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sures, and each fought for nothing but life. Henry was beaten to the ground by a trooper, who the same instant was perforated by a pike; another horseman cut down the rebel, and the dying wretch falling heavily upon O'Hara, who was struggling to rise, brought him a second time to the earth. The trooper perceiving that he was not disabled, raised his sabre to dispatch him-it fell-but not in wrath-for springing from his horse ere he could pronounce his name, William Thornton raised him from the ground, and placing the bridle in his hand, desired him to ride for life. Mahony, who still fought by his side, called on him to save himself, and one glance told that all was over. His brave followers were now a crowd of scattered fugitives, and cries for mercy had succeeded to the din of the "melée." He vaulted to the saddle-several shots were discharged at him, and one having slightly wounded his horse, rendered the animal ungovernable; with two or three desperate bounds, he cleared through the soldiery who surrounded him, and leaping the high fence, bore his new rider swiftly from the field.

VOL. II.

The rebel chief threw his eyes aroundit was a dreadful scene-the country for the distance of a mile was covered with wretches endeavouring to escape. The horsemen were overtaking the runaways, and when they did, no quarter was given. He turned into the fields to the right, and his horse being a trained hunter, found no difficulty in passing over the country rapidly, leaving his pursuers far behind. In leaping a quickset hedge, he nearly alighted on a man endeavouring to conceal himself in the dyke-it was the unfortunate Munro; and Henry with difficulty checked his career, to inquire if he could render him any service? "None," was the reply; "but to pass on, and leave me to my fate."

There was no time for farther parley.O'Hara pressed up the opposite hill, and when he gained the summit, on looking back to see if he was still pursued, he perceived that two mounted yeomen had discovered the ill-starred commander, and, having bound his arms with a sash, led him off a prisoner.

CHAPTER XIII.

But who, o'er bush, o'er stream, and rock,
Rides headlong with resistless speed;
Whose bloody spur with frantic stroke
Drives to the leap his jaded steed?

Whose cheek is pale, whose eye-balls glare,
As one some visioned sight that saw ;
Whose hands are bloody, loose his hair?

"Tis he! 'tis he!

Scott.

THE horse O'Hara rode carried him gallantly. The noise and tumult of the fray had long since ceased to be heard, and a straggling fugitive seen occasionally climbing the distant hills was the only circumstance which recalled the morn ing's conflict to the wanderer. The scene around was one of fearful quietude-no peasant laboured in the fields-the rich harvest, mellowing fast into ripeness, seemed abandoned by man-and the cattle, neglected by their owners, strayed loosely through the corn, or wandered on the roads. A perfect knowledge

of the country enabled the rebel chief to free himself from the enclosures which would have embarrassed a stranger, and in an incredibly short space of time, he gained the summit of a hill from which Castle Carra and the adjacent district was visible.

Springing from his saddle, he stopped to breathe his horse, and reflect where he should seek a shelter. His home, a His home, a heap of ruins, lay beneath him; its black walls mournfully contrasting with the gay foliage of the surrounding forest-trees. Should he bend his course thither, and would his own domain afford even temporary shelter to its fugitive lord? While he looked sadly towards his desolated home, a few white spots arrested his attention, and his keen eye caught the glitter of military appointments as they flashed in the sunshine. O'Hara at once conjectured that the place was occupied by the soldiery, whose tents were just discernible when the strong glare of light fell on the spot where they were erected. To return to Castle Carra was now too perilous to be attempted, and to retire was equally unsafe, for the military were loosely scattered

over the country in pursuit of routed insurgents. The thick woods of Belvue offered a reasonable hope of security, and aware that not a moment was to be lost, he mounted his horse, and rode rapidly towards the park of his hated

enemy.

The sun was high in the Heavens. Not a breeze cooled the burning atmosphere, and oppressed by the excessive heat, the gallant animal breathed with increasing difficulty:-the rider was equally distressed-the dust rose around him in suffocating eddies, and thirst, producing fever and head-ache, completed O'Hara's sufferings.

In great exhaustion, at last he gained the woods of Belvue. He unsaddled his weary horse, and turned him loose to prevent discovery. Hitherto his escape had been wonderfully successful, for though in the immediate neighbourhood of his enemies, nothing had impeded his flight. Could he but remain undisturbed till night, he had little doubt that he should easily reach the mountains, and among his own tenantry be able to effect concealment for a time. He looked around to select a place

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