going up in the air, ye'd think it was a flight of crows, there'd be so many of them flying up together. From Beare-Haven to Bantry, and from Bantry to Cork, every man of them would be carried on our backs, if that would plase them better than walkin', and what the smallest cabin had to give them should be theirs-aye to the last potato in the house. But, masther dear, is there any chance at all of the like of that comin' to pass?'

'I cannot say no one can say,' returned his foster-brother; no doubt the Americans declare that their sympathies are all with Ireland, but what that means who can tell. However, we must hope for the best. James Stephens, as you know, has been lately in these quarters. He has stayed about Hungry Hill, I am told, for nearly six weeks together, and he gives good hopes of the future. But it will never do for men to rise who have anything to lose, unless there be some sure grounds of success. And we all have something to lose. Even you, my poor fellow, would be sorry to lose your head, perhaps, even still more, to lose me, your own foster-brother.'

'By all that's good, masther, but I'd rather lose my own head, and twenty heads more, if I

had them on my shoulders, than see a hair of your honour's head injured,' was the earnest reply of the true-hearted and affectionate Teague.

After one more long and steady look at the vast steamer, as, seemingly motionless, she yet rapidly passed by the Skelligs, and neared the rocks called the 'Cow, Bull, and Calf,' on her approach to St. George's Channel, the young men turned from their earnest gaze on the West, and faced north-east with rapid strides in hopes of reaching the Priest's Leap mountain before midnight.

CHAPTER II.

THE PHOENIX MEETING.

THE dusk of evening was now fast approaching, but as the sun set in the west, the moon rose gradually above the Roughty mountains in the east, and lighted the travellers on their way. Both of them, it has been stated, were able, active young men, well accustomed to mountain walking, and to find their way upon the hills. But the pace they had maintained scarcely admitted of conversation, and they walked on rapidly and in silence.

They soon found themselves directly over the lakes and valley of Cloonee. The waterfall of Glen Inchiquin was distinctly heard in the night air as it leaped down the rocky precipice, and after a long and severe walk in which they skirted the greater number of the three hundred and sixty-five lakes which are said to be found. on the tops of the Caha mountains-a lake for every day in the year,' as the people there

declare they found themselves looking down upon the vast valley of Bonane. They passed over the tunnel through which the road from Kenmare leads to the beautiful scenery of Glengariffe, and avoiding the main line in order to escape all chance of observation, they breasted the Esk mountain: after a few miles further walking they found themselves on the old road which passes over the Priest's Leap mountains to Bantry in the county of Cork, and immediately close to their destination.

Hold hard there, Teague,' whispered the leader of the two. 'We must now be near the place of appointment. We have not been idle. It is not yet midnight, and we have walked the last ten miles in less than three hours. Let us rest here awhile, in the shade of this rock near the road, and we shall soon see if the people from Cork come over as they promised to join the lads from Kenmare.'

"By the powers, your honour, they'll be smart chaps if they come as far as we did this blessed night in the time. But whisht, your honour, lie close! I think I hear the tramp of a body of men coming over the mountains; let us see if they are marchin' in order, or what they are about at all.'

Teague and his foster-brother accordingly lay close under the shadow of a stupendous rock above the road and only a few yards from it. From their position they could obtain a clear view of the steep pass both above and below the rock, whilst they themselves, hidden under its dark shadow, lay concealed, and could see by the light of the full moon all that went on upon the little platform beneath them.

They had not lain long when a body of men marching four abreast appeared over the summit of the hill. Their number appeared to be about two hundred. They marched in companies of about fifty men, and each company was under the command of an officer. The officers marched with their mea, sometimes encouraging and sometimes speaking sharply to individuals, according as they succeeded or failed in marching in accurate time. The officers were mostly farmers' sons, artisans, or shopkeepers' assistants; but all of them men who could read, write, and calculate, and make reports of their proceedings to those higher in authority than themselves. They wore no uniform, nor made any pretence to a military character in their costume, except that some