The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-05-22
CHAPTER XII.

At 6 O'Clock the night had closed in. 1t
was as black us ink Not a star had APP
peared, but a sharp southwest wind was
blowing, and the night might tighten
later on. In the cottage on the "brew"
bright turf fire was burning, and it filled
the kitchen with ruddy glow Little
Ruby was playing on shcepskin before
the hearth. Old Mrs Cregeen sat knitting
in an armchair at one side of the ingle.
Her grave face, always touching to look
at seemed more than ever drawn down
with lines of pain. Every few minutes she
stopped to listen for footsteps that did not
come or to gaze vacantly into the fire.
Mona was standing at a table cutting
slices of bread and butter At some mo-
ments her lips quivered with agitation,
but she held the knife with the steady
grasp of a mans hand Pale and quiet,
with courage and resolution on every fea-
ture, this was the woman for a great emer-
gency And her hour was at hand Heaven
grant that her fortitude may not desert
her tonight She needs it all
| A white face, with eyes full of fear,
looked in at the dark window 1t was Dan
by Faylc Come in, " said Mona, but he
could not come. He must speak with her
outside She went out to him. He was
Vmbling with excitement He told her
t.at Kerruish kinvig had returned and
! Brought with him the men from Castle
! Rushen, There were eight Of them. They
! had been across to the old castle and had
opened a vault in ST. Patrick's chapel
There they had found rolls of thread lace,
casks of wine and spirits and boxes of tea.
&c h1,A ho.S
one fact to communicate which made Mo
| mas excitement almost equal to his own.
/ In a single particular the arrangement
suggested by herself and agreed upon with
! Myrea, the magistrate, had been altered
| Instead of the whole eight men going over
/ to the castle, four only, with Kinyig as
| guide were to be stationed there. The
other four were to be placed on the hillside
above Bill Kisseck's house to watch it.
This change was an unexpected and al
! most fatal blow to a scheme which Mona
had all day been connecting for the relief
of the men on the Benny -chree from the
meshes in which she herself had imprisoned
them
Mona's anxiety was greatest now that
her hope seemed least. Rescue the men
Christian being one of them-she must,
God helping her. Like q sorceress whose
charm has worked only too fatally, Mona's
whole soul was engaged to break her own
deadly spell. She conceived a means of
escape, but she could not without help
bring her design to bear. Would this lad
help her? Danny She had seen the agony
of his despair wither up the last CLEAN of
sunshine on his poor, helpless face.
NInA M IL Vic Dc fn INn
with the men In the castleT
YES, said Danny.
"Is Mr.. Mylrea to be with the others
above your uncle's house?"
mo They wanted him, but he was to
old he was sayin, and went off to find
Christian and send him to be guide to
the strangers.
THAT is very good, said Mona, land
we can manage it yet Danny do you go
off to the castle-the tide is down. You
can ford it, can't your"
"If I'm quick It's on the turn"
go at once The men are not there
now, are theyY'
mo; they came across half an hour
ago"
Good. They'll return to the castle just
before g. Go you at this moment. Ford
1t, and they'll see no boat. Hide yourself
among the ruins-in the guardroom-in
the long passage-in the cell under the ca
thedral-in the sally port-among the
rocks ide-anywhere-and wait until
the Castle Rushen men arrive As soon as
they are landed and out Of sight, get you
down to where they have moored their
boat, Jump into it and pull away. That
| E,.o cf hn nv nd
prisoners on the Castle Rock until tomor-
row mornings ebb tide"
But where am to GO in the boatS"
asked Danny.
Mona came closer Isn't it true" she
whispered, THAT Kisseck and the rest Of
them go frequently to the creek that they
call the LockjawY"
How did you know it, Mona"
Never mind now, Danny. Do you pull
down to the Lockiaw, run ashore there
climb the brow above and wait.
Waltz Why Until when?"
Danny, from the head of the Lockjaw
You can see the light on the end of the pier
I've been there myself and know you can
Keep your eye fixed on that light
Yes, yes. Well, well?'
"The moment you see the light go down
on the pier-no matter when, no matter
what else has happened-do you that in
slant set fire to the gorSe about you. Fire
it here there, everywhere rs if it were the
night Of May day.
yes. What thcn?"
Then creep down TO the shore and wait
again. "
what will happen, Nrnss''
Kisspck and t-n men with him
will see your light over TIE Lockiaw and
guess that it is a signal o. danger II they
have half wit, they'll knew that il must be
meant for them. Then ,sov'u jump into
their boat and pull down g. YOU
when they come, wha. am to sayf'
SAY that The r0llcctrom Castle Rushen
are after them, t-at four are cut of in the
castle and four more are on the Horse hill