strength of the enemy, partly by the urgency for instant +interference for the protection of the ladies." + +Four days passed quietly. There was but little for the cavalry to do. +Small parties were posted at various spots, for some miles down the +river, to give notice should the enemy appear on the opposite bank and +show any intention of making a crossing; and, beyond furnishing these +guards, the troop had little to do. + +Walter spent much of his time watching the opposite bank. He hardly knew +whether he wished the signal to be displayed or not--he certainly desired +no trouble to befall the ladies; but, on the other hand, the thought of +rushing to their rescue was undoubtedly a pleasant one. Larry spent much +of his time at the water's edge, fishing--a pursuit in which many of the +troopers joined; and they were able to augment the daily rations by a +good supply of salmon. + +On the fifth day, the officers had just finished supper, when the sound +of a pistol shot was heard. Walter leaped from his seat, snatched up his +sword and pistols, and ran down to the river. The men were already +clustering round the boats. A minute later these were in the water, and +the men jumped on board. They too were eager for the work, for Larry had +whispered among them that, if the signal was made, it would signify that +a band of the enemy's marauders were at Mrs. Conyers'; and all had been +so kindly treated there that they were eager to repay the treatment they +had received. Besides, there was not a man in the Irish army whose heart +had not been fired at the recitals of the brutality of the enemy, and +filled with deep longings for vengeance upon the perpetrators of the +deeds. + +Walter counted the men as they rowed across, and was pleased to find that +not one of them was missing. He ordered the two men who were at the oars +in each boat to return, the instant the rest had landed, to fetch another +detachment across. + +As they reached the land, the men sprang out. Pat Ryan was standing at +the landing place. + +"Well, Pat, what is it?" + +"A troop of Hessian horse, your honour. Half an hour ago they rode up to +the doors. Mrs. Conyers came out to meet them, and told them that she was +a loyal Protestant, and wife of a gentleman high in the king's councils, +who was in the camp. The blackguards only laughed. The officers, with +some of the men, dismounted and pushed their way past her into the house, +and the rest of the troop tied their horses up to the trees on the lawn, +and shouted to me, and some of the other boys who were looking on, to +bring forage. I suppose we weren't quick enough for them, for one of them +drew his pistol and fired at me. Fortunately, he only hit the truss of +straw I was carrying. Then I went round to the back door, where I had +agreed that Bridget was to come to me, if things were going wrong in the +house. A few minutes afterwards she came out, with a white face, and +said: 'For the sake of the Holy Virgin, run for your life, Pat, and warn +the soldiers!' So I slipped away and ran my hardest." + +All this was told as the party were running at full speed towards the +house. + +"How strong was the troop?" Walter asked. + +"About eighty men, yer honour." + +"We must trust to a surprise," Walter said. "We can get round to the back +of the house without being seen. If we burst in there suddenly, we can +clear the house and hold it till my father comes up with the whole +troop." + +Five minutes after they had left the boat, the party approached the +house. Walter halted his men for a moment in the shrubbery behind it. + +"Steady, lads, and take breath. You will follow me into the house, and +keep together. Give no quarter to the scoundrels." + +Scarcely had he spoken than a piercing scream, accompanied by a pistol +shot, was heard within. + +"Come on, lads!" Walter exclaimed, as he rushed at full speed at the +door, the men following close at his heels. + +The door was open. In the passage lay one of the maidservants, shot +through the head by one of the Hessian troopers, who still held the +pistol in his hand. Walter's pistol cracked before the man had time to +draw his sword, and he fell dead. + +Then he rushed on into the hall, in which were a score of troopers, +gathered round a barrel of wine which had just been broached. In an +instant, the Irish were upon them. Many were cut down or shot, before +they had time to stand on the defensive. The rest were slain after a +short and desperate fight. + +"Bar the front door!" Walter shouted. "Sergeant Mullins, take six men and +hold it against those outside. The rest follow me." + +Short as the fight had been, it had given time to the rest of the +Hessians, scattered about the house in the act of plundering, to gather +on the stair, headed by their officers. Without a moment's hesitation +Walter dashed at them. In point of numbers the party were well matched; +but the fury of the Irishmen more than counterbalanced the advantage of +position on the part of the Hessians. + +For five minutes a desperate fight raged. Those in front grappled each +other, and fought with clubbed pistols and shortened swords. Those behind +struck a blow as they could with sword or musket. + +But the Hessians, ignorant of the strength of the force which had +suddenly thus attacked them, thought more of securing their safety than +of defending the stairs, so several of those behind slipped away and +jumped from the windows to the ground. Their desertion disheartened those +in front, and, with a shout, Walter and his troopers bore back the +Hessians on to the landing, and the latter then broke and fled. Most of +them were overtaken and cut down at once. Two or three only gained the +windows and leaped out. + +The instant resistance had ceased, Walter rushed into the drawing room, +bidding the men run down and hold the lower windows. Mrs. Conyers lay in +a dead faint on the sofa. Claire, with a face as pale as death, was +standing beside her. + +"Walter!" she gasped out; "then we are safe!" + +She tottered, and would have fallen, had not Walter rushed forward in +time to catch her, and place her in a chair: + +"Don't faint, my dear Claire," he said urgently. "There is your mother to +be looked after, and I must run downstairs, for they are attacking the +house." + +"I won't faint," Claire said, laughing and crying in a manner which +frightened Walter more than her fainting would have done. "I shall be +better directly, but it seems almost like a miracle. Oh, those dreadful +men!" + +"They have all gone now, Claire. We hold the house, and have cleared them +out. Pray, calm yourself and attend to your mother. I must go. Don't be +frightened at the firing. My father will be here in a few minutes, with +aid." + +"Oh! I am not frightened, now," Claire said; "and oh! Walter, you are +bleeding dreadfully." + +"Never mind that now," Walter said; "I will see to it, when it is all +over." + +Then, leaving her to look after Mrs. Conyers, he ran downstairs. His +right arm was disabled, he having received a sweeping blow on the +shoulder from one of the Hessians, as he won his way on to the landing; +but he had no time to think of this now, for his men were hardly pressed. +For a moment, a panic had reigned among the troopers outside, at the +outburst of firing, and at the sight of their comrades leaping +panic-stricken from the windows; but inquiry soon showed them that they +were still greatly superior in numbers to the party who had obtained +possession of the hall; and, furious at the loss of all their officers, +and of many of their comrades, they attacked on all sides, and tried to +force their way in at the doors and lower windows, in spite of the +vigorous resistance from within. Walter hurried from point to point, +cheering on his men by assurance that help was at hand, and seeing that +no point had been left undefended. + + + +Chapter 10: A Cavalry Raid. + + +Staunchly as Walter's troopers maintained the defence, they were sorely +pressed, for the enemy still outnumbered them by three to one. Several +times the Hessians almost forced their way in, at one or other of the +windows, but each time Walter, who kept four men with him as a reserve, +rushed to the assistance of the defenders of the windows and drove them +back; but this could not last. The defenders were hard pressed at several +points, and Walter, feeling sure that his father would be up in a very +few minutes, called the men off from their posts and stationed them on +the staircase. + +With shouts of triumph, the Hessians burst in. The hall was filled with a +crowd of furious soldiers, who hurled themselves like a wave at the +defenders of the staircase. All the pistols had long since been emptied, +and they fought sword to sword. Walter had detached five of his little +party to hold the top of the other staircase, should the assailants try +to force a passage there; and he had but ten men now, and several of +these severely wounded, to hold the staircase. + +Great as the advantage that the position gave the defenders, they were +forced up step by step, and Walter began to fear that he would be driven +to the landing before succour came, when a crowd of figures suddenly +burst in at the hall door, and above the cracking of pistols, which at +once arose, he heard his father's voice: + +"Down with the murdering dogs! No quarter!" + +Taken wholly by surprise, ignorant of the force by which they were +attacked, and taken between two bodies of enemies, the Hessians turned to +fly. Walter and his men at once pressed down upon them, while the +newcomers fell upon them with fury. + +There was but little resistance, for the Hessians thought only of flight. +Some burst through their assailants and gained the door; more fled down +the passages, and escaped by the windows through which they had entered; +but more than thirty of them fell in the hall. + +The instant resistance was over, Captain Davenant ran out with his men to +secure the horses. A few of the Hessians, who had escaped from the front +door, had jumped on the backs of the nearest animals and ridden off. The +rest had fled on foot, and the exulting troopers counted seventy-two +horses remaining in their hands. Captain Davenant at once returned to the +house. + +"Where are you, Walter?" he shouted; but there was no answer. Getting +more light, Captain Davenant searched hastily among the numerous bodies +scattered in the hall, and soon came upon Walter, who was lying, +insensible, just at the foot of the stairs. The excitement had supported +him so long as the defence had to be continued; but, as soon as succour +appeared, and the assailants retreated, he had stumbled forward with his +men, and had fallen insensible from loss of blood at the foot of the +stairs. Captain Davenant hastily examined him. + +"Thank God," he said to Larry, who had smuggled himself over with the +second detachment, "he has no other wound but this on the shoulder, and +has only fainted from loss of blood! Run upstairs, and snatch a sheet +from one of the beds. We will soon make some bandages." + +Larry did as he was ordered. Slips were torn off the sheets, and, after +cutting Walter's coat and shirt from his shoulder, Captain Davenant bound +and bandaged up the wound. In the meantime, Larry had got some spirits +from the buffet in the dining room, and a spoonful or two were poured +down Walter's throat, and in a few minutes he opened his eyes. For a +moment he looked confused, then he smiled at his father. + +"You were just in time," he said. "We couldn't have held out much +longer." + +"Yes, we were just in time, thank God!" his father said; "but where are +the ladies?" + +"In the drawing room. Mrs. Conyers has fainted." + +Captain Davenant ran upstairs. Claire had succeeded in restoring her +mother, who had just sat up when Captain Davenant entered. + +"My daughter tells me that you have rescued us, you and your son," she +said faintly. "How can I thank you enough?" + +"Never mind that now, my dear lady," Captain Davenant said hastily. "Just +at present, we have no time to lose. The fellows who have escaped will +carry the news to William's camp, and in half an hour we shall have a +regiment of cavalry here. I must retreat at once, and carry my wounded +with me. What will you do? Will you stay here, or will you and your +daughter come with us?" + +"Oh, I will go with you, please. If I was sure my husband would come with +them, I would not fear; but he may not hear of it, and there is no saying +what they might do." + +"How is Walter, Captain Davenant?" Claire--who had been waiting +impatiently for her mother to finish--burst in. "He was wounded, and +there was such terrible fighting afterwards, and he has not come back +with you." + +"He fainted from loss of blood," Captain Davenant said; "but I do not +think his wounds are serious. + +"Mrs. Conyers, I can only give you five minutes. Take with you any jewels +or valuables you prize most. If they should arrive without your husband, +they will be sure to sack and burn the house." + +Captain Davenant now hurried downstairs. The wounded had already been +collected. There were but four so seriously wounded as to be unable to +walk. Six had been killed. The wounded, including Walter, lay on +blankets. Men took each a corner, and at once started to the spot where +the boats had been left. + +Captain Davenant told four men to wait at the foot of the stairs, while +he went up to the drawing room. Mrs. Conyers and her daughter were +already prepared. Each had thrown a shawl over her head, and had in their +hands the dressing cases containing Mrs. Conyers's jewellery. + +"Now, madam," Captain Davenant said, "if you will point out your plate +chest, I have four men below in readiness to carry it to the boat. It is +no use leaving that to be divided between the marauders." + +Mrs. Conyers pointed out two chests, in one of which deeds and other +valuable documents were kept, and in the other the plate, of which Mrs. +Conyers had a considerable quantity. Two men seized each of them. + +"Now, Mrs. Conyers, please accompany them as quick as you can to the +river. We will follow and cover the retreat. I think we have a few +minutes yet, before cavalry can arrive from the camp." + +When Captain Davenant and the rearguard reached the bank, they found that +the boats had already returned, after taking over the wounded and a +portion of the detachment. The rest, with the two ladies and the female +servants, at once took their places, and were taken across before any +sound betokened the arrival of the enemy at the Hall. + +"I sincerely hope, Mrs. Conyers," Captain Davenant said, as they landed, +"that Mr. Conyers may accompany the first body of troops who arrive, for +if not, I fear they will set fire to the Hall. They must have lost +considerably over fifty men, and in their rage at finding no one on whom +to wreak their vengeance, they will make no inquiry as to whom the house +belongs. Indeed, they will find no one there to ask. The servants of the +house had already fled, and I sent my boy's servant, Larry, round to the +stables to tell the men there to ride away with the horses. They will +accompany fifteen of my men, who mounted as many of the horses we +captured, and are driving the rest to a ford some miles away. They are a +valuable capture, and altogether, as far as we are concerned, we have +made a good night's work of it." + +"But I do not understand now," Mrs. Conyers said, "how it was that you +came across just in time. How did you know that we were in such trouble? +Because I am sure you would not have come across to attack the soldiers +in our house, without some special reason?" + +"No, indeed, madam, I certainly should not have made your house a +battlefield. The fact is, our fortunate arrival is due entirely to my +son. He made all the arrangements, without my knowing anything about it. +He sent over his boy to one of your lads in the stable, and arranged +that, if there should be any trouble in the house in the absence of Mr. +Conyers, he should run down and signal across the river. Your daughter's +maid was to let the boy know what was going on within. It was not till he +had the whole business in train, that Walter told me anything about it. +As it was his plan and not mine, and I could see he was extremely anxious +about it, I left the matter in his hands, and authorized him to lead the +first party across whenever the signal was made, night or day. Our boats +would only carry twenty-five men, and four of these had to return with +them. As Walter would have but a quarter of our force with him, I ordered +him, in case the signal was made and he crossed, not to attack until I +joined him, unless the necessity seemed very urgent. I suppose he +considered it was so, for he would hardly have fallen upon some eighty or +ninety troopers, unless he had deemed it most urgent." + +"Thank God he did so!" Mrs. Conyers said, "for we owe him our lives, and +more. I cannot tell you all now. It is too horrible to think of. But I +shall never forget the thankfulness and joy I felt, when suddenly I heard +the noise of shouts and firing, and the men who were trying to tear my +child from my arms suddenly desisted and, rushing out of the room, left +us alone. I fainted then, and knew nothing more till I heard, in a +confused way, the sound of shouting and conflict, and Claire was bending +over me, telling me that your son was holding the stairs against the +Germans, and that he was expecting help to arrive every moment. + +"Where is he? I long to see him, and give him my thanks and blessing." + +"He is in that cottage yonder, which is at present our quarters," Captain +Davenant said. "I told them to send off a trooper to Limerick, for a +doctor, as soon as they got across." + +"But you assured me his wound was not dangerous," Mrs. Conyers said +anxiously. + +"No, I am sure it is not. It is a severe wound, but not likely to have +serious consequences. But I fear that some of the men are in a far worse +condition." + +"I shall install myself as head nurse," Mrs. Conyers said, decidedly. "We +owe so much to you all, that that is the least I can do." + +"Very well, Mrs. Conyers. Then I appoint you head of the hospital. I will +have the four seriously wounded men moved into the cottage next to mine. +You will be able to obtain plenty of assistance among the women of the +village. O'Moore and I will move into other quarters, and leave the +cottage to you and your daughter. Your servants can have the cottage on +the other side." + +They had now reached the door. + +"I will just go in and see him first," Captain Davenant said. + +Larry was sitting by Walter's couch. + +"Well, Walter, how are you feeling?" + +"Oh, I am all right now," Walter said, "since Larry brought me word that +the boats have brought everyone across safely. I was anxious before, you +know." + +"How does your shoulder feel?" + +"It throbs a bit, father; but that is no odds." + +"Mrs. Conyers is coming in to see you. She is going to establish herself +here, and O'Moore and I are moving out. She is going, for the present, to +be head nurse." + +"That will be nice," Walter said; "but I sha'n't want much nursing." + +"I don't know, Walter. A downright cut with a heavy cavalry sword is not +a light matter, even when it falls on the shoulder instead of the head. +But you had better not talk much now, but, when you have seen Mrs. +Conyers, try and get off to sleep. + +"Larry, do you see to moving our things out, at once." + +So saying, Captain Davenant left the room, and a minute later Mrs. +Conyers came in. She took the left hand that Walter held out to her. + +"God bless you, my boy!" she said, softly. "I shall never forget what +Claire and I owe to you. All my life I shall be your grateful debtor, and +some day I hope that my husband will be able to thank you for what you +did for us. + +"And now," she went on, in a lighter tone, "I am going to be your nurse, +and my first order is that you lie quite quiet, and try to get to sleep. +I will make you some barley water, and put it by your bedside. That is +all I can do for you, till the surgeon comes to examine your wound. +Claire wanted to come in to thank you herself, but the child has gone +through enough for one night, so I have sent her straight to bed. I do +not want her on my hands, too." + +A few minutes later Larry, having established the two officers in another +cottage, returned and took his place by Walter's bedside, while Mrs. +Conyers went out to see to the comfort of the other wounded. Half an hour +later, a surgeon arrived from Limerick. Two of the cases were pronounced +at once to be hopeless, the other two he thought might recover. Walter's +wound he said was a severe one, but in no way dangerous. The sword had +probably glanced off something as it descended, so that the edge had not +fallen straight on the shoulder bone. It had, however, nearly taken off +the arm. Had it fallen truly, it would probably have been fatal. + +After he had attended to the more serious cases, he dressed the wounds of +the other men, several of which were quite as severe as that of Walter, +although they had not incapacitated the men from making their way down to +the boats. + +Captain Davenant had kept a watch towards the Hall. And as, in an hour +after they had crossed, no sheet of flame was seen arising thence, he was +able to tell Mrs. Conyers that he thought that it was safe, and that +either Mr. Conyers himself must have accompanied the troops, who would by +this time have unquestionably arrived there, or that some officer, aware +that the owner of the house was a friend, and with sufficient authority +over the men to prevent its destruction, must be in command. + +In the morning, he had a long talk with her. He suggested that she and +her daughter should accompany him into Limerick, and be sent, with a flag +of truce, across the bridge to join her husband in William's camp. This, +however, she positively declined to accede to. + +"In the first place," she said, "I consider that it is my duty to nurse +the men who suffered for our sake. In the next place, after what we went +through last night, I refuse absolutely to place myself and my daughter +in the hands of the ruffians who disgrace the cause of William. Hitherto, +as a Protestant, I have been an adherent of that cause, as has my +husband. Henceforth, I am an Irishwoman, and as such abhor a cause which +can employ such instruments, and inflict such atrocities upon Ireland. I +will write a letter to my husband, telling him exactly what has happened, +and how we have been preserved, and say that nothing will induce me to +trust myself and Claire among William's troops, but that I shall remain +on this side of the Shannon. If, as I trust will not be the case, the +English force their way across the river, I shall make for Galway, and +thence take ship to England, where we can join him. I intend to remain +here as long as I can be useful as a nurse, and I shall then retire, with +Claire, to Galway, where I have some relations, with whom I can stay +until matters are decided." + +Mrs. Conyers at once wrote the letter, which Captain Davenant carried +himself into Limerick, as he was going in to report the occurrences of +the preceding night. The governor immediately sent the letter across, +with a flag of truce. General Sarsfield, who was in command of the +cavalry, expressed himself highly pleased with the result of the raid +across the Shannon, and appointed three officers to raise another troop +of horse with the captured animals, which had arrived before morning at +Ballygan, and to place themselves under Captain Davenant's command. + +"Your son must be a lad after your own heart," he said to Captain +Davenant. "It was indeed a most gallant action, thus, with twenty-five +dismounted men only, to attack a strong troop of Hessians. I hope that, +as soon as he is well enough to mount a horse again, you will introduce +him to me. Keep your troop in readiness for a move, for I mean to beat +them up before long." + +"Can't I see Walter today, mamma?" Claire asked, after Captain Davenant +had ridden off. "It seems so unkind, my being in the house with him, and +not going in to tell him how sorry I am that he was wounded." + +"Not today, Claire. He is very flushed and feverish this morning, and I +must not have him excited at all." + +"But I would not excite him, mother. I would only go in and speak to him +quietly." + +"Even that would excite him, my dear. I will tell him that you want to +come in and see him; but that I think you had better not do so, for a day +or two." + +But even without the excitement of Claire's presence, Walter became more +feverish, and by evening was talking wildly. The excitement and anxiety +he had gone through were as much responsible for this as the wound, and +by midnight he knew no one. The surgeon, who came over in the evening, +ordered cloths constantly soaked with fresh water to be placed round his +head, and that he should be given, whenever he desired it, barley water +sharpened by apples boiled in it. + +Mrs. Conyers and Larry sat, one on each side of his couch, and once or +twice, when he was lying quiet, Claire was allowed to steal in and look +at him; but at other times Mrs. Conyers kept her out of the room, for, in +his feverish talk, Walter was constantly mentioning her name, and telling +her he would come to her. + +Mrs. Conyers was troubled and perplexed in her mind. Regarding Claire as +a child, and Walter as a lad of eighteen, the thought that any serious +consequence would arise from their intercourse at the Hall had not +occurred to her; but now she could not doubt that, on Walter's part, at +least, a serious attachment for her daughter had sprung up, and Claire's +face and manner told her a similar story. She was but sixteen, but, +having been her mother's companion and friend, she was older than many +girls of the same age. Mrs. Conyers would rather that it had not been so, +for she foresaw much sorrow for Claire. She had thought that her +daughter, as a wealthy heiress, would some day make a good match, and +Walter, whose fortune, in any case, would be but a small one--for she +knew that his father's estates had passed from the family--was a soldier +on the side she believed would be the losing one. Still, she felt that he +had earned a right to Claire, and resolved that, come what would, if it +turned out that Claire's affections were really given to the lad, she +should have her support and championship with her father. + +For two days the fever continued, and then the care of his watchers +prevailed, and Walter sank into a quiet sleep, from which he awoke +sensible and refreshed. + +An answer had been received from Mr. Conyers, on the same afternoon that +his wife's letter was sent to him. He had been in council with the king, +when an officer came in with the news that some Hessians had ridden in, +saying that the troop to which they belonged had ridden out to a large +house, two miles beyond the spot at which the regiment was quartered, and +had there been attacked by a body of Irish troops, who had killed all +their officers, and three-quarters of the troop. + +"Knowing where the regiment was quartered, it at once struck me that the +house might be our own, and, on the trooper being brought in, I found +that it was so, and obtained permission from the king to accompany the +regiment of Danish horse, who were at once sent out. The king gave +stringent orders to the officer in command that the house was to be +respected, and a guard was to be placed there to protect it from +marauders. You can imagine my anxiety, as I rode out, and how it was +increased when I found the place absolutely deserted. From the trooper +whom we took with us, we learned something of what had taken place. He +had been in the garden, but the officers and nearly half the troopers +were in the house. Suddenly, the sounds of a conflict were heard within. +Then many of his comrades jumped from the windows, and, as they reported +the number of the assailants was not large, an attack was made upon the +house. After considerable loss, an entrance was effected, and they were +gradually overcoming the defenders, when they were attacked in the rear +by a fresh body of the enemy, and only a few of them managed to make +their escape. + +"The appearance of the house fully corroborated his story. The inside was +piled with dead, who were found scattered all over the house. Among them +were a few men in the uniform of one of the Irish cavalry regiments. This +was some alleviation to my terrible anxiety. Had the assailants been a +body of peasants, I should have feared that they had wreaked on you and +Claire the hatred which they feel, I own not unjustly, towards the king's +foreign troops. As they were regular soldiers, I had hopes that they had +only carried you off as hostages. + +"One of the female servants was found below, killed. No pursuit was +possible, as we could find no one of whom to inquire by which way the +enemy retreated; but, in the morning, we found that the horses of the +Hessians had been ridden to a spot some miles up the river, where they +had swam or forded the stream. There was a strong party of the enemy on +the opposite side. My anxiety was terrible, till I received your letter, +and you may imagine how great a shock it was to me to learn the frightful +scene through which you had passed, and how my sentiments changed towards +those whom I had regarded as your abductors, but whom I now learn were +your saviours. + +"I have read that portion of your letter to the king, who is furious at +the evil conduct of his troops. He has, all along, done everything in his +power to repress it; but when not under his immediate eye, it seems as if +all discipline was lost, and the troops behaved rather as a horde of +savages than as soldiers. After what had happened, I cannot blame you for +the opinion you express in your letter, or for your determination not to +trust yourself and Claire in this camp, although I am sure that the king +would send a detachment of his own Dutch guards with you to Dublin. I +trust that you will, as soon as the work you have undertaken is over, go +to our cousins at Galway, and take ship without delay to England, where I +will at once join you, when I hear of your arrival there. + +"Please express to Captain Davenant and his son the extreme obligation +under which I feel towards them, and assure them that I look forward to +the time when this unfortunate struggle shall be at an end, and I can +meet them and thank them personally. It will be a satisfaction to you to +be able to inform them that I have, this morning, obtained from the king +a peremptory order on the commission in Dublin, to stay all proceedings +in the matter of Captain Davenant's estate near Bray, which was on the +list of confiscated properties. I am forwarding this by one of the royal +messengers, who leaves with despatches today, and, when I visit Dublin, I +shall do myself the pleasure of calling on Mrs. Davenant, and of setting +her mind at ease." + +While Walter had been at his worst, his father had been away for only a +few hours. After his interview with Sarsfield in Limerick, a messenger +arrived from that general, ordering Captain Davenant to bring his troop +into the city at once. It was four in the afternoon when he arrived, and +he at once went to General Sarsfield's quarters. + +"Let the men dismount, Captain Davenant, and let them and the horses +feed. We have a long ride before us tonight. I have just heard that +William's siege artillery is coming up, under a weak escort, and I mean +to get round in the Dutchman's rear and destroy it. He shall find that +Limerick is not to be taken as easily as he expects. + +"He has had a disagreeable sample of our quality today. A deserter +brought in news of the exact position of his tent, and our artillery have +been giving him such a peppering that, from the church tower, we see that +he has been obliged to move his camp." + +As soon as it was night, four hundred cavalry were in the saddle. +Sarsfield placed himself at their head, and rode twelve miles up the +Shannon to Killaloe. Crossing the river there, he made a wide sweep with +his cavalry, until he was in the heart of the Tipperary mountains, in +rear of William's camp. + +Quietly as the expedition had been carried out, it was impossible that so +large a body of horse should ride through the country unperceived, and a +gentleman of county Clare, named O'Brian, thinking that he would gain +honour and advantage by reporting their passage to William, set out for +the British camp. Being unknown there, he was a long time before he could +get access to the king. The officers to whom he spoke paid little +attention to his story about a body of Irish horse passing through the +country, and were much more interested in gaining information from him as +to the state of the stock of cattle, sheep, and pigs in his part of the +county; for, owing to the terror excited by the conduct of William's +soldiers, the people for many miles round had driven off their stock and +left the villages, and provisions were already becoming scarce in the +camp. + +At length, however, one of those to whom he had spoken mentioned his +story to the king, who at once sent for him, and saw the importance of +the news he brought. O'Brian himself had no idea of the object of +Sarsfield's expedition, but the king instantly guessed that it was the +siege train. He therefore ordered a large body of cavalry to be +immediately despatched to meet the artillery on its way, and protect it +into camp. + +All day, Sarsfield remained in concealment among the mountains, until, +towards evening, the train came in sight, moving slowly with its escort +of two troops of dragoons along the high road. He watched it until it +halted, and encamped for the night, in a field beside the highway. He +waited until the horses were picketed, and the men engaged in making +their encampment for the night. Then the Irish cavalry burst down from +the glen in which they had been hiding. The officer in command sounded to +horse, but it was too late; before the men were in the saddle, the Irish +were upon them, and in a moment the two troops of dragoons were dispersed +or killed. + +Sarsfield's men at once set to, to collect the powder waggons, pontoons, +and baggage of every description. The great guns were filled with powder +to the muzzle, and then buried two-thirds of their length in the earth. +The whole mass of siege equipage was piled above them, and a train of +gunpowder was laid to the store in the centre. The men then drew off to a +distance. A match was applied to the train, and the whole blew up with a +tremendous explosion. + +The shock was heard in the faraway camp of William, and he knew that his +cavalry had arrived too late to avert the catastrophe he feared. They +had, indeed, just arrived within sight of the spot when the explosion +took place. They rode on at full speed, only to find the vast pile of +ruined woodwork blazing furiously. The Irish cavalry was seen in the +distance, leisurely retiring; but, although the English pursued for a +short time, the Irish easily evaded them in the darkness among the hills. +The whole of William's cavalry in camp were sent out, when the explosion +was felt, to endeavour to cut off the Irish horse; but Sarsfield was well +acquainted with the ground, and retired with his troops safely across the +Shannon, having struck a terrible blow against the designs of William. + +The king, however, found that, in spite of the measures Sarsfield had +taken, two of the guns remained uninjured by the explosion. These were +brought to the camp, and another heavy gun was fetched from Waterford, +together with a small quantity of ammunition. The regiments were at once +set to manufacture fascines for the siege, and this work proceeded +quickly, the orchards and plantations furnishing an abundance of wood. +The fascines were used for filling up ditches, and the advances against +the town were pushed forward with vigour. + +But the besiegers were not allowed to carry on their work unmolested, for +a constant fire was kept up by the guns on the walls, and the besieged +made several sorties, driving back the working parties, destroying their +work, and retiring before any considerable bodies of troops could be +brought up to attack them. The three heavy guns were, however, brought +into position at a short distance from the wall, and began to play upon +it. + +The dissensions between the Irish commanders still continued, and, beyond +Sarsfield's raid against the battering train, nothing was done to annoy +the enemy in the rear, although, had any vigour been shown, the Irish +army lying idle west of the Shannon could have moved across, and speedily +starved out William's army by cutting off all supplies. Even as it was, +provisions could only be collected by sending out strong bodies of troops +to plunder the country; for the peasantry had been goaded into fury by +the evil conduct of the troops, and were now in a state of insurrection, +cutting off and murdering all stragglers, and driving in small parties. + +William had good reason to regret that he had brought with him so small a +contingent of British troops, owing to his doubts whether they could be +depended upon, and his poor opinion of their bravery; for, since the days +of Agincourt, English troops had been seldom seen on the Continent, and +were consequently held but in small esteem there. He had with him now a +regiment of English grenadiers, and a few line regiments, but the bulk of +the army was composed of his Dutch troops and foreign mercenaries. The +latter had shown, at the battle of the Boyne, that their courage was not +of a high order, while their excesses had not only produced a bitter +feeling of hatred against them throughout the country, but had done +immense harm to the cause, by rendering it next to impossible to obtain +provisions. + +Walter's progress towards recovery, from the day when he recovered +consciousness, was very rapid. The fever, though severe, had been short, +and he gained strength almost as rapidly as he had lost it. The morning +after he had come to himself, Mrs. Conyers brought Claire in to see him. + +"Here is a young lady who is very anxious to see how you are getting on, +Walter," she said cheerfully; "and, now you are going on so well, I shall +hand you over a good deal to her care, as some of the others want my +attention badly. You must not talk much, you know, else we shall be +having you getting feverish again." + +So saying, she left the room. + +Claire had stopped timidly near the door. The change which four days had +made in Walter's appearance shocked her, and she scarcely recognized, in +the pale drawn face, the youth who had burst in, sword in hand, to her +rescue on that terrible evening. The tears were running fast down her +cheeks, as she approached the couch. + +"Why, what is the matter, Claire?" he asked. "You must not cry. I am all +right again now, and in a week shall be on horseback, I hope." + +"Oh, Walter, what can I say?" she said. "To think that you should have +suffered so, for us!" + +"There is nothing dreadful about it," he said, smiling. "A soldier must +expect to get wounded, sometimes, and a slash from a German sword is not +a serious matter. I am only too glad that I got it in your cause, +Claire--only too glad that I was able to be of service to you--and your +mother," he added in afterthought. "It makes me very happy, to think I +have been useful to you, only I would rather that you didn't say anything +more about it. I am quite content and happy, as it is, and, if it had +been my life, I would have gladly given it." + +"I won't say any more, if you don't wish it," Claire said quietly, "but I +shall think of it, always. + +"And now," she said, with an effort, "mamma said you were not to talk +much, and you look quite flushed already, so you must lie quiet, and I +will read to you, or work, if you like that better." + +"I don't care which it is," Walter said, "so that I can look at you;" and +this time Claire's cheeks were a good deal redder than Walter's. + +Mrs. Conyers returned in half an hour, and found Claire sitting working, +while Walter lay looking at her. + +"I think, Claire, you had better take your work in the next room again," +she said. "Walter looks flushed, and I don't think your visit has done +him any good. You have been talking too much." + +"It has done me an immense deal of good, Mrs. Conyers," Walter protested; +while Claire exclaimed that they had hardly spoken a word, which indeed +was the truth, for Walter had been feeling too dreamily happy to want to +talk, and Claire had felt so shy and embarrassed, with Walter watching +her, that she had been unable to hit on a single subject for remark. + +Another two days, and Walter was well enough to get up and lie on a couch +of heather, covered with the blanket, which Larry had prepared for him in +the next room. His voice had recovered its natural ring, and Claire had +got over her unaccustomed shyness; and Mrs. Conyers, as she moved in and +out, heard them laughing and chatting together, as they had done ten days +before at the Hall. + + + +Chapter 11: The First Siege Of Limerick. + + +The three heavy guns thundered against the walls without intermission, +night and day, until at length a breach was made. The garrison in vain +attempted to repair it, and every hour it grew larger, until there was a +yawning gap, twelve yards wide. This William considered sufficient for +the purpose, and made his preparations for the assault. The English +regiment of grenadiers, six hundred strong, was ordered to take its place +in the advanced trenches, and to lead the assault. It was supported on +the right by the Dutch Guards, with some British and Brandenburg +regiments in reserve. + +On the left, the grenadiers were supported by the Danish regiments, and a +large body of cavalry were held in readiness, to pour in behind the +infantry. The storming parties were under command of Lieutenant General +Douglas. + +At three o'clock in the afternoon, the signal for the assault was given +by a discharge of three pieces of cannon. As the last gun was fired, the +grenadiers leaped from the trenches and dashed forward towards the +breach. As they approached the wall, they discharged their muskets at the +enemy upon the walls, and, before assaulting the breach, they hurled a +shower of hand grenades at its defenders. + +The preparations for the assault had been observed by the Irish, and they +were in readiness to receive it. The news had spread through the town, +and the excitement among the whole population was intense. The guns on +the walls ceased firing, in order that all might be ready to pour in +their shower of balls, when the assault commenced. The fire from the +batteries of the besiegers had also died away, and a silence, which +seemed strange after the constant din of the preceding days, hung over +the camp and city. + +No sooner had the grenadiers leaped from the trenches, than the guns on +the walls, and the musketry of the defenders, poured their fire upon +them; while all the batteries of the besiegers opened, at the same +moment, to cover the assault. Through the hail of fire the grenadiers +kept on without faltering, and, as they neared the breach, the Irish +rushed out through the opening to meet them. There was a desperate +struggle, half hidden from the eyes of those on the walls by the cloud of +smoke and dust, which arose from the combatants; but the grenadiers, +fighting with the greatest gallantry, won their way to the counter-scarp, +and half the regiment forced its way through the breach and entered the +town. But the Irish troops, clustered behind the wall, then closed in +again, and barred the breach to those following. + +The Dutch and English regiments were marched up, to aid the rest of the +grenadiers to cut their way in after their comrades; but these troops +were unable to imitate the valour of the grenadiers. They got as far as +the counter-scarp; but the fire from the walls was so deadly, that they +could not be prevailed upon to advance. The rain of fire mowed them down. +Their officers urged them on, and, unwilling to retreat and incapable of +advancing, they were shot down in scores. + +Presently there was a sudden movement among the Irish defenders on the +breach, and a few of the grenadiers who had entered the city burst their +way through them, and rejoined their comrades. No sooner had they entered +the city, than they found themselves assailed on all sides. The Irish +troops and the citizens attacked them with fury, and even the women, +animated by the deadly hate which the deeds of William's soldiers had +excited, hurled missiles upon them from the windows, and even joined in +the attacks upon them in the streets. + +The grenadiers resisted obstinately, but they were gradually overpowered +by numbers, until at last a few survivors, gathering together, burst +through their assailants, and succeeded in making their retreat. For +nearly three hours this furious conflict had raged within the city. +Regiment after regiment had been marched up to the assault, but none had +proved brave enough to fight their way up the counter-scarp to the aid of +the hard-pressed grenadiers in the town. + +When the little remnant of the grenadiers rejoined them, they continued, +for a time, to keep up a constant fire upon the defenders on the walls, +but at last slowly and sullenly fell back to their camp. + +In the meantime, a regiment of Brandenburghers had attacked the wall of +the battery known as the Black Battery, whose fire was doing great +execution upon the assailants. They had brought scaling ladders with +them, and with these they succeeded, fighting with great bravery and +determination, in gaining the walls. The whole regiment poured in; but, +just as they did so, the Irish fired the powder magazine that supplied +the battery, and the whole battalion was destroyed. + +William, from his position on a fort known as Cromwell's Fort, watched +the struggle. Had he acted as Cromwell did, at the siege of Drogheda, +when, after his troops had been twice repulsed at the breach, he placed +himself at their head and led them to the assault, the result might not +have been the same; for the regiments, which refused to follow their +officers up the counter-scarp, might have followed the king; but William, +although he had often proved the possession of no ordinary courage, and +coolness in danger, had not that species of courage which prompts a man +to throw himself forward to lead a forlorn hope. Moreover, both as a +general-in-chief and king, his place was not at the head of an assault. + +The assailants lost more than two thousand men, and these the flower of +William's army. The surprise of the troops, at their defeat by an enemy +they had been taught to despise, was extreme, and so ashamed were they of +their failure, that the following day they were ready to renew the +assault. The king, however, would not risk another such defeat. The +bravest of his force had perished, his stores of ammunition were nearly +exhausted, and the rains had set in with great violence. + +On the day following the assault, the king called a council of war, and +it was resolved to raise the siege. There was a great scarcity of waggons +and horses, in consequence of the loss sustained by Sarsfield's attack on +the train. The few waggons which remained were not enough to convey the +wounded men, many of whom were obliged to walk. The stores had, +therefore, to be abandoned for want of transport. Some were thrown into +the river, others blown up and destroyed, and, on Saturday the 30th of +August, the army commenced its retreat. + +It was accompanied by a great host of fugitives, for with the army went +the whole of the Protestant inhabitants of the county of Limerick and the +surrounding country, with their wives, children, servants, and such +household goods as they could bring with them. In addition to these were +the Protestant fugitives from the neighbourhood of Athlone, who had come +down with the division of General Douglas, after he had raised the siege +of that city. + +The Protestants round Limerick had not doubted the success of the +besiegers, never questioning the ability of an army, commanded by a king, +to capture a place like Limerick. The misery of this body of fugitives +was terrible. They had abandoned their homes to pillage and destruction, +and knew not whether they should ever be able to return to them again. +They had, on the arrival of William, torn up the letters of protection, +which the Irish generals had given to all who applied to them, and, +having thrown in their fortunes with him, dared not remain among the +country people, who had suffered so terribly from the exactions and +brutality of William's army. Not only had they to endure wet, hunger, and +fatigue in the retreat, but they were robbed and plundered, by the army +which should have protected them, as if they had been enemies instead of +friends. + +William himself left his army, as soon as he broke up the siege, and +pushed straight on to Waterford, and the troops, relieved from the only +authority they feared, and rendered furious by the ill success which had +attended their operations, broke out into acts of plunder and +insubordination which surpassed anything that they had before +perpetrated. + +The siege of Limerick brought the campaign to a close, and, so far, the +Irish had no reason to be disheartened. They had besieged and nearly +annihilated the army of Schomberg at Dundalk. They had fought a sturdy +battle on the Boyne, and had proved themselves a match for William's best +troops. They had decisively repulsed the attacks upon Athlone and +Limerick. Half the troops William had sent to conquer the country had +fallen, while their own losses had been comparatively small. + +The sole fruit, of all the efforts of William, had been the occupation of +the capital--a great advantage, as it gave him a point at which he could +pour fresh troops into Ireland, and recommence the war in the spring with +new chances of success. When the British army reached Callan, some of the +arrears of pay were distributed among the troops, and the army was then +broken up, and the troops went into winter quarters. + +William had returned at once to England, and sent over some new lords +justices to Dublin. These were received with delight by the townspeople, +who had suffered terribly from the exactions and depredations of the +foreign troops quartered there, and were, indeed, almost in a state of +starvation, for the country people were afraid to bring in provisions for +sale, as they were either plundered of the goods as they approached the +city, or robbed of their money as they returned after disposing of them. +As the only possible check to these disorders, the justices raised a body +of militia in the town, to cope with the soldiery, and the result was a +series of frays which kept the city in a state of alarm. + +By the time that Limerick beat off the assault upon its breach, Walter +Davenant was quite convalescent. Rumours of the ill treatment of the +Protestants who accompanied the retreating army circulated in Limerick, +and Mrs. Conyers congratulated herself warmly that she and her daughter +were safe under the protection of the Irish troops, instead of being in +the sad column of fugitives. + +As soon as the English army had left, Captain Davenant obtained for her +an order of protection from General Sarsfield, and she returned for a +while with her daughter to their house, to which the invalids were +carried, Captain Davenant's troop being again quartered around it. + +"I hardly know what is best to do," she said to Captain Davenant, a few +days after her return. "I am, of course, anxious to rejoin my husband, +but at the same time, I feel that my staying here is of benefit to him. +With the order of protection I have received, I am perfectly safe here, +and I have no fear whatever of any trouble, either with the troops or +peasantry; but, on the other hand, if we abandon this place, I fear that +it will be pillaged, and perhaps burned, like the other houses belonging +to Protestants which have been deserted by their owners. What do you say, +Captain Davenant?" + +"I should be sorry to give any advice, Mrs. Conyers. For the troops I can +answer. The protection you have received from General Sarsfield will be +sufficient to ensure you against any trouble whatever from them, but, as +to the peasantry, I cannot say. Every village within reach of William's +army, in its advance or retreat, has been destroyed, and the vilest +atrocities have been committed upon the people. The greater part of the +men have, in despair, taken up arms, and, when they get the chance, will +avenge their wrongs upon inoffensive Protestants who have ventured to +remain in their dwellings. Savagery has begot savagery, and even such a +protection order as you have received would go for little with these +half-maddened wretches. I should say, therefore, that so long as there +are a considerable body of troops at Limerick, so long you may safely +remain here, but no longer." + +"At any rate, I will stay for a time," Mrs. Conyers said. "The winter may +bring peace; and I am very loath to abandon the house, to which my +husband is greatly attached, if it is possible to save it." + +The party now fell back to the mode of life which had been interrupted by +the advance of William's army. Captain Davenant drilled his men, and +spent his evenings pleasantly in the house. Walter had so far recovered +that he was able to stroll through the grounds, or drive with Claire. The +troopers enjoyed their rest and abundance of rations. Captain Davenant's +mind had been set at ease by the receipt of a letter, which Mrs. Davenant +had sent him by one of the men of the village. It told him that she had +seen Mr. Conyers, who had obtained a stay of all proceedings against the +property, and that she was well, and in as good spirits as she could be +in his absence. + +A month after they had moved across the river, their quiet life was +interrupted by a trooper riding up, just as the party was sitting down to +dinner, with an order from General Sarsfield for the troops to be in +readiness to march, at daybreak, to form part of a force which was about +to undertake an enterprise against the English stationed at Birr. There +was silence at the table, after Captain Davenant had read the order. + +"Then you must leave us?" Mrs. Conyers said at last. + +"I am afraid so, Mrs. Conyers. Yes, sorry as I am that our pleasant time +here must come to an end, there is no questioning the order. I have been, +in fact, expecting it for the last day or two." + +"Then I shall move," Mrs. Conyers said, decidedly. "It will take us a day +or two to pack up such valuables as I should like to take away and leave +at Limerick, till the return of happier days. When that is accomplished, +I shall carry out my intention of making for Galway, and leave the house +to take care of itself." + +"In the meantime, madam," Captain Davenant said, "I will leave my son and +four of the men, who are now convalescent, as a protection. I fancy they +are all fit to take the saddle, but I can strain a point a little, and +leave them still on the sick list." + +"Thank you very much, indeed," Mrs. Conyers said, while a glance of +satisfaction passed between Walter and Claire. "That will be a +satisfaction. Indeed, I shall feel quite safe, so long as your son is +here. I wish now I had moved the things before; but I had hoped that you +would have been allowed to remain in quarters here all the winter. Had it +not been for that, I should never have decided as I did." + +The next morning the troop started. + +"The place seems strangely quiet," Walter said, as he strolled out into +the garden with Claire, after breakfast. "It seems terrible to think +that, in three or four days, it will be deserted altogether, and that you +will have gone." + +"It is horrid," the girl said, with tears gathering in her eyes. "I hate +King William and King James both," she went on petulantly. "Why can't +they fight their quarrel out alone, instead of troubling everyone else? I +don't know which of them I hate the most." + +"But there is a compensation," Walter said with a smile. + +"I am sure I don't see any compensation," the girl said. "What do you +mean, Walter?" + +"I mean," Walter said, "that if they had not quarrelled, we might never +have met." + +"There is something in that," Claire said softly. "No; I don't know that +I ought quite to hate them, after all." + +By which it will be seen that Walter Davenant and Claire Conyers had +already arrived at a thorough understanding, as to their feelings towards +each other. After this, as was natural between young persons so situated, +their talk wandered away into the future, and the present was already +forgotten. + +In the house, everyone was at work. Mrs. Conyers' servants had all +returned, when she came back to the house, and these were now busy, with +the assistance of Larry and the four troopers left behind, in taking down +and packing pictures, taking up carpets, and getting furniture ready for +removal. In the afternoon, Walter assisted in the work of packing. As he +was dressing for dinner, Larry, as usual, came into his room. + +"I suppose, your honour," he said, after putting out Walter's clothes, +"you will be setting a watch tonight?" + +"Yes, Larry, I was intending to do so. You don't think there is any +special occasion for it, do you?" + +"I don't know, your honour. We hear tales of the rapparees burning every +Protestant house in the district. As long as the troop was here, av +coorse the boys kept away; but there is a powerful lot of plunder in the +house, and the news that the troop have gone will go through the country +quick enough. The boys have had enough to turn them into devils, with +what they have gone through, and small blame to them if they take their +chances when they find them. We know, yer honour, that Mrs. Conyers and +Miss Claire are well-nigh angels, and there is small fear that the people +around will lift a finger agin them, in spite of having had their own +homes burnt over their heads; but folks from a distance don't know that, +and the news that there is a rich Protestant house, all ready for +sacking, will travel quick. I hope your honour will get the ladies to +move out of the place tomorrow, whether the ould pictures and things are +all ready or not." + +"Do you think it is as serious as that, Larry?" + +"Faith and I do, yer honour. You don't know how bitter the folks are!" + +"But there cannot be any danger, Larry, as long as we are here. The +rapparees would never attack a house which has the general's protection, +and with an officer and some troopers of the king to guard it." + +"It's meself would not answer for them," Larry said, shaking his head. +"The boys are just disperate, and would care nothing for the protection, +unless there were force to back it. They think that, as all the Catholics +have been robbed by the Protestants, it's only fair that they should get +their turn now; and, if I were your honour, I would lay all my plans out +tonight, how to get away and the rest of it, just as if you were assured +they would come before the morning." + +"Why, you have heard nothing certain, Larry?" + +"I have not, or I would tell your honour at once; but I know what the +people think and feel, and I know that the rapparees have been plundering +and destroying every Protestant house around, and they will guess that +the ladies will be moving, now that the troop is gone. Besides, won't +they have heard that the news has gone round, for waggons to come to take +away the things?" + +The earnestness with which Larry spoke convinced Walter that the danger +was serious. Larry was not given to magnify danger, and usually treated +all risks with carelessness and indifference. Walter knew that he would +gather, from the stablemen and the people who brought in provisions, much +more as to the state of popular feeling in the country than he was likely +to know, and he accordingly went down to dinner grave and preoccupied. + +Mrs. Conyers soon noticed the change in his manner, and, as soon as the +servants had retired, asked him if he had received any bad news. + +"No," he said, trying to speak lightly. "My boy Larry has been trying to +scare me about the rapparees, and, although I do not think that there is +any danger to be apprehended from them, I do think that it would be just +as well to hurry on your preparations, as much as possible, and for you +and Claire to go in to Limerick tomorrow afternoon. We can finish the +packing up of the goods you wish to take, and any we cannot get off +tomorrow can be sent in the next day." + +Mrs. Conyers looked grave. + +"But we have heard of no rapparees in this neighbourhood, Walter," she +said. "We have heard of sad excesses in some parts of the country, but +nothing in this neighbourhood." + +"There has been small temptation for them about here," Walter said, "for +every house within miles was stripped by the Williamites. Catholic or +Protestant was all the same to them. Besides, they knew well that +Sarsfield's horse would soon have put a stop to that sort of thing. Now, +I do not wish to alarm you in the slightest, and I do not think that +there is any real cause for anxiety. Even if they are in the +neighbourhood, the rapparees will hardly venture an attack upon a house +occupied by even a few of our troops. Still, it is always wisest to be +prepared, and therefore, I should like for us to arrange exactly what had +best be done in the event of an attack. Of course, I shall see that all +the doors and the lower windows are securely fastened, and I shall have +the men from the stables into the house, so we shall be nine or ten men +in all; enough, I hope, for all circumstances. Still, merely as a matter +of discussion, let us suppose the worst. Let us imagine the house +surrounded, the doors burst in, and the resistance on the point of being +overpowered. What would be our best plan for making our escape? + +"Do not be frightened, Claire," he went on, seeing how pale the girl had +become. "Every general, when he is going to fight a battle, however sure +he may be of success, decides upon the route by which his army shall +retreat, in case of a defeat, and I am only taking the same precaution." + +"If there is to be a retreat made at all," Mrs. Conyers said, "I prefer +that it should be made now. Do you really think that there is any real +danger of attack?" + +"I think that there is danger of attack, Mrs. Conyers; but I have no +reason for supposing that there is any particular danger this night." + +"Then Claire and I will at once start for the town, under the escort of +two of your men. It would be folly, indeed, to run the risk of another +attack here. If the house is to be burned, it must be burned. For, if +they were beaten off once, they would come again when the house was +undefended. As for the things, should all be quiet tonight, they can be +sent in tomorrow as arranged. The things that are to go are all got +together." + +"I do think that the best way," Walter said. "Of course, I shall ride in +with you, and hand you over to the friends you are going to, in the town, +and shall then come back here again with a light heart. But I own that I +am nervous at the thought of you and Claire being here, should the +rapparees attack the house." + +"But mind, Walter, there is to be no fighting. If they come tonight, I +had rather that they took everything, than that you should risk your life +in its defence. The silver and valuables we took across before are all +safe in Limerick. As for the other things, they can go. Now, mind, we +shall not leave unless we have your promise that, if a band of these men +come tonight to sack the place, you and your men will offer no +resistance." + +"If they come in numbers which render successful resistance out of the +question, I promise you that we will not draw a trigger, Mrs. Conyers." + +"In that case I am satisfied, Walter. Against you and your men these +peasants have no quarrel." + +Walter at once called Larry. + +"Larry, get my horse saddled, and tell Browning to saddle his. Place two +pillions behind the saddles. Mrs. Conyers and her daughter are going to +ride into Limerick at once." + +"The Lord be praised!" Larry said piously. "That's the best news I have +heard this many a day." + +"And, Larry," Mrs. Conyers said, "tell the three boys in the stable to +saddle the three best horses, and ride with us. If we lose everything +else, we may as well retain them, for it would not be easy to buy others +now." + +In ten minutes, all was ready for a start. Walter and the trooper took +their places in the saddles, chairs were brought out, and Mrs. Conyers +and Claire mounted behind them. Walter had asked Mrs. Conyers to take her +seat on the pillion on his horse, but she did not answer, and when Walter +turned to see that she was comfortably placed behind him, he found that +it was Claire who was seated there. + +"Mamma told me to," the girl said. "I suppose she thought this was, +perhaps, the last ride we should take together." + +"For the present, Claire--you should say, for the present. I hope it will +not be long before we are together again. + +"And for good," he added, in a low voice. + +Mrs. Conyers made no comment, when they dismounted and entered the house +of a friend at Limerick, upon Claire's swollen eyes and flushed cheeks, +but said "goodbye" lightly to Walter, thanked him for his escort, and +said that she hoped to see him, with her household goods, on the +following afternoon. + +On leaving them, Walter went straight to the house where an officer of +his acquaintance was quartered. + +"Hullo, Davenant! I didn't expect to see you here at this time of the +evening. I heard you were still laid up with your wound." + +"That is an old affair now," Walter said. "I am not quite strong again, +but there is little the matter now. I have come in to ask you if you will +let me have five-and-twenty of your men. I have strong reason to believe +that it is likely one of the bands of rapparees will make an attack on +Mrs. Conyers' house tonight. The tenants have been asked to send in their +waggons, tomorrow, to remove some of the furniture in here, and I think +it probable they will try to take what they fancy, before it starts. I +have brought Mrs. Conyers and her daughter into the town, but, as I have +only four men, I cannot defend the house if it is attacked in any force. +I wish you would let me have five-and-twenty men, and a sergeant, just +for tonight. I will march them in with the baggage in the afternoon." + +"Certainly I will," Captain Donovan said. "I need not disturb the +colonel, at this time of the evening, but will take it on myself. There +are just that number quartered in the storehouse, close to the gate. I +will go down with you, at once, and turn them out and give them orders. +It will be a good thing for the rapparees to have a lesson. They bring +disgrace upon our cause by their doings." + +In a few minutes the men, who had not retired to bed, were turned out. + +"You have got a four-mile march before you, boys," Walter said, when they +were drawn up; "but there will be a pint of good wine, and some supper +for you, when you get there. So step out as briskly as you can." + +After a cordial goodnight to Captain Donovan, Walter placed himself at +the head of the infantry, and, in little over an hour, arrived at the +house. He knocked loudly at the door. A minute later, Larry put his head +out of the window above. + +"Who is there? What do you want knocking at a peaceful house at this time +of night? You had best go away, boys, for the house is chock full of +soldiers. We are only waiting for orders to blow you to smithereens." + +Walter burst into a laugh. + +"Very well done, Larry. It is I, with some soldiers. So you needn't give +orders to the men to fire." + +Larry gave a cry of satisfaction, and ran down to open the door. + +"It's glad I am to see you, Master Walter, entirely. I have been +listening ever since you went, and, when I heard the tramp of feet, I +made sure it was the boys." + +"But I gave orders that there was to be no resistance, Larry." + +"And I wasn't going to resist, your honour; but I thought I might just +frighten them away." + +"Now, Larry, get up a pint of wine for each of these good fellows, and +what victuals you can find in the house. We need have no fear of an +attack tonight." + +When the soldiers had finished their supper, they lay down in the hall. +Walter placed a sentry at a window, at each side of the house, and he +then lay down on a sofa, for the ride to Limerick and back had greatly +fatigued him, much to his surprise, for he had no idea how far his +strength had been pulled down. + +He was aroused, just as day was breaking, by a loud knocking at the door, +and at the same moment a shot was fired from a window above. The soldiers +had started to their feet, and seized their arms as he ran out and bade +them follow him upstairs. He threw up a window. + +"Who are you? And what do you want?" + +"Never mind who we are," a voice replied. "We want the door opened, and +you had best do it quick." + +"Look here, my man," Walter said in a loud, steady voice, "there are +thirty soldiers in this house, and, if I give the word, you will get such +a volley among you, that half of you will never go home to tell about it, +so I warn you to depart quietly." + +"It's a lie," the man said. "If you are the officer, you have got only +four men, and you know it. We want to do you no harm, and we don't want +to harm the ladies; but what's in the house is ours--that's the law of +William's troops, and we mean to act up to it." + +A chorus of approbation rose from a throng of peasants gathered round the +door. A few of them carried muskets, but the greater part were armed with +rude pikes. + +"Show yourselves at the windows, boys," Walter said to his men. "Level +your muskets, but don't fire until I give the word." + +It was light enough for those without to make out the threatening +figures, which showed themselves at every window, and, with a cry of +alarm, they ran back among the shrubs for shelter. + +"Now you see," Walter said, "that I have spoken the truth. I have thirty +soldiers here, and you know as well as I do what will come of it, if you +attempt to break into this house. + +"For shame, men! Your deeds bring disgrace on the king's cause, and on +our religion. It is not because the scum who march with the Dutchman +behave like brutal savages, that we should do the same. There's plenty of +work for you, in fighting against the enemies of your country, instead of +frightening women and pillaging houses. Return to your homes, or, better +still, go and join the king's army, and fight like men for your homes and +your religion." + +He listened, but there was no answer. The rapparees knew they had no +chance of breaking into the house, so defended, and, when Walter ceased, +each man slunk away in the darkness. + +The next morning, a number of waggons arrived, and Walter, with the aid +of the soldiers, had the satisfaction of loading them with everything of +any value in the house, and of escorting them without interruption to +Limerick. Mrs. Conyers was filled with gratitude, when she heard the +events of the night, and how narrowly she and her daughter had escaped +another attack. One of the principal tenants had come in with his waggon, +and he agreed to move into the house, with his wife and family, until she +should return. Seeing that now everything worth taking had been removed, +he thought there was little chance of any attempt to destroy the house. + + + +Chapter 12: Winter Quarters. + + +Two or three days later, Captain Davenant returned to Limerick with his +troop. He had stopped at the house on his way, and learned there of the +move which had been made. + +"Well, Walter, so you nearly had to defend Mrs. Conyers against odds, +again," he said, as Walter joined him in the marketplace, where the troop +was dismounting. "I have come here for a day, only, for we are on our way +south. It is thought likely that the enemy's next move may be against +Cork, so some of us are detached in that direction. + +"To my mind," he went on, after he had seen the troop quartered, in some +houses which formerly belonged to the Protestants, but were now used as +barracks--"in my opinion, we are wasting precious time. We ought not to +allow the enemy to go into winter quarters. Our best season is just +coming on. We can stand the wet far better than they can, and we ought +not to give them a moment's rest, but should keep our army together, and +beat up one garrison after another; threaten the strongest places; compel +them to keep constantly on the move; and, before the spring, completely +wear out and exhaust those whom we cannot conquer. If England found that +she had the whole work to begin over again, she would think twice before +she went further. + +"These petty German princes would not find their men so ready to embark +in a quarrel, with which they have no concern, when they learned that all +who had done so had laid their bones in the swamps of Ireland, and, +without his mercenaries, William would find it hard to gather an army, +for the English themselves have no heart whatever in the war. If we +remain inactive all the winter, and enable them to retain their foothold +everywhere, fresh reinforcements will arrive in the spring, and so, bit +by bit, all Ireland will be won. + +"It is disheartening in the extreme, after seeing the enemy retire, +repulsed and utterly disheartened, from Athlone and Limerick, to allow +them unmolested to rest and gather strength again. If we could but get +rid of the French, there would be some hope for us. They have scarce +fired a shot, since the war began, and yet they assume superiority over +our generals. They thwart us at every turn. They not only refuse to +combine in any action, but they prevent our doing so. + +"Since the Boyne, our army has lain inactive and has done nothing, +although they might have done everything. All Ireland was open to them, +on the day when William, with all his forces, sat down here before +Limerick. Why, they could have marched straight for Dublin and captured +it, before William heard that they had crossed the Shannon. They might +have cut off his supplies from Waterford. They might have starved him out +in his camp here. They have had the game in their hands, and they have +allowed it to slip altogether through their fingers. The only hope I +have, now, is that before the spring the French will go. It is but too +clear that Louis has no intention, whatever, of helping us in earnest. +Had he chosen he could, any time during the last six months, have landed +an army here, which would have decided the struggle. Instead of that, he +has sent five thousand men, and had in return as many of our best +soldiers; and the officers he sent seem to have been furnished with +secret instructions, not only to do nothing themselves, but to prevent us +from doing anything." + +"Whom would you like to see in command, father?" + +"I should not care much, Walter, so that it was one man. I had rather +have any soldier you might take at random from our army, so that he +possessed a fair share of common sense, than the chaos which now +prevails; but, of course, the man whom we would rather have is Sarsfield. +Whether he is a great general or not, we have no means of knowing, for he +has never yet had the slightest opportunity of showing it; but I do not +think, myself, that he has made the most of what chances he has had, save +that one dash against the artillery convoy. He has done nothing; and, as +the cavalry are under his command, and he could, if he chose, snap his +fingers at the pretensions of the French and act independently, I think +he might have done far more than he has done. Still, he is our most +prominent leader, and he possesses the confidence of the Irish of all +classes. If he were in supreme command there would, I am sure, be a +complete change in our tactics. Instead of waiting everywhere to be +attacked, we should take the offensive, and, even if we were unable to +meet William's forces in pitched battles, and I believe that we are +perfectly capable of doing so, we should be able to harass and exhaust +them, to such a point that William would be only too glad to grant us any +terms we might demand, to bring the war to an end." + +After having dined, Captain Davenant went with Walter to call upon Mrs. +Conyers. Hearing that he was about to march with his troop to Cork, Mrs. +Conyers said: + +"Oh, Captain Davenant, will you not take us under your protection there? +I am afraid of travelling with Claire to Galway, in the present disturbed +state of the country, and I should find it easier to take a passage to +England from Cork than from Galway." + +"You certainly would, Mrs. Conyers. There is no formal war between +England and Ireland, and trading vessels still ply between Cork and +Bristol. I agree with you that it would not be safe for two Protestant +ladies to travel, without protection, from here to Galway, and I shall be +only too glad for you to journey with us. Your daughter, I know, can ride +any of the country ponies; and for yourself--" + +"I can ride, too, if there is an occasion. One of our horses is perfectly +quiet, and I have often ridden him by the side of Mr. Conyers, so there +will be no difficulty on that score." + +"In that case," Captain Davenant said, "consider the matter as arranged. +Will you be ready to start tomorrow, early?" + +"Certainly, Captain Davenant; I have no preparations to make. All our +furniture--which, thanks to Walter, was saved--has been stowed away in +the cellars of a warehouse here, and is safe unless William returns and +batters the whole town to pieces. The silver and other valuables our +friends here will take care of, till better times, so we have only to +pack two valises and mount. The servants will all find situations here. +My daughter's maid, Bridget, and two or three others have offered to +accompany us to England, but we have decided to take no one. Directly we +get to Bristol, I shall write to my husband, who has given me an address +both in London and Dublin, so that he will doubtless join us in a very +short time." + +The party started the next morning, and reached Cork without adventure, +as there were no English troops in that part of the country. Three days +after their arrival, Mrs. Conyers took a passage for herself and Claire +in a trader about to sail for Bristol. The evening before they sailed, +Mrs. Conyers had a long talk with Captain Davenant, while the two young +people had slipped off for a last walk together. + +"Of course, Captain Davenant," she began, "you have seen, as well as I +have, how things stand between Claire and Walter. They are both very +young, but the strange circumstances of the times, and the manner in +which they have been thrown together, have combined to render their +position peculiar, and I believe, nay, I am sure, that on both sides +their affection is deep and will be lasting." + +"I quite agree with you, Mrs. Conyers, at any rate as far as my son is +concerned. Walter has never spoken to me on the subject. I suppose +fathers and sons are less given to confidences of this sort than mothers +and daughters. But that Walter is deeply and earnestly attached to your +daughter is unquestionable, and, indeed, it would be singular were it +otherwise. I have stood passive in the matter, simply because I saw that +you took no steps to keep them apart; and you could not but have seen, at +an early period of their acquaintance, in what direction matters were +tending." + +"Frankly," Mrs. Conyers said, "I gave the matter no thought, during your +first stay with us. I had regarded Claire as a child, and it did not, at +first, occur to me that there could be any danger of her falling +seriously in love, for years to come. When my eyes were opened to the +true state of things, and I found my little girl had lost her heart, I +could have wished it otherwise. + +"I do not mean as to worldly matters," she went on hastily, seeing that +Captain Davenant was about to speak. "That weighed absolutely nothing +with me. Indeed, they may be considered to be well matched in that +respect. If the war is decided in favour of King William, Claire will be +a rich heiress. If, on the other hand, your cause triumph, you will +regain your confiscated estates, while we shall lose ours. So that there +is, I consider, no inequality whatever in their position. The difficulty, +of course, to which I allude is their religion. This is naturally a grave +obstacle, and I fear that my husband will regard it as such, even more +strongly than I do. He is, however, extremely attached to Claire, and +will, I feel sure, when he sees that her happiness is at stake, come +round to my views of the matter. + +"There are," she said with a smile, "Catholics and Catholics, just as +there are Protestants and Protestants. I would rather see Claire in her +grave than married to many Catholics I know; but neither you nor Walter +are bigots." + +"No, indeed," Captain Davenant said. "We came over to this country when +Catholicism was the religion of all England, and we have maintained the +religious belief of our fathers. I own that what I may call political +Protestantism is hateful to me; but between such Catholicism as mine, and +such Protestantism as yours, I see no such broad distinctions as should +cause us to hate each other." + +"That is just my view," Mrs. Conyers agreed. "The differences between the +creeds are political rather than religious, and, in any case, I consider +that when neither of the parties is bigoted, the chances of happiness are +greater in the case where the man is a Catholic and the woman a +Protestant, than in the opposite case." + +"I think so, too," Captain Davenant said. "At any rate, I do not think +that Walter and Claire would be likely to quarrel over their respective +opinions." + +"I think not," Mrs. Conyers agreed with a smile. "I do wish, with all my +heart, that it had been otherwise; but, as it is not so, I for my part am +determined to make the best of the circumstances. They are both young, +and it is possible that they may, in time, come to think alike, one way +or the other. I am not one of those who think that there is but one way +to heaven; and, should Walter some day win Claire over to his way of +thinking, I shall not consider that she has forfeited her chances." + +"It is quite as likely to be the other way," Captain Davenant said. +"Walter is a good lad, and a brave one, but, with all Claire's pretty +winning ways, I question if the young lady has not more will of her own, +and more mind, than Walter has. I hope they may agree each to go their +own way, and I think that, if they continue to live in this country, they +will probably do so, for here, unhappily, political differences build up +a wall between the two branches of Christianity. But, if it should come +that they should some day leave this unhappy country, and settle in +England, where the same ill feeling does not exist, there is no saying +what may happen." + +"Well, at any rate, Captain Davenant, it is satisfactory that our views +on the subject agree, and that we are both willing to make the best of +what we cannot but consider to be a misfortune. But here come the young +people. I have no doubt," she laughed, "that they have been swearing vows +of eternal fidelity." + +"Well, we were young ourselves, once, and we are not too old, yet, Mrs. +Conyers, to feel enjoyment in the happiness of these young people." + +The next morning, Mrs. Conyers and Claire sailed for England, and the +military events, which shortly afterwards took place, left Walter little +time for thought on other subjects. + +On the 21st of September, two days after the departure of Mrs. Conyers, a +heavy cannonading was heard from the forts at the mouth of Cork harbour, +and, soon afterwards, a horseman galloped into the town with the news +that an English fleet had forced the entrance, in spite of the fire from +the forts. This fleet bore five thousand men, under the command of the +Earl of Marlborough. + +The English party at court had long been mortified and disgusted at the +manner in which the English had been ignored by William, and all the +military commands bestowed upon foreigners. The discontent, caused by the +want of success which had attended the operations in Ireland, had greatly +strengthened this party, and they had now succeeded in getting an +independent English expedition sent off, under the command of an English +general. William was much annoyed at this, for any brilliant success +attained by Marlborough would have increased the feeling against his +foreign favourites. He had, therefore, despatched the division of General +Scravenmore to besiege the town on the land side, and had placed in +command of it the Duke of Wirtemberg, whose rank as a prince, and as a +general of higher rank than Marlborough, would enable him to claim the +supreme command, and to carry off the honour of any success that might be +gained. + +This force arrived before the town, within a day of the appearance of the +fleet. Marlborough had already made good use of his time, for immediately +the leading vessels had effected the passage, troops were landed in +boats, and the batteries attacked in rear and carried. The rest of the +fleet then entered, and, on the 23rd and 24th, the troops were landed on +the south bank of the river, and commenced their march towards the city, +the sailors dragging the guns. Wirtemberg immediately sent to +Marlborough, to claim the command of the whole force. + +Marlborough replied that his commission was an independent one. He denied +the authority of any of William's foreign officers in Ireland, and stated +haughtily that his troops were British, and he a British officer. +Wirtemberg was greatly offended that the English general should affect to +look down upon the Danes, Germans, French, and other foreign ragamuffins +who composed his command, and he insisted strongly upon his claims. +Marlborough maintained his position, and Wirtemberg was driven, at last, +to propose that they should command on alternate days, and Marlborough +agreed to the proposal. + +The position of Cork was not a strong one, although, in the days before +the use of artillery, it was considered well-nigh impregnable, being +built upon the islands and marshes formed by the river Lea, and +completely surrounded by two branches of the river. But upon three sides +it was surrounded, at a short distance only, by high hills, which +completely commanded it, and these hills were defended only by castles +and forts of no great strength. + +The garrison was but small, for the Irish were taken by surprise by the +arrival of Marlborough's expedition, and had prepared only for a siege by +Wirtemberg and his foreign division. They were therefore obliged to +abandon Shandon Castle, and two adjoining forts, which defended the hills +on the north of the city, and Wirtemberg's Danes at once took possession +of these works, and, planting their guns there, opened fire on the +northern quarter of the city. + +Marlborough constructed his batteries at a monastery called the Red +Abbey, on the south point of the river, where he was separated from the +city only by the stream and narrow strip of marshy ground. These guns +soon made a breach in the walls, and Marlborough prepared to storm the +place, for, at low tide, it was possible to wade across the marsh and +river. + +The garrison, well aware that they could not long defend the place, now +offered to capitulate on the same terms which William had granted to the +garrisons of towns he had captured; namely, that they should be allowed +to march out with the honours of war, with their arms and baggage, and to +make their way unmolested to Limerick. The Prince of Wirtemberg was +strongly in favour of these terms being granted, but Marlborough +peremptorily refused. While a sharp dispute took place between the two +officers, and before any conclusion could be arrived at, the tide rose, +and the regiments drawn up ready to cross the river could no longer pass. + +The firing then recommenced on both sides. Notwithstanding the efforts of +the besieged to repair the injury to their wall, the breach daily +increased in size. Wirtemberg moved his forces round from the north side, +to take their share in the assault, and at low tide the English and Danes +advanced against the breach. Under a heavy fire from the walls, they +struggled through the marshes and entered the river, which, even at low +tide, reached to their shoulders. Suffering heavily from the fire, they +pushed forward until they nearly reached the breach. Here the Duke of +Grafton, who commanded the British column, fell dead, with many officers +and men; but the rest maintained their order, and were about to make a +dash at the breach, when the governor, accompanied by Lord Tyrone, raised +the white flag. + +After a short parley, it was agreed that the garrison should become +prisoners of war, but were to be protected in their persons and private +property. The city was to be preserved from any injury, and the citizens +and their property were to be respected. + +Captain Davenant's troop had remained idle, during the siege, as there +was no work for cavalry. They were quartered near an infantry regiment, +which had been raised by MacFinn O'Driscol from among his own tenantry, +and was commanded by him. O'Driscol was a relation of Mrs. Davenant, and +the two commanders were often together. Both felt that the city must +speedily fall, unless the Irish army moved down to its relief; but they +agreed that, if it surrendered, they would make an effort to escape with +their troops, for they had no faith in the observance of any terms of +capitulation which might be made. + +Accordingly, as soon as it was known that the governor had surrendered, +and that the gates of the town were to be handed over to the British, +O'Driscol and Captain Davenant formed up their commands, and, opening one +of the gates, marched boldly out. The exact terms on which the garrison +had surrendered were not known, and Marlborough and Wirtemberg were near +the breach, arranging for the troops to take possession of the gates on +that side. Consequently, the besieging forces opposite the gate from +which the little column had marched out supposed that, in accordance with +the arrangement, they were coming out to lay down their arms. They +therefore stood aside as the column passed, being far more intent upon +the plunder they expected to gather, in Cork, than on anything else. As, +a few minutes later, the gates were opened and the troops poured into the +city, no further thought was given to the little force which had marched +out; and the five hundred infantry, and the troop of horse, were safe +from pursuit before the news of the audacious ruse they had practised +reached the ears of the generals. + +Inside the town, the articles of the treaty were at once violated. The +troops entered the town in crowds, and, incited, as in Dublin, by a mob +calling themselves Protestants, they proceeded to plunder the houses and +assault the Catholic inhabitants. The governor, M'Carty, was wounded. The +Earls of Tyrone and Clancarty, with difficulty, made their escape from +the mob. Many were killed, and a great destruction of property took +place, before Marlborough and Wirtemberg entered the town and put a stop +to the disorder, which inflicted great discredit upon them, as they had +made no arrangements, whatever, to ensure the safety of the inhabitants, +which they had solemnly guaranteed. + +It was now October, and Marlborough at once set about the investment of +Kinsale. On the very evening of the day he entered Cork, he sent off five +hundred horse towards that town, and the next day marched thither himself +at the head of his infantry. The works of Kinsale consisted of two forts, +both of considerable strength, called the Old Fort and Charles's Fort. +They were well supplied with stores and provisions for a siege. On the +approach of the besiegers, the governor set fire to the town and retired +to the forts, and, in answer to the summons to surrender, replied that +"it would be time enough to talk about that a month hence." + +Marlborough ordered General Tettau to cross the river in boats, with +eight hundred picked men, and to carry Old Fort by storm. The assault was +made with great determination and bravery; but the works were strong and +stoutly defended, and the British were about to fall back, discomfited, +when fortune came to their assistance. Some loose powder ignited and +fired the magazine, by which more than two hundred men of the garrison +were killed, and the works seriously injured. After this disaster, the +governor abandoned the fort and withdrew, with the survivors of its +garrison, to Charles's Fort. Marlborough at once commenced the siege of +this position, but for fifteen days the place resisted all his efforts. +The heavy loss, however, which the garrison had suffered by the explosion +in Old Fort, rendered them unable, by sallies, to interfere with the +works of the besiegers. These were carried on with great vigour, for +Marlborough feared that the approach of the wet season would put a stop +to his operations. + +When, therefore, the governor offered to surrender, on the terms of his +being permitted "to march away with his garrison, their arms, baggage, +and all the honours of war, taking with them all persons who wished to +accompany them, together with their property, to Limerick," Marlborough +at once granted the terms demanded. + +The advent of winter now put a stop to regular operations; but a war of +skirmishes continued, and the British, in their quarters, were greatly +straitened for forage and provisions. In Dublin, the work of confiscation +went on merrily. The greater part of the Catholic proprietors of the town +were thrown into prison. The various indictments against country +gentlemen, followed by the confiscation of their property, were hurried +through the court with the merest shadow of legal form; for, the +defendants being absent and unacquainted with what was being done in +Dublin, it was only necessary to recite the accusation to find the +accused guilty, and to pass sentence of confiscation--all this being the +work of a few minutes only. + +Nothing could be done, however, to carry the sentences into effect, for +William's troops still possessed only the ground the troops stood upon, +and the towns they occupied. Outside those limits, the whole country was +against them. The Earl of Marlborough had returned to England, +immediately after the surrender of Kinsale; and General Ginckle, who had +now succeeded to the command, determined to harass the enemy, and to +increase the resources at his disposal by an expedition into the +southwest of Ireland, which, covered by Cork and Limerick, had hitherto +been free from the presence of any English troops. He therefore pushed a +strong body of cavalry and infantry westward from Cork and Kinsale; and +these succeeded in making themselves masters of Castle Haven, Baltimore, +Bantry, and several other castles on the line of coast. The district was +wild and mountainous, and the passes might have been easily held against +the advance; but the peasants had not been organized for resistance, and +no serious opposition was encountered. + +Colonel O'Driscol, a cousin of MacFinn O'Driscol, and Captain O'Donovan, +two of the principal proprietors of the neighbourhood, soon arrived upon +the spot, and assembled a large irregular force, consisting chiefly of +mounted peasants; and with these they soon cooped the invaders up in the +castles they had taken. O'Driscol next attempted the recovery of his own +Castle Haven, which was strongly defended, and stood on a cliff +overhanging the sea; but his wild peasants were ill adapted for such +work, and they were repulsed by the English garrison, and O'Driscol +himself killed. But another force was advancing from the north. MacFinn +O'Driscol, with his regiment, pressed forward along the line of Bandon +river, besieged and captured Castle Haven, and expelled the English +garrisons from Baltimore and Bantry. + +General Tettau had also marched out from Cork with several regiments of +infantry and dragoons, with the intention of penetrating into Kerry; but +the enemy's light troops harassed him night and day, wasted the country, +and defended every pass; and he was obliged to return to Cork, without +having accomplished anything. All this time Ginckle was urging upon the +lord justices, who were now the real ruling party in Ireland, to issue a +proclamation offering pardon and security for person and property to all +who came in; urging that it was impossible that he could ever subdue the +country, while the whole population had everything at stake in opposing +him. + +He was supported by King William, who was most anxious to bring the +struggle to an end; but the lord justices, and the Protestant party at +Dublin, who were bent upon dividing among themselves the property of the +Catholics throughout Ireland, turned a deaf ear to the arguments of +Ginckle, and their friends in London had sufficient power to prevent the +king from insisting upon his own wishes being carried into effect. + +After taking part in the operations in Kerry, Captain Davenant's troop +returned to Limerick, around which city the greater part of the Irish +army were still encamped. + + + +Chapter 13: A Dangerous Mission. + + +"Walter," Captain Davenant said to his son one day, when he returned from +a council in which he had taken part, at the quarters of General +Sarsfield, "I have a mission for you in Dublin. It is necessary, in the +first place, to communicate with some of our friends there, and in the +second to ascertain, as far as we can, the plans of the enemy during the +next campaign. There are few of us here who would not be readily +recognized in Dublin; therefore, when there seemed a difficulty in +selecting someone to undertake the duty, I said that I thought you would +be likely to succeed better than most. + +"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 undertaking, 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 discretion." + +"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 +thoroughly 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 +drawn 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 cavalry. 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 +proceeding some five-and-twenty miles, they dismounted, and with a hearty +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 hospitably received, as soon as their hosts +assured themselves that they were Catholics. Larry was the principal +spokesman, for although Walter, like all the Catholic gentry, spoke the +native language, he was not so fluent as his follower, to whom it came +naturally, as, although the peasantry in the neighbourhood of Dublin were +all able to speak English, they always conversed 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 standing," 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 regiments 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 hawked their wares 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 +accomplishments, and the post was altogether interrupted, so that many +remained in suspense, 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 alteration in their attire 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 thronged 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 nominal prices, making insolent remarks to any woman +who hurried past them, and behaving with a freedom and license which +showed how completely all bonds of discipline were relaxed. + +"They look mighty 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 brawl. 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 savage 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 savagely, "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 lookout 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 concealed 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 decided to fight one more campaign on the +defensive, 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 odds, 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." + +"I think the general hoped that you could have mustered a stronger force, +sir." + +"So I could, a year ago," Mr. O'Brian said; "but the constant persecution +and ill treatment of the Catholics have caused large numbers of them to +leave the town. Many of the younger and more determined 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 hatred of the invaders was greater than ever, and the peasantry in +all parts were in a state of sullen 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 possessed no weapons beyond +roughly-made pikes, and scythes fixed 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 artillery. + +The persons whom Walter saw were in communication with the disaffected 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 conflagrations, if not by a +serious movement in Dublin. + +The negotiations 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 +lodgings, 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 doorway." + +"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 bribed 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 +lodging, 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 tumult, round the table, on which were bottles and +half-filled glasses. + +"Take the names of all these persons," the officer said to the sergeant +who followed him, "and then convey them in custody 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 magistrate." + +"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 hurled at the +dwellings 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 musket, 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 ridges 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 +panes at that time in general use. Holding the rope with one hand and his +legs, he dashed the other hand through a pane, just where he judged the +fastening inside would be. Three panes were beaten in before he felt the +latch. 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 inmates of the house taking notice of the fall +of glass; for, had they noticed the sound above the din 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 +fugitive 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 hesitation he +sprang across it, and plunged into the river. + +Even in the moment of his spring, he perceived that the tide was running +up. Had it been ebbing, he would have made down and tried to gain the +shore, under shelter of the shipping moored 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 gathering 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 sweeping 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 nostrils 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 +upwards 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 loft, 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 deserted 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 abreast 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 tare. 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 villains 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 baste, 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 entirely, 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 villain 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 traitor 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 +sufficiently 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 justified. 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 ordnance 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 apathy of France was extreme. They +had embarked 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 retirement of Lauzun, they had confidently +expected that Sarsfield would be appointed commander-in-chief, and that +henceforth there would be unity of design in their operations. Saint Ruth +was accompanied by a large number of young French officers, whose +demeanour still further widened the breach 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 stratagem, 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 insufficient, 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, inviting 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 gallant 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 garrisons 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 besought 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 renounce their golden hopes of confiscation. + +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 infantry, and a sergeant and a few men were posted, in a +castle, on an eminence some distance from the village. The first attack +was made on the castle, but the sergeant and his little garrison made a +long and gallant resistance, and the savage Dutchman was so infuriated at +the opposition 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 erected, 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 disastrous failure of +the preceding autumn. + + + +Chapter 14: Athlone. + + +The Irish had, this time, determined to defend not only that portion of +Athlone situated on the west of the river, but the English town on the +east. The fortifications here were repaired and added to, and the town +was abundantly supplied with stores and ammunition. It was, however, +unable to resist the heavy artillery which Ginckle brought to play +against it. Walls, buildings, and towers crumbled beneath the heavy +cannonade; and although the Irish repelled, with great slaughter, several +assaults upon it, the place became at last untenable, and they abandoned +that part of the town, and retired by the bridge across the river to the +Irish town. + +The British, on entering the eastern town, found it a mere mass of ruins, +with the dead bodies of the soldiers lying everywhere, half covered with +the wreck of the works they had died in defending. The taking of this +portion of Athlone had cost Ginckle dearly, and he was but little nearer +the object of his efforts, for he was separated from the Irish town by +the Shannon, and the western arch of the bridge was broken down by the +defenders. + +Eleven large guns and three mortars now came up from Dublin, and he +erected a succession of batteries upon the ruins of the English town, and +opened fire upon the castle of Athlone, which, although a building of +great strength, soon crumbled into ruins beneath the fire of the heavy +artillery brought to bear upon it. A mill, which stood in the river, and +was connected with the bridge, was set on fire, and the sixty soldiers +posted in it, being unable to escape, were all burned. Night and day, +seven great batteries played incessantly upon the town. + +On the 26th of June, thirty waggons loaded with powder and a hundred +carts with cannon balls arrived from Dublin, and enabled the besiegers to +keep up their fire without intermission. The interior of the town was +reduced to ruins--nothing remained erect save the city walls, in which +the breaches, as fast as they were made, were repaired by the Irish. The +slaughter among those so employed was very heavy; but there was no lack +of men, the places of those who fell being at once supplied by others +willing to give their lives in the defence of the town. + +At last, there was nothing more that the besiegers could do. The town was +reduced to ashes, but the river and the broken arch still separated them +from the ruins. To remain much longer where they were was impossible, for +the country on every side was exhausted, and no longer afforded food for +man or horse. The country people had fled, from the cruelty and +spoliation of Ginckle's foreign soldiery, carrying with them all their +effects; and the Irish light troops and armed peasantry hovered round the +camp, laid the country waste, and intercepted their supplies and +communications with Dublin. + +Ginckle held a council of war, to consider what was to be done. It was +admitted that they must force the passage of the river without loss of +time, or submit to the alternative of retreat, and the utter failure of +the campaign. It was finally resolved to attempt the passage of the +bridge by throwing a wooden gallery over the broken arch, and forcing +their way across, at all cost. Additional batteries were now raised on +the bank of the river, and a heavy fire was poured, without intermission, +upon the Irish on their side of the broken arch. + +Both parties had erected a breastwork on the bridge, at their respective +sides of the breach, and from behind this, day and night, a continued +musketry fire was kept up, the grenadiers of the English army throwing +grenades into the enemy's works. After some days, the breastwork on the +Irish side was set on fire by the continued assault of shot and grenades. +The wattles of which it was composed, dried by the hot weather, were soon +in a blaze, and, under cover of the flames and smoke, the English ran +forward the great beams they had prepared in readiness, and threw them +across the gap in the bridge. + +The fire from all the batteries on the English side was directed against +the burning breastwork, while the grenadiers hastened to lay planks +across the beams to complete the bridge. The work was well-nigh done when +an Irish sergeant and ten men, all clad in armour, leaped through the +flames of the breastwork, and began to hew with their axes at the beams +and planks. + +For a moment, the British were paralysed at the daring action. Then the +batteries and musketry fire again opened, a storm of shot and bullets +swept across the bridge, and the whole of the gallant fellows fell dead; +but in a moment another party, similarly armed, dashed through the flames +and took their places. + +Regardless of the fire they whirled their axes. Nine fell, but the last +two gave the final stroke to the beams. The bridge fell with a crash into +the river below, and the two survivors recrossed the breastwork and +joined their friends within, amid the wild enthusiasm of the defenders; +an enthusiasm in which even the baffled assailants joined, for the +British grenadiers gave a cheer, in token of their admiration at the +gallantry and devotion of the deed. + +In all history, there is no record of a more gallant action than this, +performed by two sergeants and twenty men, who thus encountered almost +certain death to maintain their post. The destruction of the temporary +bridge filled Ginckle and his officers with consternation, and the manner +in which their design had been baffled showed the spirit of the +defenders, and the magnitude of the task which they had undertaken. + +But it was resolved, at another council which was called, to attempt one +more effort before abandoning the enterprise. A finished platform was +constructed. This was to be thrown over the arch, and a chosen body of +the bravest troops in the army were to throw themselves across, and try +to force a passage. At the same time, a division was to cross the river +by a ford near the bridge, and another to attempt to cross by a bridge of +pontoons, prepared in readiness. + +The Irish were informed, by French deserters, of what was going on in the +English camp, and early on the morning of the assault, several strong +divisions of the Irish army were seen marching down from the camp, two +miles away, into the town. Here they were drawn up, in readiness to +repulse the assault. + +The British were some time before they were ready for the attack, but at +ten o'clock the whole army stood in close order, ready to advance. + +The first to move forward were those who were to carry the bridge. The +Irish guns, which still remained intact, opened upon them, but they +pressed forward along the bridge to the broken arch, and, with less +trouble than had been anticipated, threw the platform across it. Instead +of rushing forward at once, the grenadiers stood behind their breastwork +and hurled their grenades at the Irish grenadiers, who stood in close +order on the opposite edge. + +These, however, stood their ground, and hurled their grenades with great +effect into the column. One of these exploded against the English +breastwork and set it on fire. It at once blazed up. A strong west wind +was blowing, and drove the smoke and flames into the faces of the English +grenadiers, who for some time strove in vain to extinguish the flames, +notwithstanding the heavy fire which the defenders poured into them. They +had at last to fall back, and the Irish, sallying from behind their +breastwork, pulled down the burning timbers on to the bridge, which was +soon in flames. + +The other divisions of the English army, finding that the grenadiers on +the bridge made no progress, did not attempt to perform their part of the +work, and finally the whole retreated to their camp. + +That evening, another council of war was held. Matters now looked +desperate, and the fact that the enterprise had, this time, failed owing +to the hesitation of the troops to push forward to the attack of the +enemy, made the prospect appear more hopeless. Nevertheless, in spite of +the opposition of Generals Ginckle and Mackey, the council determined +that one more attempt should be made, and that this should be carried out +at daylight next morning, in the hopes of taking the Irish by surprise. + +It was accordingly given out that the army would retreat in the morning, +and the heavy guns were withdrawn from the batteries. Saint Ruth, who was +convinced that Athlone could not be taken, and who had spent the greater +portion of his time in entertaining the ladies and gentry of the +neighbourhood with balls and fetes, fell into the trap, and, contrary to +the opinion and advice of the Irish generals, recalled from the town the +regiments which had marched in that morning, and replaced them with only +three battalions of inferior troops. The Irish officers remonstrated +warmly, but Saint Ruth, to show his disdain for their opinions, invited a +large party of ladies and gentlemen to an entertainment in the evening. + +In the night, the British army prepared for the attack. The commanders of +the respective divisions all led their troops in person. + +The garrison of the town were all asleep. In Saint Ruth's camp the +festivities were over, and the general and his officers had retired. The +Irish sentinels, who noted the movement in the British camp, supposed +that they were mustering to retreat, and thus the three British columns +drew up inside the town wall, in readiness to advance, without a notion +of their purpose being entertained on the opposite side of the river. + +One column, headed by sixty chosen men in complete armour, was to cross +the bridge and throw a platform over the arch; another to cross by the +ford: the third by a pontoon bridge. When the church bell tolled six, the +three columns advanced simultaneously, and, before the Irish were +thoroughly awake, the leading battalions had forded the river, the +platform was in its place, and the troops pouring into the town. + +A few guns were hastily discharged, and then the men of the three Irish +regiments in the town fled in haste, to avoid capture by the columns +pouring across the river by the ford and pontoon bridge. Many, indeed, +were captured whilst asleep. Saint Ruth, roused from sleep by the sound +of cannon, ordered the troops to arms, but it was too late. The town, or +rather its ruins, were in the possession of the British, and the +brilliant success, which had been won by the valour and determination of +the Irish troops, was forfeited by the carelessness, folly, and +self-confidence of the French general. + +Had he listened to the advice of the Irish officers, the attempt, like +those which had preceded it, must have failed, and in that case there was +nothing remained to Ginckle but a precipitous retreat to Dublin, with the +loss of the whole of the advantages gained in the previous campaign, and +the necessity of bringing the war to an end by the concession of the +rights and privileges of the Irish Catholics and landowners. The whole +course of history was changed by the folly of one man. Ginckle had taken +Athlone, but it was at a vast cost of life, and he was more than ever +impressed with the magnitude of the task of subduing Ireland, so long as +the people were driven to desperation by the threatened confiscation of +all their lands, and by the persecution of their religion. King William, +too, was more anxious than ever for the termination of hostilities, and, +on the very day that the news of the fall of Athlone reached him, he +issued a proclamation offering protection, security of all possessions, +and continuance in any offices which they held under James, to all who +would lay down their arms in three weeks' time. + +The issue of such a proclamation as this, a year before, would have +satisfied the Irish and put a stop to the war; but it was now too late. +The promises made had been broken, over and over again, and the Irish had +but too much reason to fear that, when all opposition ceased, the council +and their train of greedy adherents would again obtain the ascendency, +and would continue their work of spoliation and robbery. + +Moreover, the Irish army did not feel itself in any way beaten. It was +not its fault that the second siege of Athlone had not terminated as the +former siege and that of Limerick had done, and that Ginckle's army was +not hurrying back, defeated and disorganized, to Dublin. They felt that, +at the battle of the Boyne, they had suffered no defeat, although, in +accordance with the general plan, they had fallen back, and they eagerly +desired to fight one battle to prove that, in the open field, they were +more than a match for the mercenaries of King William. + +The council and lords justices, who were aghast at the proclamation, +which threatened to destroy their hopes of dividing among themselves and +their friends all the lands of the Catholics of Ireland, did their best +to prevent its acceptance, by spreading rumours that it was a mere bait, +and that its promises would not be fulfilled; while Saint Ruth and his +French officers did their best, also, to set the Irish against it. + +Saint Ruth, who was really a good officer, was conscious that, so far +from having gained credit, as he had expected from a command in Ireland, +the misfortunes which had happened were entirely attributed to him, and +he longed for an opportunity of wiping out the slur on his military +reputation. He therefore urged upon the Irish generals that Ginckle had +indeed gained but little; that all the hopes of William rested upon that +army alone; and that, with its defeat, they could demand and obtain any +terms they liked to lay down; besides which, he was able to assure them, +by his advices from France, that Louis was making preparations for +assisting them on a vastly larger scale than he had previously done. +Thus, from a combination of circumstances, the proclamation elicited no +response. + +While the siege of Athlone was being carried on, the main body of +Sarsfield's cavalry remained, for the most part, in the camp near the +town; but commanders of small bodies of men, like the corps of Captain +Davenant, which were regarded as irregulars, had liberty of action. Some +made long raids to the east, and often spread confusion and dismay among +the enemy, by appearing suddenly when no Irish troops were believed to be +within a hundred miles. Some went down and joined the peasants, who were +keeping up desultory fighting in the neighbourhood of Cork, harassing the +English whenever they moved from one point to another, or sent out +parties to collect forage or provisions. + +Captain Davenant, who had more than once respectfully urged upon +Sarsfield the immense benefit which would result, were the whole of the +Irish cavalry to place themselves upon the line of the enemy's +communication, finding that the Irish general was unmoved by his +arguments, several times endeavoured to carry out his ideas, as far as +could be done with his own small force. + +The inactivity of the Irish horse, throughout the long sieges of Athlone +and Limerick, except only upon the occasion of the raid upon the siege +train, is almost inexplicable. They had nothing to fear from the enemy's +cavalry, to whom they proved themselves immensely superior, whenever they +met during the war, and they had it in their power, for months, to cut +the British communications and so oblige them, either to detach so large +a force to keep the roads open that they would have been unable to push +on the siege, and would indeed have been in danger of being attacked and +destroyed by the Irish infantry; or to raise the siege, and fall back +upon their bases, Dublin and Waterford. + +The only possible explanations that can be offered are--first, that +Sarsfield, although a dashing commander in action, was possessed of no +military genius whatever; second, that he was prevented from moving by +the jealousy of the French commanders-in-chief, who did not wish to see +the credit of compelling the enemy to fall back monopolized by the Irish +cavalry; or, third, that Sarsfield saw the advantages which could be +obtained by throwing himself, with his cavalry, in the rear of the enemy, +but deliberately remained inactive rather than leave the French generals +to act, unchecked by his presence at headquarters. It can never be +decided to which of these alternatives it was due that the Irish cavalry +remained for so long a time inactive, and that William, and after him +Ginckle, were permitted, unmolested save by a few detached bodies of +horse, to maintain their long line of communications to their base, +unchecked. + +Upon one of his excursions in the rear of the English army, Captain +Davenant's troops dashed down upon a convoy of waggons. The dragoons who +were escorting them were killed or driven off. The drivers were collected +in a group, for Captain Davenant always ordered that these men should not +be injured, as they were not combatants, and were in most cases obliged +to accompany their teams, which had been requisitioned for the service. + +The men were collecting the waggons together, preparatory to setting them +on fire, when Walter, on riding near the group of drivers, heard himself +called by name. Turning round, he leapt from his horse and ran up to one +of the prisoners. + +"My dear John!" he exclaimed, "I am glad indeed to see you. Why, what +brings you here?" + +After exchanging hearty greetings, Walter led him away from the group, +and the two sat down together on a bank. + +"What brings you here?" Walter repeated. + +"All the waggons within miles round Dublin have been requisitioned," John +said; "and as our three were called for, my father suggested that I +should accompany them, to see that the horses were fed and cared for." + +"Which are your waggons?" Walter asked. + +"The three last in the column." + +Walter immediately ran to his father, told him what had happened, and +begged that the three waggons should be exempted from the general +destruction. Captain Davenant at once rode up to the men, and ordered the +waggons to be unloaded and their contents added to the pyre which was +being prepared, but that the waggons themselves should be taken back a +quarter of a mile along the road, and left there under the charge of +their drivers, who were not to move until joined by their owner. He then +rode back, and shook hands with John. + +"I am glad to see you," he said. "All are well, I hope, at both our +homes?" + +"Quite well, sir." + +"Thank God for that! Now, I must leave you to see that our work is +thoroughly carried out. You will find your waggons safe, a quarter of a +mile along the road. I will leave you to tell all the home news to +Walter, who will retell it to me afterwards." + +"Now tell me all the news," Walter said, when they were together again. + +"The news is not altogether pleasant," John replied. "The whole of the +country round Dublin is being harried by the cavalry in garrison there. +They pay no attention whatever to papers of protection, and care but +little whether those they plunder are Protestant or Catholic, friend or +foe. They go about in small parties, like bands of brigands, through the +country; and those who go to Dublin to obtain redress for their exactions +are received with indifference, and sometimes with insult, by the +authorities. Then, too, we have had trouble at home. + +"My grandfather became more bigoted than ever, and would, if he had the +power, have annihilated every Catholic in Ireland. My father and he had +frequent quarrels, and I was in daily expectation of an open breach +between them, and of my father giving up his share of the property, and +taking us to England. He was a backslider, in my grandfather's eyes. The +tales of battle, plunder, and murder seemed to have taken the latter back +to his own fighting days; and he was rather inclined to consider the +generals as lukewarm, than to join in the general indignation at their +atrocious conduct. + +"Even the sufferings of the Protestants did not seem to affect him. The +Lord's work, he said, cannot be carried on without victims. It horrified +me to hear him talk. If this was the religion of our fathers, I was fast +coming to the conclusion that it was little better than no religion at +all. + +"I think my father and mother saw it in the same light, and the breach +between them and my grandfather daily widened. But I have not told you +the worst, yet. A party of cavalry rode up the other day, and were about, +as usual, to seize upon some cattle. My father was out, and my +grandfather stepped forward and asked them 'how they could lay it to +their consciences to plunder Protestants when, a mile or two away, there +were Catholics lording it over the soil--Catholics whose husbands and +sons were fighting in the ranks of the army of James Stuart?' + +"I was in the house with my mother, but we heard what was said; and she +whispered to me to slip out behind, and find my father, and tell him what +was being done. I made off; but before I had gone a quarter of a mile, I +saw the soldiers riding off towards the castle, with my grandfather +riding at their head. I was not long in finding my father, who at once +called the men off from their work, and sent them off in all directions +to raise the country; and in an hour two hundred men, armed with any +weapon they could snatch up, were marching towards the castle, my father +at their head. There were Catholics and Protestants among them--the +latter had come at my father's bidding, the former of their own free +will. + +"We hurried along, anxiously fearing every moment to see flames rise from +the castle. Fortunately, the soldiers were too busy in plundering to +notice our approach, and we pounced down upon them and seized them +unawares. They were stripping the place of everything worth carrying +away, before setting it on fire. We burst into the hall, and there was a +sight which filled my father and myself with anger and shame. Your +grandmother was standing erect, looking with dignity mingled with disdain +at my grandfather; while your mother, holding your brother's hands, stood +beside her. My grandfather was standing upon a chair; in his hand he held +a Bible, and was pouring out a string of denouncing texts at the ladies, +and was, at the moment we entered, comparing them to the wicked who had +fallen into a net. + +"I don't think, Walter, his senses are quite right now. He is crazed with +religion and hate, and I believe, at the time, he fancied himself in the +meeting house. Anyhow, there he was, while two sergeants, who were +supposed to be in command of the troop, were sitting on a table, with a +flagon of wine between them, looking on with amusement. Their expression +changed pretty quickly, when we rushed in. + +"It needed all my father's efforts to prevent the whole party being hung, +so furious were all the rescuers at the outrage upon the good ladies of +the castle. But my father pointed out to them that, although such a +punishment was well deserved, it would do harm rather than good to the +ladies. They had orders of protection from the lords justices; and he +should proceed at once, with four or five witnesses, to lay the matter +before the general at Dublin, and demand the punishment of the offenders. +But if the party took the law into their own hands, and meted out the +punishment the fellows deserved, the facts of the case would be lost +sight of. There would be a cry of vengeance for the murder, as it would +be called, of a party of soldiers, and it would serve as an excuse for +harrying the whole district with fire and sword. + +"Having at last persuaded the angry tenants and peasantry to lay aside +their project of vengeance, my father went to the soldiers, who, tied +hand and foot, were expecting nothing short of death. He ordered all +their pistols and ammunition to be taken away, and their bonds to be +loosed; then told them that their escape had been a narrow one, and that, +with great difficulty, he had persuaded those who had captured them while +engaged in deeds of outrage and plunder to spare them; but that a +complaint would at once be made before the military authorities, and the +law would deal with them. Finally, they were permitted to mount and ride +off, after having been closely examined to see that they were taking with +them none of the plunder of the house. + +"Everything was then carefully replaced as they had found it; and my +father at once rode off, with six of the leading tenants--three +Protestants and three Catholics--and laid a complaint before the general. +The latter professed himself much shocked, and lamented the impossibility +of keeping strict discipline among the various regiments stationed in the +towns. However, he went down with them at once to the barracks of the +regiment, ordered them to be formed up, and asked my father if he could +identify the culprits. + +"My father and those with him picked out fifteen, including the two +sergeants, as having formed part of the body of plunderers; and the +general had the whole tied up and flogged severely, then and there, and +declared that, the next time an outrage upon persons who had received +letters of protection came to his ears, he would shoot every man who was +proved to have been concerned in it. He also gave orders that a +well-conducted noncommissioned officer, and four men, should be sent at +once to Davenant Castle, and should there take up their quarters as a +guard against any party of marauders, with the strictest orders to cause +no annoyance or inconvenience to the inhabitants of the castle. + +"I learned afterwards that Mr. Conyers, who had been interesting himself +greatly on behalf of the ladies of the castle, is a great friend of the +lords justices, and other members of the council, and is also acquainted +with the general, which will account for the prompt measures taken to +punish the marauders--a very rare and exceptional matter, I can tell +you." + +"I am sure we are greatly indebted to your father and you, for so +promptly taking measures to assist my mother," Walter said. "I have no +doubt the castle would have been burned, as well as plundered, if it had +not been for your rescue of them." + +"It is not worth thinking about, Walter. We are heavily your debtors, +still, for the kindness of your father and yourself to me at Derry, and +indeed on all other occasions. Besides, it was the least we could do, +seeing that it was my grandfather's hatred of your family which brought +the matter about." + +"What became of your grandfather," Walter asked, "when you interrupted +his sermon?" + +"He fell down in a fit," John replied; "and perhaps it was the best thing +he could do, for I don't know what my father and he would have said to +each other, had it not been so. He was carried home, and he has not been +the same man since. I don't think the subject was ever alluded to between +my father and him; but I think that being balked, just at the moment when +he thought he had obtained the object of his hopes and prayers for the +last forty years, has almost broken his heart. + +"He goes about the house, scarce speaking a word, and seems to have lost +almost all his energy. He has ceased to read the family prayers, and to +hold forth morning and night. I do think he considers that the Lord has +cheated him out of his lawful vengeance. It is awfully sad, Walter, +though it is strange, to see such a travesty of religion as the tenets of +my grandfather and some of the old men who, like him, represent the views +of Cromwell's soldiers. + +"Their religion cannot be called true Christianity. It is the Judaism of +the times when the Jews were among the most ignorant of peoples. To me it +is most shocking, and I would infinitely rather be a Mohammedan than hold +such a faith as theirs. I thank God that my father and mother have shaken +off such a yoke, and brought me up according to the teaching of the New +Testament, rather than that of the Old." + +By this time the waggons, with the exception of those under John +Whitefoot's charge, had been collected in a mass, and fire had been +applied to them. They were now a pile of flame. A few of the best and +fastest looking of the horses were set aside to be carried off by the +troop. The rest were shot, as the great object of the raids was to +deprive the English army of its means of transport. + +The troop then mounted. Captain Davenant and Walter took a hearty +farewell of John, and intrusted him with hastily-written letters for +home; and as the smoke of the burning train would soon bring down any +parties of the enemy who happened to be in the neighbourhood, the troop +then rode off at full speed, and arrived safely at Athlone without +meeting with any further adventures. + +After the fall of the city, Ginckle remained inactive some time, but, +finding that his proclamation had no effect in inducing the Irish to lay +down their arms, he reluctantly prepared to advance against them. In the +interval, he occupied himself in repairing the western wall of the city, +and, as he had been joined by several regiments sent out to reinforce +him, he resumed his advance with a force larger than that with which he +had commenced the siege of Athlone. Before starting, he issued the most +peremptory orders against a repetition of the acts which had so disgraced +his army, and had done so much harm to the cause by banding the whole +peasantry against them. + +Saint Ruth chose his position with great skill. His camp extended more +than two miles, along a range of hills called the heights of Kilcomeden. +His right was protected by a rivulet, and by hills and marshes. On his +left was a deep glen. Beyond this, along his whole front, a vast bog +extended, in most places impassable for horse or foot. On the borders of +the bog, on the left, stood the ruins of the little castle of Aughrim, +occupying the only spot of firm ground which led to the camp. + +To pass the bog at this point, it was necessary to go close by the castle +wall, where there was a broken path only wide enough for two men to pass +abreast. The passage on the right of the bog was more open, but it was +marshy and unsafe. + +This position was much stronger than that which the Irish had held at the +battle of the Boyne, and whereas, on that occasion, they had been very +inferior in numbers to their assailants, they were now superior by some +regiments in number. In the point of artillery the English had here, as +at the Boyne, an overwhelming superiority. + +Ginckle moved forward slowly and with caution, halting on the river Suck +until he had been joined by every available soldier in Ireland. + +On the morning of the 12th of July, the British army halted on the edge +of the bog, that, like a great belt, encircled the Irish within it. The +morning was foggy, and the mist did not clear off until towards noon. The +Irish prepared for battle by having divine service performed at the head +of their regiments, and Dr. Stafford, chaplain to the royal regiment of +foot, and some other priests, passed through the ranks, urging upon the +men their duty and obligation, as soldiers and Irishmen, to make every +effort they could to rescue their country from the oppression of the +Prince of Orange, and his army of foreigners. + +Ginckle, on his part, as at Athlone, distributed money among the troops, +and promised them the plunder of the enemy's camp. As the day cleared up, +the British army was put in motion, and a strong column advanced against +the enemy's right, where stood the house and grounds of Urachree, +occupied by some Irish horse. A strong detachment of Danish cavalry +headed the British column. They moved forward boldly, quickening their +pace as they approached the Irish; but, on the latter charging them at +full gallop, they wheeled about and rode off at once in disorder. + +Ginckle immediately ordered two hundred of Cunningham's dragoons, who +were considered the best cavalry in the army, to advance and drive back +the Irish horse. The dragoons advanced at a trot, but, seeing that the +Irish quietly awaited their coming, they halted behind a hedge and +awaited the arrival of the infantry. When these came up, the cavalry +again moved forward. + +The Irish horse now fell back on a little hill in their rear, where a +body of infantry were posted. They then faced to the front and charged, +and broke the English dragoons, who retreated, as the Danes had done, in +confusion. + +Eppinger's dragoons were ordered up to support Cunningham's, but the +Irish horse had also received reinforcements before they arrived, and, +after a fierce fight, the two English regiments were routed and driven +off the field. + +Ginckle rallied them, added Lord Portland's horse to their numbers, and +again sent them against the Irish. These, however, had fallen back from +Urachree, and had taken up a new position upon the rivulet behind it, in +front of the solid ground by which, alone, the right wing of the Irish +army could be approached. Here they remained, waiting the onset of the +British cavalry; but these, perceiving that the ground was becoming more +and more difficult, soon came to a halt, and then, wheeling about, fell +back upon the infantry. + +Seeing the successful stand which was made, by a small body of Irish +horse, to the advance of the left wing, and that the spirit with which +his troops were behaving was greatly inferior to that of the Irish, +Ginckle called a council of war. Opinions were greatly at variance. It +was now nearly four o'clock, and it was, at first, decided to postpone +the battle till the morning, and a messenger was sent to the baggage +column in the rear to bring up the tents. + +But other counsels finally prevailed. The order for the tents was +countermanded, and, at half-past four, the British infantry were ordered +to advance. They pressed forward, in solid masses, across the ground +where the cavalry fight had taken place, and the Irish horse fell back +behind their infantry, who were posted behind the substantial hedges +which intersected the ground beyond the rivulet. A heavy musketry fire +was opened upon the British infantry as they advanced, but they pressed +forward, in unbroken order, till they reached the hedges. These were long +and obstinately contested. + +The Irish had cut openings through the hedges by which they could retire, +and, as they fell back from hedge to hedge, the advancing British were +received by a fire from hedges on both flanks, as well as from the front. +As the British poured regiment after regiment to the attack, Saint Ruth +moved some bodies of horse and foot, from his left, to the support of his +right wing. + +This movement had been foreseen by Ginckle, who now gave orders for +several battalions of infantry to cross the bog, and attack the Irish +centre. At this point there was a path across the bog, or rather a place +where the mud and water were not so deep as at other points, and where it +was possible for it to be forded. Ginckle had found a peasant, who, for a +large sum of money, disclosed the passage. It traversed the bog at its +narrowest point, the hill of Kilcomeden here running out a shoulder far +into it. Four regiments entered the morass, with orders to cross it, and +make their way to the nearest hedges on the sloping ground, where they +were to post themselves till the cavalry, who were to attempt the passage +by Aughrim Castle, could come round to their support. + +The first part of the passage was unopposed, but the difficulty of +passing was great, for the men were frequently up to their waists in mud, +too soft to afford any firm footing, but solid enough to render it +extremely difficult for the feet to be disengaged from it. At length, as +they approached firmer ground, the Irish infantry advanced towards the +edge of the bog, and received them with a steady fire. The English, +although suffering heavily, pressed forward without firing a shot, till +the ground became solid under their feet, when the Irish withdrew, and, +as upon the right, took post behind the hedges which everywhere +intersected the slopes. + +The English, seeing the Irish retire, pressed forward, and another fierce +contest raged in the inclosures; the Irish, according to their +preconceived plan, falling gradually back. The British, in their ardour, +forgot their orders to halt at the first hedge, and continued to press +forward, until the constantly increasing numbers of the enemy recalled to +their leaders the danger of the position. + +Before them were the heights of Kilcomeden, with a strong force drawn up +to receive them, while on both flanks the enemy were crowding down, to +intercept their retreat. Colonel Earl, who was the senior officer, looked +anxiously towards the right, from which quarter he expected the British +cavalry to arrive to his assistance; but no sound reached him from that +quarter; while on the left the sound of the conflict, instead of +advancing, appeared to recede, as if the British column was being forced +back. Advancing before his own regiment, he called upon the soldiers to +stand firm, for retreat would be destruction, and the only hope was to +maintain their position till assistance arrived. + +When the Irish saw that the enemy had halted, and could not be tempted to +advance further, they poured down to the attack through the passages in +the hedges. The British might have defended these hedges, as the Irish +had done, but the soldiers saw that they would be taken in the flank and +rear, and, observing a large body of cavalry ascending the hill, they +were seized with a panic. + +On the first shock of the Irish infantry, the four regiments broke and +fled. They were hotly pursued, and slaughtered in great numbers, the +Irish cavalry pouring through the openings in the hedges which had been +prepared for them. At length, the fugitives reached the edge of the bog, +where they gathered in a confused mass; which the officers, in vain, +attempted to form into order. The cavalry charged down upon them, broke +and scattered them, and drove them into the morass, followed by the Irish +infantry, who were better acquainted with the ground, and more accustomed +to traversing bogs. The soldiers were driven into the deepest and most +difficult portion of the morass, and a great slaughter took place. + +The British artillery were planted on the edge of the morass, but so +mingled were the two parties that they were unable to fire. Great numbers +of the English were killed. Colonels Earl and Herbert, with many officers +and men, were taken prisoners, and the remnant of the British were driven +completely across the bog, to the shelter of their own cannon. + +While this was passing in the centre, another division of Ginckle's army, +consisting of English and French infantry, had crossed the bog by a +passage more to the right. They also had met with no opposition in +passing, and it was only when they reached the hedges, on the firm +ground, that the Irish showed themselves, fired, and retreated. This +division, more cautious than that of Earl, could not be tempted to +pursue, but contented themselves with maintaining their ground under a +heavy fire, awaiting anxiously the arrival of the British horse. They +could see, however, no sign of them, but could perceive the Irish cavalry +descending in large masses, preparing to charge, while the infantry were +forming for an advance. + +So far the Irish had been successful at every point. They had repulsed +every attack made by the British left; had crushed the brigade, composed +of the flower of the British infantry, which had assaulted the centre; +and were now preparing to destroy the division which stood, unsupported, +on their side of the bog. + +At this moment, a tumult was heard on the left wing of the Irish, the +direction from which the British division expected relief, and the Irish, +aware of the importance of the pass of Aughrim, suspended their attack to +await the events there. + +Saint Ruth had directed the operations of the battle with as much skill +as he had prepared for the assault. He had taken up his position on a +point of the hill whence he had a complete view of the whole field of +battle, and had moved his troops, with calmness and judgment, to meet +each of the attacks made upon them; and when he saw the destruction of +the English regiment in the centre, he exclaimed, in the full confidence +of victory, "Now I will drive the English to the walls of Dublin!" + +There was, indeed, but one hope, on the part of the English, of +retrieving the day; namely, the success of the attempt to force the +passage at Aughrim. But two horsemen abreast could pass under the castle +walls. Saint Ruth was aware of the passage, but thought it impassable for +cavalry. It might easily have been made so, by cutting a deep gap across +it; but here, as at Athlone, his overconfidence proved his destruction. +He had, however, taken the precaution to erect a battery commanding the +passage, and had placed some battalions of infantry there. + +General Talmash, who commanded the English cavalry, knew that the battle +was lost, unless he could succeed at this point; and, at the head of his +command, he led the way along the pass, which was not only narrow, but +broken and encumbered with the ruins of the castle wall. Saint Ruth +beheld the attempt of the cavalry with astonishment, and, with the +remark: "They are brave fellows, it is a pity they should be sacrificed," +sent orders for the Irish horse to move forward and prepare to charge +them; and moved down the hill at the head of his officers to the battery. + +There is no doubt as to what the result would have been, had the Irish +horse charged. They were greatly superior in number, and the English +cavalry who had got across the passage were still in confusion, and were +suffering from the fire of the battery, and, indeed, even when in equal +numbers, William's cavalry had never withstood the charge of the Irish. +It seemed that nothing could avert the defeat of the body on which +Ginckle's last hope rested. + +But at this moment one of those events, by which Providence overrules the +calculations of man, occurred. A cannonball struck Saint Ruth, as he +stood in the middle of the battery and killed him instantly. The +occurrence paralysed the Irish army. Sarsfield was away, there was no one +to give orders, the news that some extraordinary calamity had happened +spread rapidly, the men in the battery ceased firing, the cavalry, +receiving no orders to charge, remained immovable. + +Talmash took advantage of the pause to get the rest of his cavalry across +the passage, and then, with his whole force, moved towards the centre. As +he approached, the idea that the unknown calamity, of which they had +heard, was that the British had defeated their own left, spread among the +Irish, and they began to fall back. The British column on the edge of the +bog advanced, Ginckle pushed several fresh battalions across the morass +in the centre, and the Irish infantry fell back, disputing every inch of +the ground. + +The cavalry were still without orders, for strangely enough, no one +assumed the command on the death of Saint Ruth. As night came on, the +retreat of the Irish infantry became a rout, but the cavalry halted on +the summit of Kilcomeden, and covered the retreat. + +The extraordinary circumstance, of the Irish army being left without +orders after the death of Saint Ruth, has never been explained. The +command should have devolved upon Sarsfield, but none of the accounts of +the battle speak of him as being present. He had certainly not been +consulted by Saint Ruth, and had not been present at the council of war +before the battle; for the bad feeling, which had existed between him and +Saint Ruth since that general arrived, had broken out into open dispute +since the fall of Athlone. But it is inexplicable that there should have +been no second in command, that no one should have come forward to give +orders after the death of the general, that a victorious army should have +been left, as a flock of sheep, without a shepherd. + +Up to the moment of the death of Saint Ruth, the loss of the British had +been very severe, as they had more than two thousand men killed and +wounded, while that of the Irish was trifling. But in the subsequent +struggle the Irish, fighting each man for himself, without order or +object, were slaughtered in vast numbers, their loss being estimated by +the British writers at seven thousand men, a number which points to +wholesale slaughter, rather than to the loss which could have been +inflicted upon a brave army during little over an hour of daylight. + +But, crushing as the defeat of the Irish had been, the victory was far +from inspiring William or his army with the confidence they had felt at +the outset of the war. Here, as at Athlone, it was almost a miracle which +had saved the English from a terrible disaster. The Irish had proved +themselves fully a match for the best soldiers that William could send +against them, and, although their infantry had suffered terribly in the +rout, their ranks would be speedily filled up again; while the cavalry, +the arm in which the Irish had uniformly proved their superiority, had +moved away from the field of battle intact and unbroken. Athlone and +Aughrim therefore rendered William and his general more anxious than ever +to bring the struggle to an end, not by the force of arms, but by +offering every concession to the Irish. + +The imminence of the peril had cowed even the party of confiscation, and +they offered no opposition to the issue, by Ginckle, of proclamations +renewing the offers of William. Ginckle himself moved forward, +immediately after the battle, and granted the most liberal terms to the +garrisons of the various small posts which he came upon. On arriving +before Galway, he permitted that town and garrison to surrender on the +terms of a pardon for all, security of property and estate, freedom of +religious worship, and permission for the garrison to march away to +Limerick, with drums beating and colours flying, the British furnishing +horses for the transport of their cannon and baggage. + + + +Chapter 15: A Fortunate Recognition. + + +After the capitulation of Galway, Ginckle moved towards Limerick. King +William, who was absent on the Continent, was most anxious for the aid of +the army warring in Ireland, and the queen and her advisers, considering +that the war was now virtually over, ordered transports to Ireland to +take on board ten thousand men; but Ginckle was allowed a month's delay. + +He himself was by no means sanguine as to his position. The Irish army +was still as numerous as the British, and they were not discouraged by +their defeat at Aughrim, where they considered, and rightly, that victory +had only been snatched from their grasp by an accident. Ginckle relied +rather upon concession than force. The Irish were divided into two +parties, one of which earnestly desired peace, if they could obtain fair +terms, while the other insisted that the British could not be trusted to +keep any terms they might make. Sarsfield was at the head of the war +party, and succeeded, for the present, in preventing any arrangement. + +Ginckle advanced slowly, for he had to march through a waste and desolate +country. Sarsfield, with his cavalry, hovered round him, and intercepted +his communications, and he was so short of draught horses that it was +only by forcing the gentry of Dublin to give up their carriage horses, +for the use of the army, that he was enabled to move forward. + +It was not until the end of August that he sat down with his siege train +in front of Limerick, and prepared for the siege. For the moment, the +party in favour of peace among the Irish had been silenced by the news +that twenty large ships of war, with a great number of transport and +store ships, were being pushed forward at Brest and other French ports to +come to their assistance. + +Ginckle occupied the same ground which William's army had taken up in the +first siege, but directed his attacks chiefly upon the English town. As +before, the Irish communication was open with the county of Clare, and +the seventeen regiments of Irish horse were encamped on the Clare side of +the river. Ginckle pushed on his works with great vigour, and the duty in +the trenches was so severe, that the cavalry were compelled to take their +turn with the infantry; but, notwithstanding that the siege artillery was +much more powerful than that which William had at his disposal, but +little progress was made. The town was set on fire several times; but the +flames were speedily extinguished, and, as the inhabitants had all left +the city and erected tents on the Clare side, under the protection of +their cavalry, little harm was done to them. + +While the siege was going on, a number of desultory engagements took +place, in different parts of the country, between the Protestant militia +which had been lately raised, and the bands of rapparees, with varying +success. + +The season was getting late. Ginckle was again becoming straitened for +provisions, for the proclamations which he issued failed to inspire the +peasantry with any confidence. He now erected a battery, of thirty-five +guns, against King's Island; and, after an incessant cannonade of some +days, a breach was effected in the wall between the abbey and +Ballsbridge. Preparations were made for crossing the arm of the Shannon +and assaulting the breach; but the works constructed for crossing the +river were repeatedly destroyed by the Irish, and the idea of assault +upon the breach was, at length, abandoned. So desperate did Ginckle now +think his position, that he issued orders for the repair of the +fortifications of Kilmallock, intending to raise the siege and establish +his winter quarters there; but he postponed taking this step for a few +days, for to do so would be to bring almost certain disaster upon his +army. + +The French fleet was expected to arrive shortly, and the Irish, +reinforced with men, arms, and supplies of every kind, would probably +resume the offensive during the winter, and he would find himself cut off +from all supplies and assistance. He determined, therefore, to make one +more effort before retiring. + +He had, throughout the siege, been in communication with several Irish +officers of high rank, and especially with General Clifford, who +commanded the cavalry posted on the river opposite to his camp. These +officers were as desirous as he was of bringing the war to an end, for +they foresaw that if, after the arrival of the French, they succeeded in +driving the English out of the country, Ireland would simply become a +dependency of France, and they preferred the English connection to this. +Ginckle determined to try, again, the same feint which had succeeded at +Athlone. The workmen were kept busy repairing the works at Kilmallock, +and preparing that place for the reception of the army. The greater +portion of the baggage, and a regiment of Danes, were sent forward to +that town. The batteries ceased firing, and the cannon were dismounted at +several points, and the Irish were persuaded that the siege was about to +be abandoned. + +Meanwhile, Ginckle was busy collecting boats, and preparing a bridge +across to a small island, which lay not far from the Clare side of the +river. On a dark night, the boats were brought up and the bridge +constructed, and, led by six hundred grenadiers, a strong force of +infantry, cavalry, and artillery crossed to the island, and then waded +through the shallow water beyond to the mainland. + +A few men, posted on the island, carried the news to Clifford, but he +gave no orders to the four regiments of cavalry and two of infantry under +his command, nor did he send any notice to the camp. Some of the infantry +and cavalry, however, ran without orders to the bank, and kept the +grenadiers in check until the British cavalry had crossed, and compelled +them to fall back. The British cavalry then dashed forward to the Irish +cavalry camp, which they took completely by surprise. Panic stricken at +this unexpected attack, the soldiers and the citizens in the town camp +fled in all directions, and, great numbers rushing to Thomond Bridge, +entered the city by that narrow approach. + +Had Ginckle at once pushed forward, he would have captured almost the +whole of the Irish officials and civilians on the Clare side of the +river; but, fearing an ambuscade, he halted his troops before advancing +to the Irish camp, and this gave time for most of them to escape. Being +afraid that the garrison would sally out from the town, and attack his +lines on the other side of the river, he recrossed the Shannon with his +troops, carrying with them a crowd of civilians, among them a number of +persons of rank, and officials with the records and public treasure. + +The confusion and surprise in the town were so great that the Irish +generals took no steps whatever, either to hinder his passage back across +the river, or to attack either portion of his divided army. They knew +that treachery must have been at work, to have enabled the enemy to +surprise the camp, and, as they could not tell how far that treachery +extended, they abstained from all action. + +Captain Davenant's troop had shared in the disaster inflicted by the +night attack upon the cavalry camp. All were asleep when the English +cavalry burst upon them. Taken utterly by surprise, and ignorant as to +the strength of the force by which they were attacked, there was no +thought of resistance. Officers and men leapt from the piles of rushes, +which served as beds, and rushed to their horses. The English troopers +were cutting and hewing in all directions, and, cutting the picket ropes, +each man sprang on his horse and rode for his life. + +Captain Davenant had, at first, shouted to his men to keep steady; but +his words were lost in the din which prevailed, and, seeing that nothing +was to be done, he said to Walter: + +"It is all over, Walter. We must ride for it, like the rest." + +By morning, the Irish cavalry was scattered all over the country, and it +was not for two or three days that they again assembled in regiments, +presenting a sorry sight, the greater part having lost saddles and +accoutrements of every kind. A few troops, composed of men who had been +fortunate enough to have left their horses saddled when night came on, +were sent back to Limerick. The rest drew off towards Ennis, and encamped +there until they could procure saddles and accoutrements to take the +field again. + +In Captain Davenant's troop there were but six men who had saved their +saddles; and, as it would have been useless to send so small a detachment +to Limerick, these remained with the troop, and were, at Walter's +request, placed entirely at his disposal, in order that with them he +might make scouting expeditions in the enemy's rear. He had permission to +consider himself entirely on detached service, and to join any body of +rapparees he might choose; but this Walter did not care about doing, for +he had a horror of the savage acts which were perpetrated by the +irregular forces on both sides, and determined to confine himself to +watching the roads, bringing in news of any convoys which might be +traversing the country, and cutting off messengers going or returning +with despatches. + +The service was one of no great danger, for parties of peasants were on +the watch, night and day; and, the instant any movement was observed, +they started off at full speed to warn all the inhabitants of the +surrounding villages to drive away their cattle, and carry off their +effects into the hills or into the heart of some neighbouring bog, where +the cavalry would not venture to penetrate. + +One day when, with his little band, he was halting at a village, some ten +miles in rear of the camp, a peasant ran in. + +"A party of their horse have just seized some carts laden with potatoes +at Kilcowan, and are driving them off. The boys are mustering to attack +them on their way back." + +"It is too bad," Walter exclaimed. "Only three days ago, Ginckle issued +another proclamation guaranteeing that no provisions, or other goods, +should be taken by his soldiers without payment. + +"To horse, lads! We will ride out and give the peasants a helping hand, +if they really mean to attack the enemy." + +Kilcowan was two miles away and, having learned from the peasant that the +people intended to attack at a point where the road passed between two +hills, a mile and a half beyond the village, he galloped on at full +speed. He arrived, however, too late to take any part in the fight. The +peasants had rushed suddenly down the hillsides, armed with scythes and +pikes, upon the convoy as it passed below them. Several of the cavalry +had been killed, and the rest were riding off, when Walter with his +troopers dashed up. They continued the pursuit for a mile, cutting off a +few stragglers, less well mounted than the rest, and then returned to +Kilcowan, where the peasants had just arrived in triumph with the rescued +carts of potatoes. + +"What are you going to do?" he asked, when the excitement of the welcome, +accorded by the women to the captors, had subsided a little. "You may +expect a strong body to be sent out, tomorrow, to punish you for this." + +"It's the general's own proclamation, your honour. Didn't he say, +himself, that his soldiers were not to stale anything, and that they +would be severely punished if they did? And didn't he guarantee that we +should be paid for everything? He could not blame us for what we have +done, and he ought to hang the rest of those thieving villains, when they +get back to him." + +"I wouldn't be too sure about it," Walter said. "He issued a good many +proclamations before, but he has never kept the terms of one of them. If +I were you, I would leave the village--man, woman, and child--for a few +days, at any rate, and see how the Dutchman takes it." + +But the villagers could not be persuaded that the Dutch general would +disapprove of what they had done, and Walter, finding his arguments of no +avail, rode off with his men to the village they had left, an hour +before; with the parting advice that, if they would not follow his +counsel, they should, at any rate, place watchers that night on the roads +towards Ginckle's camp, to bring them news of the approach of any body of +the enemy's cavalry. + +But the villagers were too delighted with their day's work to pay much +heed to Walter's warning, and, after a general jollification in honour of +their victory, retired to rest, thoughtless of danger. + +It was getting dark when Walter reached the village where he had +determined to stay for the night. He ordered the men to keep the saddles +on their horses, and to hitch them to the doors of the cabins where they +took up their quarters, in readiness for instant movement. He placed one +mounted sentry at the entrance to the village, and another a quarter of a +mile on the road towards Kilcowan. + +At nine o'clock, he heard the sound of a horse galloping up to the door, +and ran out. It was the sentry at the end of the village. + +"Kilcowan is on fire, sir!" + +Walter looked in that direction, and saw a broad glare of light. + +"Ride out, and bring in the advanced sentry," he said, "as quick as +possible." + +He called the other men out, and bade them mount; that done, they sat, +ready to ride off on the return of their comrades. + +"Here they come, sir," one of the men said, "and I fancy the enemy are +after them." + +Walter listened intently. He could hear a deep thundering noise, which +was certainly made by the hoofs of more than two horses. + +"Face about, men, trot! Keep your horses well in hand, until the others +come up, and then ride for it. + +"Ah, what is that!" + +As he spoke, there was a shout from the other end of the village, +followed instantly by the trampling of horses. + +"They have surrounded us!" Walter exclaimed. "Shoulder to shoulder, lads, +and cut your way through. It's our only chance. Charge!" + +And, placing himself at the head, he set spurs to his horse and dashed at +the approaching enemy. + +There was a fierce shock. A horse and rider rolled over from the impetus +of his charge, then he cut right and left; pistol shots rang out, and his +horse fell beneath him, shot through the head, pinning his leg beneath +it. + +The fall saved his life, for four or five troopers had surrounded him, +and in another moment he would have been cut down. For a time, he ran +great risk of being trampled upon, in the confusion which followed. Then +some of the troopers dismounted, he was dragged from beneath his horse, +and found himself a prisoner. He was placed in the centre of the troop, +the only captive taken, for two of the six men had got safe away in the +darkness and confusion, the other four had fallen. + +The English, as he afterwards learned, had, immediately they arrived at +Kilcowan, inquired where the Irish cavalry, who had taken part in the +afternoon's fight, were quartered, and on hearing that they were but two +miles away, the officer in command had forced one of the peasants to act +as guide, and to take a party round, by a detour, so as to enter at the +other end of the village, just as another party rode in by the direct +road. + +Walter was taken first to Kilcowan. There he found a party of twelve or +fourteen peasants, surrounded by cavalry. The whole village was in +flames. Several of the inhabitants had been cut down, as the cavalry +entered. The rest, with the exception of those in the hands of the +troops, had fled in the darkness. As soon as the detachment with Walter +arrived, the whole body got into motion, and reached Ginckle's camp +shortly before midnight. + +As the general had retired to sleep, they were placed in a tent, and four +sentries posted round it, with orders to shoot anyone who showed his head +outside. In the morning, they were ordered to come out, and found outside +the general, with several of his officers. + +"So," Ginckle said, "you are the fellows who attacked my soldiers. I will +teach you a lesson which shall be remembered all over Ireland. You shall +be broken on the wheel." + +This sentence was heard unmoved by the peasants, who had not the least +idea of what was meant by it; but Walter stepped forward: + +"It is not these men who are to blame, but your soldiers, general," he +said. "Your own proclamation, issued three days ago, guaranteed that no +private property should be interfered with, and that everything the +troops required should be paid for. Your soldiers disobeyed your orders, +and plundered these poor people, and they were just as much justified in +defending themselves against them, as any householder is who resists a +burglar." + +"You dare speak to me!" exclaimed Ginckle. "You shall share their fate. +Every man of you shall be broken on the wheel." + +"General Ginckle," Walter said warmly, "hitherto, the foul excesses of +your troops have brought disgrace upon them, rather than you; but, if +this brutal order is carried out, your name will be held infamous, and +you will stand next only to Cromwell in the curses which Irishmen will +heap upon your memory." + +The Dutch general was almost convulsed with passion. + +"Take the dogs away," he shouted, "and let the sentence be carried out." + +Several English officers were standing near, and these looked at one +another in astonishment and disgust. Two of them hurried away, to fetch +some of the superior officers, and directly these heard of the orders +that had been given, they proceeded to Ginckle's tent. + +"Can it be true," General Hamilton said, "that you have ordered some +prisoners to be broken on the wheel?" + +"I have given those orders," Ginckle said angrily, "and I will not permit +them to be questioned." + +"Pardon me," General Hamilton said firmly; "but they must be questioned. +There is no such punishment as breaking on the wheel known to the English +law, and I and my English comrades protest against such a sentence being +carried out." + +"But I will have it so!" Ginckle exclaimed, his face purple with passion. + +"Then, sir," General Hamilton said, "I tell you that, in half an hour +from the present time, I will march out from your camp, at the head of my +division of British troops, and will return to Dublin; and, what is more, +I will fight my way out of the camp if any opposition is offered, and +will explain my conduct to the king and the British parliament. Enough +disgrace has already been brought upon all connected with the army, by +the doings of the foreign troops; but when it comes to the death by +torture of prisoners, by the order of their general, it is time that +every British officer should refuse to permit such foul disgrace to rest +upon his name." + +There was a chorus of assent from the other English officers, while +Ginckle's foreign officers gathered round him, and it looked for a moment +as if swords would be drawn. + +Ginckle saw that he had gone too far, and felt that, not only would this +quarrel, if pushed further, compel him to raise the siege and fall back +upon Dublin, but it would entail upon him the displeasure of the king, +still more certainly that of the English parliament. + +"There is no occasion for threats," he said, mastering his passion. "You +tell me that such a punishment is contrary to English law. That is +enough. I abandon it at once. The prisoners shall be hung and quartered. +I presume that you have no objection to offer to that." + +"That, general, is a matter in your own competence, and for your own +conscience," Hamilton said. "The men have simply, as I understand, +defended their property against marauders, and they are, as I conceive, +worthy of no punishment whatever. If you choose to sentence them to such +a punishment, it is your sentence, not mine. I thought it was your policy +to heal the breach between the two parties. It seems I was mistaken. +Personally, I protest against the execution of the sentence, beyond that +I am not called upon to go. An act of injustice or cruelty, performed by +a general upon prisoners, would not justify a soldier in imperilling the +success of the campaign by resisting the orders of his superior; +therefore, my duty to the king renders me unable to act; but I solemnly +protest, in my own name and that of the English officers under your +command, against the sentence, which I consider unjust in the extreme." + +So saying, General Hamilton, with the English officers, left the +general's tent. If they hoped that the protest would have the effect of +preventing the barbarous sentence from being carried into execution, they +were mistaken. The fact that, to carry out his first intention would have +been absolutely unlawful, had caused Ginckle to abandon it, but this made +him only the more obstinate in carrying the second into execution. + +The English officers stood talking, not far from his tent, in tones of +indignation and disgust at the brutal sentence, and then walked towards +their divisional camp. As they went, they saw a number of men standing +round a tree. Some Hessian soldiers, with much brutal laughter, were +reeving ropes over the arm of the tree, and, just as the officers came +along, six struggling forms were drawn up high above the heads of the +crowd. + +The party paused for a moment, and were about to pass on, their faces +showing how deep was their horror at the scene, when one of them +exclaimed: + +"There is an Irish officer, in uniform, among the prisoners! This cannot +be suffered, Hamilton. The Irish have several of ours prisoners in the +town, and they would rightly retaliate by hanging them on the +battlements." + +General Hamilton and the others pressed forward. + +"Colonel Hanau," the general said to a Hessian officer, "you surely +cannot be going to hang this young officer? The general can never have +included him with the others?" + +"The general's orders were precise," the Hessian said coldly. "Twelve +peasants and one officer were to be hung, and afterwards quartered." + +"It is monstrous!" General Hamilton exclaimed. "I will go back to the +general, and obtain his order for the arrest of the execution." + +"You will be too late, sir," the Hessian said coldly. "I have my orders, +and before you are half way to the general's camp, that prisoner will be +swinging from that bough." + +"I order you to desist, sir, till I return," General Hamilton said. + +"As I do not happen to be in your division, General Hamilton, and as I +have received my orders from the commander in chief, I decline altogether +to take orders from you." + +Walter, who had resigned himself to his fate, stood watching the +altercation with a renewed feeling of hope. This died out when the +colonel spoke, and two of the troopers seized him, but at that moment his +eye fell upon one of the English officers. + +"Colonel L'Estrange!" he exclaimed. + +The officer started, at hearing his name called out by the prisoner, but +he did not recognize him. + +"I am Walter Davenant. You remember, sir, the wreck off Bray?" + +"Good heavens!" Colonel L'Estrange exclaimed, pressing forward. + +"It is the lad who saved my life, General Hamilton! + +"Gentlemen, this young officer saved my life at the risk of his own. I +cannot and will not stand by and see him murdered." + +The Hessian colonel signed to four of his men, who seized Walter and +dragged him towards the tree. Colonel L'Estrange drew his sword. + +"My men," he shouted, to some English soldiers who were mingled with the +crowd of onlookers, which had rapidly increased during the dispute, +"stand by me, and don't let this brave young officer be murdered." + +A score of soldiers pushed through the crowd, and ranged themselves by +Colonel L'Estrange. He dashed forward, sword in hand, and in a moment +Walter was torn from the grasp of the soldiers, and placed in the centre +of his rescuers, who were now joined by General Hamilton and the other +officers. + +Several men had run off at full speed, to the British camp, to bring up +aid. The Hessian colonel called upon his men to seize the prisoner, and +cut down all who interfered to prevent the general's orders being carried +out. These hesitated before the resolute aspect of the English, but the +crowd of foreign soldiers ranged themselves with them, and the attack was +about to commence, when a number of English soldiers were seen running, +musket in hand, from their camp. + +The Hessian colonel saw that to attempt to carry out his orders, now, +would bring on something like a pitched battle, and he therefore waved +his men back, saying to General Hamilton: + +"I have nothing to do now, sir, but to report to General Ginckle that I +have been prevented, by force, from carrying his orders into effect." + +"That you will, of course, do," General Hamilton said coldly. "I shall be +perfectly prepared to answer for my conduct." + +There was no goodwill between the English and foreign sections of +Ginckle's army, and General Hamilton had some trouble in preventing the +soldiers from attacking the Hessians, and in inducing them to retire to +their camp. As soon as he arrived there, he ordered the drums to be +beaten, and the whole division to get under arms. He then despatched an +officer to General Ginckle, narrating the circumstances, and saying that +the honour of the whole army was concerned in preventing an officer, +fairly taken prisoner in war, and not while acting as a spy, from being +injured; and that, indeed, policy as well as honour forbade such a course +being taken, as there were several officers of rank in the hands of the +Irish, who would naturally retaliate on them the execution of prisoners +of war. He made a formal complaint against Colonel Hanau, for refusing to +delay the execution until he could lay the matter before the general. As +for his own conduct in the matter, he said he was perfectly prepared to +defend it before any military court, but that court must be held in +England, where he purposed to return at once, with the division his +majesty had intrusted to his command. + +The Dutch general had, long before he received the letter, been informed +of what had taken place, and had also learned that the English division +had struck their tents, and were drawn up under arms. To allow them to +depart would be to entail certain ruin upon the campaign, and he felt +that it was more than probable that the course Hamilton and his officers +had taken would be upheld by a military court in England, and that public +opinion would condemn the execution of an officer, taken in fair fight. +He therefore wrote a letter to General Hamilton, saying that he regretted +to find that he had been acting under a misapprehension, for he had +understood that the person claiming to be an Irish officer was in fact a +spy, and that he had severely reprimanded Colonel Hanau for his refusal +to delay the execution until the fact had been explained to him. Far from +feeling in any way aggrieved that General Hamilton had interfered to +prevent such a mistake from taking place, he felt much obliged to him for +what he had done, as the execution of an Irish officer taken in war +would, in every way, have been a most unfortunate circumstance. + +General Hamilton showed the letter to the colonels of the various +regiments in the division, and these agreed that, as General Ginckle was +evidently desirous that the matter should go no further, it would be as +well to order the tents to be again pitched, and for the troops to resume +their ordinary duties. + +"My dear Walter," Colonel L'Estrange said, "I am happy, indeed, that we +came up when we did. What should I have felt, if I had afterwards learned +that you, who had saved my life, had been murdered here, for your +execution would have been neither more nor less than murder, as was that +of the twelve poor fellows who were taken at Kilcowan--a brutal murder! +They were perfectly justified in defending their property, and the idea +of quartering them, as well as hanging them, just as if they were +traitors of the worst dye, is nothing short of monstrous. + +"I only came out here with my regiment a month since, but I am heartily +sick with what I see going on. It was terrible to see the ruined villages +on the road from Dublin. I have seen fighting on the Continent, but +nothing to equal the wholesale brutality with which the war is conducted +here. How God can continue to give success, to an army which behaves as +this one has done, is altogether beyond me. Of one thing I am resolved, +whether we take Limerick or not--and I own I see but small chance of +it--I shall exchange, if possible, into a regiment serving in Flanders. +If not, I shall resign my commission. + +"And now, how is your father? I rode out from Dublin to see your mother, +and was very glad to find her, and old Mrs. Davenant, well. I was glad, +too, to find that, owing to the influence of Mr. Conyers, they had not +been troubled; and I was fortunately able, myself, to bring some +influence to bear upon the council, who seem to be bent upon squeezing +the last drop of blood from the Irish veins. + +"But the men are falling in, and I must put myself at the head of the +regiment. I will hand you over to the care of an officer, and, if we +march out, you will, of course, go with us." + +When the men were again dismissed, Colonel L'Estrange rejoined Walter. + +"Ginckle has thought better of it," he said. "I fancied he would not +venture to push matters further, for the loss of the one division he can +really rely upon would be fatal to all his hope of success to the +campaign. Ginckle is a passionate man, but he is not a fool, and he must +have seen that, if the matter had been laid before the king, his conduct +would not have been approved. I don't say that ours is right, in a +military sense, but I am sure that public opinion would have approved of +it. The tales that have been circulated, of the doings of the army over +here since the commencement of the war, have already roused a very strong +feeling of irritation throughout the country." + +Colonel L'Estrange now took Walter to General Hamilton's tent, and, after +formally introducing him, he told the story of the wreck, and of his +rescue by Walter from certain death. + +"What do you mean to do with him, L'Estrange?" General Hamilton asked. + +"My intention is, unless you see any objection to it, to pass him through +the lines this evening. I will provide him with a good horse, and see him +well away. After what has happened Ginckle will, I should say, feel +obliged for our thus rendering him a service by getting rid of his +prisoner. There are not likely to be any questions asked or remarks made +afterwards. I am not without influence at court, and there is a very +strong section, who are bitterly opposed to Dutchmen being placed in +every post in the king's gift, and there would be no difficulty in +getting up such a hostile feeling against Ginckle, in relation to this +affair, that it would cost him his command." + +"Yes," the general agreed. "Marlborough would be only too glad to take +the matter up, and as Ginckle must be pretty well aware that his want of +success here must have already made his position precarious, I do not +think he will trouble himself to ask any questions about the prisoner; +and, certainly, William will not thank him for being the means, by his +unjust and arbitrary conduct, of causing a split between the English and +his foreign troops. I should like to put all their heads into one noose, +and I should feel no compunction in setting them swinging, for a greater +set of rascals were never collected under the sun. I must say that the +contrast between our army and the Irish is very great, and that, although +many bloody deeds are performed by the rapparees, there has never been a +single complaint brought against the Irish troops. + +"Anyhow, Mr. Davenant, I think you cannot do better than fall in with +Colonel L'Estrange's plan. There will be no difficulty in getting out, +and, indeed, I will send a troop of cavalry to see you well beyond our +lines." + +Walter spent the rest of the day with Colonel L'Estrange, and told him +all that had taken place since they had last met. + +"It is difficult to believe that it is but three years ago," he said, +when he had finished. + +"No, we judge the flight of time by the incidents we crowd into it. The +most uneventful days pass the most unheeded. Now to me, it seems but +yesterday that I stood on the deck of the ship, and knew that she was +sure to go to pieces, and that the chance of anyone reaching that rocky +coast alive were small, indeed; when I saw what seemed little more than a +black speck approaching, and you and your fisher boy made your way over +the wave. + +"By the way, how is he? Doing well, I hope?" + +"He might have done well, if he liked. The present that you left in my +father's hands, to buy him a boat when he was old enough to start as a +fisherman on his own account, would have made a man of him, but it is +hidden somewhere in the thatch of his father's cottage. When my father +first went to the war, he handed it over to Larry, as he could not say +what might happen before his return. Larry was at first delighted with +the thought that some day he should have a boat of his own, and a boat, +too, larger than any on the shore; but when I accompanied my father, +Larry insisted on going with me. + +"'It will be time enough to buy a boat, when the war is over,' he said. + +"And as I was very glad to have him with me, and my father did not +object, Larry had his way, and he has been with me ever since. He is +enrolled in the troop now, and, when he thinks there is any chance of +fighting, he takes his place in the ranks, but at other times he acts as +my servant." + +"Tell him I have not forgotten him," Colonel L'Estrange said. "While you +have been doing so much, I have had a quiet time of it. I could have got +a regiment at once, had I cared for it, but I disliked the thought of +fighting over here. It was too much like civil war. Six months ago, when +things were going badly with us on the Continent, I asked to be employed, +and was given a regiment they were just raising. I had got them into fair +order, and was expecting to be ordered to embark for the Low Country at +any moment, when the news came of Ginckle's heavy losses at Athlone and +Aughrim, and the orders came for us to proceed to Bristol, and take ship +there for Ireland. I half thought of throwing up my commission, for the +news of the scandalous conduct of the foreign soldiers had stirred every +English heart with disgust and indignation, but I thought that the +struggle was nearly over. William was anxious for peace at any price, and +would grant almost any terms to secure it; and, on the other hand, we +knew that Louis was, at last, going to make a great effort. So that it +was certain that either the Irish would make peace on fair terms before +winter, or the French would land, and there would be an end of any +prospect of conquering Ireland, until matters were settled on the +Continent, and William could devote his whole strength to this business." + +"And which alternative do you think the most likely?" Walter asked. + +"The latter," Colonel L'Estrange said, gravely. "Frankly, Walter, the +situation looks bad. There is, so far as I can see, no chance whatever of +our taking Limerick, and in a fortnight ten thousand French troops will +be landed. + +"Of course it is probable that, at the last moment, the Irish may +conclude that they prefer to be under England rather than France, for +that is what it comes to. I hope they will have the sense to choose +England, and if what we hear be true, they can judge from the insolent +arrogance of the French officers, when they are but a fraction of your +force, what they would be when they regarded themselves as your masters. + +"William is ready to grant religious equality, and the security of +persons and estates. I think the Irish will be very unwise to refuse. At +the same time, they have suffered such villainous treatment, at the hands +of William's soldiers, that I cannot blame them if they decide to throw +in their lot with France." + +"I think," Walter said, "that, if they were but sure that all the +promises would be kept, the greater part would be in favour of making +peace at once. Nine out of ten of us are of English descent, and have +only been driven to take up arms by the cruel oppression which we have +suffered. Why, at present five-sixths of the soil of Ireland is in the +hands of Protestants, our religion is persecuted, and for years we have +been trampled on, and regarded as fair objects of robbery." + +"All that you say is true, Walter, and no one can regret it more than I +do. Still, I do think that you would be worse off under France than under +England. Louis would drain the island of its men to fill his army. He +uses you only as a cat's paw in his struggle against England and Holland, +and would not hesitate to turn you over to England again, did it at any +time suit him to make peace on such terms; or to offer Ireland as an +exchange for some piece of territory he coveted, beyond his frontier." + +"I know my father is very much of your opinion," Walter said, "and that +he has no confidence whatever in the King of France, and considers that +French interference is responsible for the want of success which has +attended us. At any rate, there is scarcely one of us who does not hate +the French, and certainly, if we had to choose between the two countries, +we should choose England." + +When it became dark, a troop of cavalry mounted, and with Colonel +L'Estrange and Walter in their midst, rode out of camp. They went for +several miles, and then Colonel L'Estrange said: + +"We are now well outside the limit where you will be likely to meet any +of our scouting parties. Two miles further along this road, you will come +to the village of Mulroon. It has, like all the others, suffered heavily, +but there are two or three houses still standing, and when I rode +through, it a few days since, I saw an old man standing at the door of +one of them, so you will be likely to get information as to the best road +to the town, and perhaps a guide." + +"Thank you very heartily, Colonel L'Estrange. I know the village, for I +rode through it only the day before I was captured, and if I can get no +guide, I can make my own way round as soon as it is daylight." + +"You had better go on tonight, if you can, Walter. Some party of rascally +plunderers might arrive here, or Ginckle may, for aught I know, have sent +out parties of dragoons. At any rate, I would not stop here, but make +your way on among the hills, even if you can only get a mile away, and +have to sleep by the side of your horse. No one can say he is safe under +a roof within twenty miles of Ginckle's army." + +There was a hearty leave taking between Colonel L'Estrange and Walter, +and the latter then rode straight forward, while the troop faced about, +and made their way back to camp. + +On arriving at the village, Walter, as soon as he succeeded in convincing +the inhabitants of a cottage, in which he saw a light, that he was an +Irish officer, found no difficulty in obtaining a guide, a boy of +fourteen volunteering at once to conduct him to the ford, ten miles above +Limerick. It was nearly twenty miles, by the byroads by which they +travelled, and the morning was just breaking as they arrived there. + +Colonel L'Estrange had insisted on providing Walter with funds, and he +was therefore able to reward his guide, who went his way, rejoicing, +while Walter crossed the river and rode for the cavalry camp, where he +was received with delight by his father and friends, who had believed him +to have been killed in the skirmish, for such was the report of the +troopers who had managed to make their escape. + +"I must not let you go on any more detached commands, Walter," his father +said. "I do not say that you have been imprudent, or to blame; but this +is the second time that you have been surprised by the enemy, and, as it +is out of the question to expect that you can always have the good luck +to get out of their hands when you are captured, as you have on the last +two occasions, I shall keep you by me in future; for seriously, my boy, +your absence has caused me terrible anxiety." + +When Walter's account of the barbarous sentence passed upon the peasants, +whose only crime was that they had defended their property against +marauders acting in defiance of the general's order, was known in camp, +the most intense indignation prevailed, and this was heightened by the +fact that a cavalry officer, taken in open fight, should have been +sentenced to a similar fate. So great, indeed, was the fury of both +officers and men, that had they been in any condition to take the field, +nothing could have restrained them from mounting and riding, at once, to +strike a blow in revenge for the murder and mutilation of the peasants. + + + +Chapter 16: Peace. + + +Ginckle's expedition across the Shannon, and his surprise of the Irish +cavalry camp, successful as it had been, altered the position in no way. +Several days passed, and then, after a council of war, it was determined +to recross the bridge of boats, which remained undisturbed, to the Clare +side, and try to force a way across Thomond Bridge. On the 22nd of +September, all the cavalry of the army, ten regiments of infantry, and +fourteen pieces of cannon made the passage without molestation, and +marched towards the bridge, which was defended upon the Clare side by two +strong towers. As the British advanced guard of infantry approached the +bridge, it was charged by a body of Irish horse, broken, and driven back. + +A strong body of cavalry rode up to support the infantry; the Irish horse +were reinforced, and a hot fight continued until, at about four o'clock +in the afternoon, the whole force of British infantry came up, and the +Irish retired upon the infantry posted in the works which covered the +bridge. Near the gate were high grounds cut up by gravel pits. The Irish +infantry were posted here, as well as in the forts; and the English, as +they advanced, were assailed with a very heavy fire from these positions, +and also from the guns on the town walls. + +In spite of the heavy loss they were suffering, the English pressed on +with the greatest gallantry. Success was now almost a necessity, for, if +defeated, but few of them would ever have been able to recross the river. +Foot by foot they fought their way, pressed on past the outworks, and +pushed back the Irish infantry, till the latter were gathered round the +head of the bridge. + +The Irish generals had thought that Ginckle's movement was but a +repetition of the previous raid, and the force that had been sent over to +guard the head of the bridge was altogether insufficient to withstand the +determined attack by Ginckle's force. Reinforcements were now sent across +the bridge, but this only added to the confusion. Pressed back by the +weight and power of the English attack, the Irish were beginning to +retire across the bridge, when they met the reinforcements making their +way over. + +The bridge was of great length, but extremely narrow, and a complete +block took place. The English had pierced their way through the +struggling mass at the head of the bridge, and pressed on the rear of the +mass of fugitives, literally hewing their way through them, and the +pressure became so great that the regiments crossing were carried back. +The head of the British column was pushed forward by those behind, and +could only advance by slaying those in front of them and throwing their +bodies over the bridge; for the mass were wedged so tightly that movement +had now become impossible, while the Irish, as they retreated, formed +ramparts of the slain and impeded the advance of the enemy. + +While the struggle on the bridge was at its fiercest, the French officer +who commanded at the drawbridge across the arch nearest to the city, +fearing that the British would press in at the rear of the Irish, and +that he might not then be able to raise the drawbridge, ordered this to +be done at once--thereby cutting off the retreat of the soldiers still on +the bridge. These jumped over the parapet into the river, and strove to +reach the city wall by swimming. Some did so, but great numbers were +drowned. This incident greatly increased the standing feud between the +Irish and French, the former declaring that the latter not only never +fought themselves, but were ready, at the first alarm, to sacrifice their +allies in order to secure their own safety. + +The success of Ginckle's second raid had been complete, in so far that he +had inflicted great slaughter upon the Irish infantry, and had gained a +moral victory; but he was no nearer capturing the town. An attack across +the long narrow bridge was not even to be thought of; and he again +retired across the river. + +The Irish were disheartened. Sarsfield, though a dashing cavalry +commander, appeared wholly incapable of handling large bodies of men. +Ginckle had twice given him a great opportunity, but on neither occasion +had he made the slightest effort to utilize it. + +On the first occasion, surprise and uncertainty might excuse inaction on +the part of the army in Limerick, but there was no such excuse the second +time. Their force outside the town gate was but a small one; it was +certain that the English could not push across the bridge; and, as +Ginckle had taken the best part of his army across, Sarsfield could have +issued out with his whole force on the Limerick side, crushed the British +force remaining there, and captured the camp and all its stores--in which +case Ginckle's position would have been desperate. But not a movement was +made to seize an opportunity which would have been patent to any military +commander possessing genius and energy; nor, until it was too late, was +any attempt made to reinforce the detachment which, on the other side of +the bridge, was withstanding the attack of a vastly superior force. + +Ginckle, relying upon the moral effect of the blow he had just struck, +renewed his negotiations. Some of the Irish leaders had already received +bribes. Others were genuinely anxious that the war should cease, now that +William was ready to grant terms which would secure the ends for which +they had been fighting. Others, again, were animated by hostility to the +French, and the fear that, if the expected reinforcements arrived and the +English were driven out, Ireland would become a mere appanage of France. + +Sarsfield himself was, no doubt, swayed by his dislike to being again +superseded in the command by the arrival of another French general. He +was, too, influenced by the fear that the peace party might prevail, and +that Clifford's act of treachery might be repeated, and the enemy be +admitted into the city without any terms being arranged. + +The French officers, eager to return home, made no attempt to stem the +course of events; and, on the evening of the day after the battle on the +Clare side, the drums of the besieged beat a parley, and Generals +Sarsfield and Waughup went out and had a conference with Ginckle. A +cessation of arms was concluded for the night; and in the morning the +truce was extended for three days, to allow the cavalry, who were now +encamped near Ennis, to be communicated with. + +On the 25th, the principal noblemen and officers from the cavalry camp +arrived, prisoners were exchanged, and hostages on both sides were given, +until the terms of a treaty of peace could be adjusted. On the 27th, the +Irish submitted their proposals to the English general, which were--that +"all past offences should be pardoned; that the Catholics of the counties +of Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Clare, Sligo, and Mayo be restored to the +estates which they held previous to the war; freedom of worship to be +allowed; Catholics to be capable of holding all employments, civil and +military; the Irish army to be kept on foot, and those who were willing +to serve to be received into the king's service; Catholics to be at +liberty to reside in all cities and towns, and to have all rights of +citizens; and that an act of parliament should be passed to confirm these +conditions." + +These terms were agreed to, and were held to be applicable, not only to +the garrison of Limerick, but to the whole of Ireland. Ginckle at once +sent an express to Cork, to order the transports in that harbour to sail +round to the Shannon, for the purpose of taking on board such part of the +Irish army as might wish to be carried to France--this being one of the +stipulations of the treaty. + +Sarsfield and most of his officers, and the priests, used their utmost +efforts to persuade the soldiers to enter the French service, in +preference to the English. Their exhortations were successful. Only about +two thousand Irish joined the British army, four thousand laid down their +arms and returned to their homes, and a considerable number deserted on +their march down to Cork. The rest were shipped in transports to France, +where they entered the service of that country. Two days after the treaty +was signed, the French fleet, with ten thousand men and a great abundance +of stores, arrived at the mouth of the Shannon. + +The Irish negotiators of the treaty have been greatly and deservedly +blamed, inasmuch as, while they stipulated that the proprietors of the +neighbouring counties should retain their estates, they abandoned those +possessing property throughout the rest of Ireland to ruin and beggary. +There was no excuse for this. They knew that the French fleet had sailed, +and must have arrived in a few days, and that the English cause was +becoming so desperate that Ginckle would not have resisted any terms they +had laid down. This cruel and wholly unnecessary desertion of their +friends has thrown a slur upon the memory of Sarsfield and the other +leaders who conducted the negotiations. + +The officers and men who entered the service of France had bitter reason +to repent their decision. Instead of being, as they expected, kept +together in regiments, they were for the most part broken up and +distributed throughout the French army. Louis was deeply enraged at the +surrender, just as the expedition he had made such efforts to send for +the conquest of Ireland was within a few hours' sail of its shores, and +he treated the whole of the Irish and French who returned from Ireland as +men who had acted the part of traitors. + +As soon as the terms of capitulation were arranged, Captain Davenant +obtained papers of protection for all the men of his troop. He had formed +them up on parade, and had put the question, whether they wished to +return home or to enter the service of France. + +"I myself, and your officers, intend to return home," he said. "Of +course, each of you is free to do as he chooses; but it appears to me a +most foolish thing to leave your country forever, and exile yourself in +the service of France, when you are free to return home. You know how +little French promises have been kept during this war, and how little +faith is to be placed on them in future." + +The men were unanimous in their decision to return to their homes, and, +as soon as the protection papers were obtained, the troop disbanded, and +all returned to their homes and occupations in and around Bray. + +It was a joyful meeting, when Captain Davenant and Walter returned to the +castle. Mrs. Davenant had always shared her husband's opinion, that the +chances of ultimate success were small, and of late even his mother had +given up hope, and both were delighted that their anxieties were at last +over, and husband and son restored to them in safety. There was an +immense deal to tell on both sides, for it was months since any letter +had passed between them. + +"We have everything to be thankful for," Mrs. Davenant said, when the +stories on both sides had been told, "and it seems to me that it is, to +no slight extent, due to Walter that we have passed so well through the +last two troubled years. It was Jabez Whitefoot who first stood our +friend, and who saved the castle from being burned, and his goodwill was +earned by Walter's friendship with his son. Then Mr. Conyers stood +between us and the council, who would certainly have confiscated +everything, had it not been for him. And, although he always expressed +himself as greatly indebted to you also, he said that, so far as he +understood from his wife, it was to Walter's foresight and arrangement +that his wife and daughter owed their rescue. + +"How was it that Walter was so forward in the matter, Fergus?" + +"Walter was perhaps more particularly interested in the matter than I +was," Captain Davenant said, with a smile. "His thoughts were running in +that direction." + +Walter coloured up, and Mrs. Davenant, who was looking at him with some +surprise, at her husband's words, broke into a laugh. + +"You don't mean to say, Walter, that you have been falling in love, at +your age?" + +"You forget, dear," Captain Davenant said, coming to Walter's rescue, +"that Walter is no longer a boy. Three years of campaigning have made a +man of him, and, I venture to think, an earnest and thoughtful one. He +is, it is true, only nineteen, but he has seen as much, and gone through +as much, as men double his age. He has, upon several occasions, evinced +an amount of coolness and judgment in danger which has earned him the +approbation even of General Sarsfield, a man not easily satisfied." + +"I don't mean to hurt your feelings, Walter," Mrs. Davenant said; "but of +course, it is difficult for me, at first, to realize that while you have +been away you have changed from a boy into a man." + +"I don't mind, mother dear," Walter said, "and you can laugh at me as +much as you like." + +"And is there anything in what your father says?" Mrs. Davenant asked, as +she passed her hand fondly over Walter's head, as he sat on a low stool +beside her. + +"Yes, mother," he answered manfully. "I am engaged to Claire Conyers. I +have her mother's consent, but what Mr. Conyers will think about it, I +don't know. He must know long before this, for Mrs. Conyers said that she +should tell him, as soon as he joined them in England." + +Mrs. Davenant leaned over, and kissed her son. + +"The Conyers are of good family," old Mrs. Davenant said, "although they +did come over with Cromwell. I do not think that is any objection to a +son of our house marrying into theirs." + +Captain Davenant laughed. + +"No objection at all, on our side, mother. Any objection is likely to be +on the other side, not on the ground of family, but on that of property. +Claire Conyers is one of the richest heiresses in Ireland, while Walter's +inheritance can scarcely be termed extensive." + +Two months later, Captain Davenant received a letter from Mr. Conyers, +saying that he had arrived with his wife and daughter at Dublin on the +previous day, and should be glad to make his acquaintance, and that of +his son. + +"My wife," he said, "has informed me of certain love passages, which have +taken place between Claire and your son, and I shall be glad to talk to +you concerning them." + +Captain Davenant and Walter at once rode over to Dublin, the latter full +of delight, and yet with a considerable amount of trepidation as to the +interview between his father and Mr. Conyers. His mind was, however, +speedily put at rest, for upon entering, Mr. Conyers at once took him by +the hand, and said: + +"I am glad, indeed, of the opportunity of thanking you, in person, for +the inestimable service you rendered to my wife and daughter. I find, +from my wife, that Claire has discovered a means of repaying you for your +service, and as her happiness is, she tells me, dependent on my giving my +consent to the plan, I tell you at once that I do so, very heartily. I +think you had better wait for a while, say two or three years, but we +need not settle that at present. + +"Come here, Claire." + +He placed the girl's hand in Walter's. + +"Take her," he said, "and make her happy." + +The next day, Mr. Conyers, with his wife and daughter, accompanied +Captain Davenant and Walter back to Davenant Castle, where they stayed +for some days. + +The Whitefoots did not long remain neighbours of the Davenants. Old +Zephaniah had passed away, ere the peace was signed, and, soon after +Captain Davenant returned, Jabez called at the castle. + +"We are going away," he said. "John has made up his mind to become a +trader, in London, and Hannah and I would be lonely without him, and, +moreover, we are both weary of our life here, and have far more than +enough money laid by for our needs, and for giving John the means of +entering some well-established firm, when the time shall come. As to the +lands here, they are ours now; but the next turn of the wheel might give +them back to you. Besides, we do not wish to be troubled with their care. +I therefore intend to revert to the offer which you made me, when the +Parliament restored the land to you. I have received a good offer for our +house and farm, and this I have accepted. The rest of the estates I hand +back to you, from whom they were taken by the sword. My wife wishes this, +as well as myself. John is eager that it should be so. He will be glad +that his friend should be heir to the estates of his ancestors." + +"But we could not accept such a generous offer," Captain Davenant +exclaimed. "It is out of all reason." + +"That I know not, friend Davenant; but I know that I, and my wife and +John, have so made up our minds, and we are of a race not given to +change. The land would but be an incumbrance and a trouble to us. John +would far rather make his path in life, as he chooses it, than live upon +the rents of ill-gotten lands. You will receive your own again, and all +parties will be satisfied." + +Nothing could alter the resolution Jabez and his wife and son had taken, +and so the Davenant estates came back to their former possessors. + +Three years after the conclusion of peace, Walter became Claire Conyers' +husband, and in time succeeded to the wide estates of Mr. Conyers, as +well as those of the Davenants. Godfrey Davenant, on attaining the age of +eighteen, obtained, through Colonel L'Estrange's interest, a commission +in the English army, fought under Marlborough in the fierce campaign in +Flanders, and fell at the battle of Oudenarde. Happily, during the +lifetime of Walter and Claire Davenant, there was never any renewal of +trouble in Ireland, and they lived to see their children and +grandchildren grow up around them, in peace and happiness. + +John Whitefoot became, in time, one of the leading merchants of the city +of London, and spent the greater of the fortune he gained in trade in +works of charity and kindness. The friendship between him and Walter +Davenant remained unchanged to the end of their lives. They occasionally +paid each other visits, and, when a son of John Whitefoot married a +daughter of Walter Davenant, they felt that this was a fitting +termination of the old feud between the families. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORANGE AND GREEN*** + + +******* This file should be named 18356.txt or 18356.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/3/5/18356 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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