CHAPTER XII.

THE INVALID.

Numerous

THE period was now rapidly approaching when Teague's trial was to come on. arrests had been made, and a special commission had been issued to try all cases connected with the Phoenix conspiracy. Informers had not been wanting, and the Government were well prepared with their cases. But Teague had friends in the mountains of Cork and Kerry of whom the Government little knew. They had, indeed, some vague notion that James Stephens had been seen in the wilds of Hungry Hill, but they had been wholly unable to obtain any accurate information concerning the movements or whereabouts of that remarkable man.

The undying hate entertained by James Stephens to British rule in Ireland was well known to the authorities; and that he was then in Ireland, and working hard to foment a rebellion, they were equally well aware. He had

been wounded in the leg during Smith O'Brien's mad and futile rebellion, and had been assisted by some of his co-belligerents from the field. It was reported that he had died of his wound; at all events he was buried, and a well-informed authority states that the police were assured by a person who was there, that he had 'a very fine funeral!'1 Shortly after this burial he escaped to France in the disguise of a lady's maid, where he and other Irishmen who felt with him joined a political club, with a view of perfecting themselves in the mysteries of secret organisations in Paris. After some time Stephens returned to his native land, deeming matters were again ripening for a revolt; and if we may believe the same authority-and there is no reason to doubt it-he was known to have taught French for some time at a ladies' school in Killarney. He had acquired a good knowledge of that language during his residence in Paris, and being able to assume almost any disguise, he readily imposed himself upon those simple ladies. Not long after this we find him earning his bread as a tutor in a respectable family near Dublin. Again, however, his old propensities prevailed, and he wandered towards

1 Curtis's History of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

the south-west of Ireland, was seen and recognised in Kenmare by more than one of his former associates, and took up his quarters for a time in the wild regions of Hungry Hill, which forms the boundary of the mountains between Cork and Kerry.

It was perfectly well known in the country that James Stephens was there; but he managed his concealment so adroitly, that no one was able to trace him to his hiding place, and the police, misled by frequent false reports, at length almost gave up the pursuit. Stephens, it is needless to say, had heard of Teague's arrest; and immediately made enquiry into the circumstances. He soon found that he had been taken up on a false charge, that the informer on whose testimony he had been arrested was either misled himself, or had wilfully sworn falsely against him; and he resolved, if he could, to rescue him. Stephens, though a rank rebel as ever the soil of Ireland produced, and an intense hater of all English rule, was by no means, in other respects, a bad or cruel man. He was also extremely anxious to gain favour in that quarter, where there were many men of local influence, such as O'Sulevan, O'Dempsey, and others, who, though possessing strong anti

English feelings, had never openly declared themselves. His own position at this time was very critical. A high price had been set upon his capture; but his wonderful powers of personation and disguise had hitherto baffled all attempts to seize him. At one time he was reported to be in the county of Cork, near the waterfalls, high up upon the mountains and east of Hungry Hill. At another, he was traced to the hamlet of Adrigole, and was known to be living in disguise close to the police-barrack and coast-guard station, and not far from Adrigole parsonage. Again he shifted his quarters, and crossing the Clashduff river, which rises on the Caha mountains, he passed eastward towards Glengariffe, and taking the dress of a cowherd. near the hilly region of Barley Lough, he wandered amongst the woods of Glengariffe, and insinuating himself amongst the peasants of that locality, he sowed those seeds of disaffection which he hoped would yet ripen and bear fruit should foreign ships ever anchor in Bantry Bay.

But his favourite place of concealment was at the Kerry side of the Caha mountains, in the deep valley of Glenmore, and in the fairy region of Coomeengira. Few of the peasants knew

that it was indeed James Stephens who was amongst them. Had they done so, they might have been more cautious in listening to him. But his disguises were so numerous, that scarcely any of them were aware that the several preachers of sedition which appeared amongst them, each with a fresh story and fresh reasons why they should rise and resist the English yoke, were in reality one and the same man.

Deep in the midst of the valley of Glenmore lies the dark lake of that name. And less than half way across the lake rises a small rocky island, locally called Illaunatee. On this island may still be seen the walls of a former cottage, which had been built by a gentleman of celebrity at the other side of the bay as a fishing and shooting lodge. This cabin, for it was little more, consisting only of two small rooms, was afterwards occupied by a well-known naval captain, who, having got into difficulties in consequence of becoming security to a friend for debt which he was either unable or unwilling to pay, had taken up his quarters there, and having armed himself against the officers of the law, and arranged scouts who should give him warning if any strangers were seen to approach, he had defied his enemies and baffled them for