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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ridgeway, by Scian Dubh
+
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+Title: Ridgeway
+       An Historical Romance of the Fenian Invasion of Canada
+
+Author: Scian Dubh
+
+Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9476]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on October 4, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIDGEWAY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Beth Trapaga and PG Distributed
+Proofreaders. This file was produced from images generously made
+available by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions.
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: The nonstandard spellings of the original have been
+retained in this etext.]
+
+RIDGEWAY.
+
+
+AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE
+
+OF THE
+
+FENIAN INVASION OF CANADA
+
+
+By SCIAN DUBH.
+
+
+"_On our side is virtue and Erin; On theirs' is the Saxon and
+guilt_."--MOORE.
+
+
+1868.
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+In the dark, English crucible of seven hundred years of famine, fire
+and sword, the children of Ireland have been tested to an intensity
+unknown to the annals of any other people. From the days of the
+second Henry down to those of the last of the Georges, every device
+that human ingenuity could encompass or the most diabolical spirit
+entertain, was brought to bear upon them, not only with a view to
+insuring their speedy degradation, but with the further design of
+accomplishing ultimately the utter extinction of their race. Yet
+notwithstanding that confiscation, exile and death, have been their
+bitter portion for ages--notwithstanding that their altars, their
+literature and their flag have been trampled in the dust, beneath the
+iron heel of the invader, the pure, crimson ore of their nationality
+and patriotism still flashes and scintillates before the world; while
+the fierce heart of "Brien of the Cow Tax," bounding in each and
+every of them as of yore, yearns for yet another Clontarf, when
+hoarse with the pent-up vengeance of centuries, they shall burst like
+unlaired tigers upon their ancient, and implacable enemy, and, with
+one, long, wild cry, hurl her bloody and broken from their shores
+forever.
+
+Had England been simply actuated by a chivalrous spirit of conquest,
+alone, or moved by a desire to blend the sister islands into one
+harmonious whole, even then her descent upon Ireland could not be
+justified in any degree whatever. Ireland had been her _Alma Mater_.
+According to the venerable Bode and others, her noble and second rank
+flocked thither in the seventh century, where they were "hospitably
+received and educated, and furnished with books _without fee or
+reward_." Even at the present moment, the Irish or Celtic tongue is
+the only key to her remote antiquities and ancient nomenclature. The
+distinguished Lhuyd, in his Archaelogia Britannica, and the
+celebrated Leibnitz himself, place this latter beyond any possible
+shadow of doubt. Scarcely a ruined fane or classic pile of any remote
+date within her borders but is identified with the name of some
+eminent Irish missionary long since passed away. What would Oxford
+have been without Joannes Erigena, or Cambridge, deprived of the
+celebrated Irish monk that stood by the first stone laid in its
+foundation? The fact is every impartial writer, from the "father of
+English history" down to the present day, admits, that in the early
+ages, when darkness brooded over the surrounding nations, Ireland,
+learned, philanthropic and chivalrous, blazed a very conflagration on
+the ocean, and stretched forth her jewelled and generous hand to
+poor, benighted England, and fostered, in addition, the intellectual
+infancy of Germany, France and Switzerland, as well as the early
+civilization of regions more remote still. Then it was that the milk
+and honey of her ancient tongue and lore flowed out from her in
+rivers to wash the stains from the soul and brow of the stolid and
+unintellectual Saxon. Then it was, that her very zone gave way in her
+eagerness to pluck his Pagan life from gloom, and wed her day unto
+his night. But what of all this now?--The sin that is "worse than
+witchcraft" is upon him! His hands are stained with innocent blood!
+He has spurned his benefactress with the foot of Nero, "removed her
+candlestick", and left her in hunger, cold and darkness upon her own
+hearthstone.
+
+Had not Ireland, at the time of the invasion, been cut up through the
+fierce pride and petty jealousies of her rulers, the English could
+never have effected a permanent footing upon her shores. Contemptible
+in numbers, shipping and appointments, the concentrated opposition of
+even a few petty chiefs could have scattered them to the winds, or
+sent them "howling to their gods". But, wanting in that homogeneity
+without which a nation must always remain powerless, the invasion of
+the territory of one individual ruler was often regarded as a matter
+of no very grave importance to those who were not his immediate
+subjects; so that from this cause, as well as from, the unhappy
+dissentions which harrassed the country at the period, the new colony
+found the means of establishing themselves upon the eastern borders
+of the island, and of possessing themselves of some of the walled
+towns, which they subsequently turned to such good account in
+fortifying themselves against surprise and baffling the pursuit of
+the natives, when worsted in the open field.
+
+Whether the subtle influences of a common nationality moved Pope Adrian
+the Fourth--who was an Englishman named Nicholas Breakspear,--to issue
+the famous Bull granting Ireland to his fellow countryman, Henry the
+Second of England, or whether, as it has been alleged, no such Bull was
+ever issued, and that the one still extant is a forgery, it matters but
+little now. The Pope's claims extended to the spiritual jurisdiction of
+Ireland only; and even had he granted the Bull in question, and assumed
+the right of conveying the whole island to the English king, the
+transfer was obtained under false pretenses for, from the very wording
+of the document itself, it is palpable that Henry led the Sovereign
+Pontiff, to believe that Ireland was sunk in the grossest ignorance and
+superstition, and that, in making a descent upon it, he had only the
+glory and honor of the Church in view. So terrible a distortion of the
+facts of the case on his part, necessarily rendered all action based
+upon his statement morally invalid at least; and thus it is, that even
+those who have confidence in the genuineness of this Bull, regard it as
+utterly worthless, and at not all admissable into any pleadings which
+ingenious English politicians may choose to advance on the subject.
+
+So inveterate the hostility that manifested itself on the part of the
+Irish towards the invader from the moment that his foul and sacrilegious
+foot first desecrated their soil, a reign of terror was at once
+inaugurated in the vicinage of his camp or stronghold, by those
+chieftains with whom he came into more immediate contact, and upon whose
+territories he more directly impinged. In the track of both peoples,
+"death follows like a squire." Neither truce nor oath was kept by the
+English; while their fiery adversaries, necessarily stung to frenzy at
+the presence of yet another invader in their midst, made sudden
+reprisals in a manner so unexpected and daring, that the laws of the
+hour like those of Draco, were literally written in blood. While the
+dash and chivalry of the Irish prevented them from adopting the stealthy
+dagger of the assassin, and prompted them rather, to bold and open deeds
+of death, the enactments of "The Pale" as the English patch or district
+was termed, were absolutely of a character the most demonical. According
+to their provisions, the murder of an Irish man or woman was no offence
+whatever; while the slaughter of a native who had made submission to the
+Pale, was visited with a slight fine only--not for the crime _per se_,
+but for the murderer's having deprived the king of a servant. From this
+it can be easily perceived, that a cowardly system of warfare obtained
+on the part of the English, which, were it not for the quick eye and
+fierce agility of the inhabitants, would soon have resulted in their
+total annihilation.
+
+This foul and dastardly system of assassination was but simply a
+leading expression of the bastard nationality of the invader. Not
+one, single drop of proud, pure blood coursed through his veins. His
+degraded country had been in turn the mistress of the Roman, the
+Saxon, the Dane and the Norman, and he was the hybrid offspring of
+her incontinence. Consequently, he had neither a history nor a past
+of his own, calculated to prompt even one exalted aspiration. He was
+a mongrel of the most inveterate character, and was therefore, and
+inevitably, treacherous, cowardly; and cunning. Not so the brave sons
+of the land he so ardently coveted. Ere the mighty gnomon of "The
+Great Pyramid" had thrown its gigantic shadow o'er the red dial of
+the desert, they had filled the long gallery of a glorious past with
+an array of portraits, the most superb presented by antiquity. Before
+the Vocal Memnon poured forth his hidden melody at sunrise, or "The
+City of a Hundred Gates" had sent forth her chariots to battle, they
+had a local habitation and a name, and had stamped their impress
+upon many a shore. No people in existence, to-day, can look back to
+an origin more remote or clearly traceable through a countless lapse
+of ages than the Irish: and hence it was, that at the period of the
+Anglo-Norman descent upon their borders, the chivalry of a stupendous
+past was upon them: and having its traditions and its glories to
+maintain and emulate, and being, besides, inspired by the pure and
+unadulterated crimson tide that had flowed in one uninterrupted
+stream through their fiery veins for the space of two thousand years
+previously, they shrank from the treacherous and dastardly system of
+assassination introduced by the ignoble and cowardly Saxon, and
+struck only to the dread music of their own war cry.
+
+Still, although in detail hostile to the invader, no great, united
+effort appears to have been made to rout him out root and branch,
+until he had become so powerful as to make any attack upon him a
+matter of the most serious moment, and had, in addition, enlarged
+his borders through sundry reinforcements from his own shores. The
+few more purely Norman leaders that were inspired with some desire
+at least for a more honorable mode of warfare, were utterly powerless
+among the overwhelming throng of their followers who had been long
+brutalized on the other side of the channel. In this connection
+the proud, revengeful and chivalrous natives were had at a sad
+disadvantage; for then, as to-day, they were characterized by a spirit
+of knight-errantry, which disdained to take an enemy unawares.
+
+As an evidence that Henry had the spiritual welfare only of the people
+of Ireland at heart, and that the building up of the Church there was
+his sole object, no sooner did he land in that country, than he
+parcelled out the entire island among ten Englishmen--Earl Strongbow,
+Robert Fitzstephens, Miles de Cogan, Philip Bruce, Sir Hugh de Lacy, Sir
+John de Courcy, William Burk Fitz Andelm, Sir Thomas de Clare, Otho de
+Grandison and Robert le Poer. At one sweep, in so far as a royal grant
+could go, he confiscated every foot of land from Cape Clear to the
+Giant's Causeway, denied the right of the inhabitants to a single square
+yard of their native soil, and made the whole country a present to the
+persons just named. Perhaps history does not record another such
+outrageous and infamous act, and one so antagonistic to every principle
+of right and justice. Had there been a preceding series of expensive and
+bloody wars between both countries, in which Ireland, after years of
+fruitless resistance, fell at last beneath the yoke of the conqueror, it
+could be readily understood, that the victor would seek to indemnify
+himself for his losses, on terms the most exacting and relentless if
+you will; but in the case under consideration, no animosity existed
+between the two nations until the ruler of one, without even a shadow
+of provocation on the part of the inhabitants of the other, made a
+deliberate descent upon them, and ignoring the benefits conferred
+gratuitously by them, previously, on his own ungrateful land, subjected
+them to every barbarity and wrong known to the history of crime.
+
+For upwards of four hundred years of the English occupation--that is,
+from the landing of Strongbow down to the period of James the First,
+there was no legal redress for the plunder or murder of an Irishman,
+by any of the invaders, or for the violation of his wife or daughter.
+The laws of the Pale, enacted under the sanction of the King and the
+people of England, subsidized, in effect, a horde of ruthless
+assassins and robbers, with a view to striking terror to the hearts
+of the natives, and driving them into a recognition of the right of
+the usurper to rule over them, and dispose as he saw fit of their
+property and persons. This right, however, was never conceded in even
+the most remote degree; for, notwithstanding that the colony of
+foreign spears and battle-axes waxed stronger daily, the Irish
+element, disunited though it was, fought it constantly. True, that an
+occasional lull characterized the tempest as it swept and eddied
+through each successive generation; but never did Ireland assume the
+yoke of the oppressor voluntarily, or bow, for even a single moment,
+in meek submission to his unauthorized sway.
+
+It would require volumes to recount a tithe of the frightful atrocities
+practiced by the invaders upon the rightful and unoffending owners of
+the soil during the long period just referred to, and especially towards
+its close, when that lewd monster, Elizabeth, disgraced her sex and the
+age. No language can describe adequately the various diabolical modes of
+extermination practiced against all those who refused to bow the knee
+and kiss the English rod. No code of laws ever enacted in even the most
+barbarous age of the world, could compare in fiendish cruelty with the
+early penal enactments of the Pale--so forcibly supplemented in after
+years by the perjured "Dutch boor" and the inhuman Georges. The foul
+fiend himself could not have devised laws more diabolical in their
+character or destructive in their application. So close were their
+meshes and sweeping their folds, that the possibility of escape was
+obviously out of the question; as their victim was met and entangled at
+every turn, until at last the fatal blow descended, and the unequal
+contest was ended. But more infamous and unjustifiable still, when "the
+foul invader" found himself occasionally unable to cope successfully
+with his brave and chivalrous antagonists, he had recourse to a darker
+and deeper treachery than even that which characterized the stealthy and
+unexpected stroke of his midnight dagger. He adopted the guise of
+friendship; and professing to forget the past, lured into his power with
+festive blandishments the chiefs of many a noble following, whom he
+dared not meet in open fight, but who, at a given signal, and while the
+brimming goblet circled through the feast, were suddenly set upon and
+foully murdered ere they could draw a dagger or leap to their feet. In
+corroboration of this assertion, we have only to refer to Mullaghmast,
+where a deed of this description was perpetrated; and of a character so
+cruel and dastardly, that the names of those concerned in the inhuman
+plot are now desecrated by every individual raised above the brute, or
+inspired with the hope of heaven.
+
+Nor was there any mode of propitiating the satanic spirit which seemed
+to actuate the English against their opponents, from the first moment
+that they set their foot upon Irish soil; for, when, in the lapse of
+years, a portion of the inhabitants in the vicinity of the Pale,
+professed their readiness to conform to the manners, laws and customs
+of the invader, their overtures were rejected, and they were still held
+at the point of the sword, as "the Irish enemy," and denied the
+protection of the laws that they were ready to obey. In short, every
+move of the English, established beyond any possibility of doubt, that
+their sole object was the utter and complete extirpation of the
+natives, and the subsequent establishment upon their conquered shores
+of a dynasty from which every drop of pure, Celtic blood should be
+excluded forever.
+
+But that day never arrived, and with God's help never shall. However
+she might have suffered or failed through an occasional traitor,
+Ireland, as a whole, fought against English usurpation from the moment
+that she became aware of its ultimate aims, and felt its growing power
+within her borders. There was, besides, in the two races, those
+opposites of character--those natural antagonisms which repelled each
+other with a force and vehemence not to be neutralized or unified by
+any process within the reach of even the most humane or astute ruler.
+They were too different peoples, with habits of thought, moral
+perceptions, and ideas of chivalry at total variance with each other as
+entertained by them individually. The great bulk of the English colony
+was composed of unprincipled freebooters and degraded Saxon serfs; the
+Conqueror having, a century previously, turned the masses of the
+English into swine-herds, banished their language from court, and
+reduced them to a condition of the most abject slavery. Hence their
+stolid brutality, the low plane of their intelligence, and their
+systematic murders. But, how different the condition of the Irish in
+this respect. Far ages previous, both learning, refinement, and the
+chivalrous use of arms, pervaded their shores. Evidences of the truth
+of this assertion lie scattered around us in every direction. Girald
+Barry--the English Cambrensis, William Camden, Archbishop Usher,
+Vallancey, Lord Lyttleton, and a host of others, all bear witness to
+the profound learning and noble chivalry of the Irish from the earliest
+periods; while the various educational institutions throughout the
+continent, founded shortly after the introduction of Christianity into
+Ireland, establish, upon a basis the most immovable, the truth of an
+assertion made by one of the authors just mentioned, namely, that "most
+of the lights that illumined those times of thick darkness proceeded
+out of Ireland". As may be presumed, then, a people so refined and
+chivalrous--so sensitive to all that was noble and elevated--a people
+who, as in the case of Alfred, had educated the very kings of the
+invaders, as well as plucked their subjects from Paganism, were
+averse to meeting the usurper on his own plane of warfare, and that
+consequently, the very pride and dignity of their arms walled in, as
+it were, the tyrant from any of those cold-blooded and dastardly
+atrocities which so disfigured his own career.
+
+Notwithstanding that, after four hundred and twenty years of outlawry
+the most cruel and unrelenting, the Irish were, (12th James I. 1614.)
+at last, admitted within the pale of English law, and recognized
+nominally as subjects at least, so long had they been subjected to the
+grinding heel of oppression, and the baneful influences of continuous
+warfare, and so long, also, had the usurper been accustomed to treat
+them as enemies, that this recognition of their claims upon humanity
+availed them but very little. Under the new regime, their freedom was
+merely technical only; for now the terrible ban of the Reformation,
+intensified by the cruel spirit evinced throughout the whole of
+Elizabeth's infamous reign, was upon them, and their persecution, which
+had so long been regarded as a matter of course, experienced but little
+diminution through the attempted toleration of her weak and pedantic
+successor. Still, frightful and unprecedented as was the ordeal through
+which they had passed, they preserved their nationality, and clung to
+their traditions, hoping one day to rid themselves of their oppressors,
+as they had already done in the case of the Danes; and in this way has
+the case stood between both parties up to the present hour.
+
+Although long previous to the Reformation, the atrocities practiced
+upon Catholic Ireland by Catholic England were of a character the most
+revolting, and although the murderous hand of the invader was never
+stayed by the knowledge or conviction, that both parties professed a
+common creed and knelt at a common altar, yet the intensity of the
+sufferings of the Irish, or what may be termed their studious, refined,
+and systematic persecution, began with the _civilisation_ of Elizabeth.
+The new creed of the three preceding reigns had not, up to that period,
+acquired sufficient strength to exert its deadliest influence against
+the ancient faith of the people, or to be introduced as a new agency of
+oppression in the case of Ireland; but now, no sooner had the "Virgin
+Queen" ascended the throne, than the heart of the tigress leaped within
+her; and, breaking loose from every restraint, human and divine, she at
+once pounced upon the unfortunate Irish, and sought to bury her
+merciless fangs, with one deadly and final crash, in their already
+bleeding and lacerated vitals. The coarse, cruel fibre of an apostate
+and libertine father, and the impure blood of a lewd mother, had done
+their work in her case. From the first to the last moment of her reign,
+she combined the courtesan with the assassin. She was the murderer of
+Essex, said to have been her own son and paramour; and was, at the same
+time, the mistress of more than one noble besides Leicester. According
+to her own countryman, Cobbett, she spilled more blood during her
+occupancy of the throne, than any other single agency in the world for
+a commensurate period; while her treatment of Ireland, under the
+"humane guidance" and advice of such cruel wretches as Spenser, was
+neither more nor less than absolutely satanic. For fifteen long years
+she never ceased to subject that unhappy land to famine, fire and
+sword. Every device that her hellish nature or that of her agents could
+concoct for the total extirpation of the people, was put into the most
+relentless requisition by her. Under the guise of the most sincere
+friendship, her deputies, times without number, betrayed many of the
+leaders of the Irish into accepting their hospitality, and then foully
+set upon them and murdered them while they sat unsuspecting guests at
+their festive board. And yet, notwithstanding her penal laws, her
+blood-thirsty soldiery, and all her revolting persecutions, the Irish
+were more than a match for her in the open field, and ultimately
+embittered the closing years of her life. From the first moment of the
+invasion, the O'Neills--Kings and Princes of Aileach, Kings of Ulster
+and Princes of Tir-Eogain--as well as other chiefs and leaders, fought
+the Pale incessantly: and now, after a lapse of nearly four hundred
+years, again evinced to the world, that Ireland was still unconquered,
+and regarded England as a tyrant and usurper. And yet the opposition of
+those chiefs and rulers to the hirelings and paid assassins of this
+infamous woman and her corrupt associates, was of a character the most
+chivalrous. Unaccustomed to cowardly deeds of blood, these proud
+warriors preferred to meet the enemy face to face, and decide the
+issues of the hour in fair, open fight. They could not entertain the
+Saxon idea of disposing of an adversary by the stealthy knife of the
+professional murderer; and hence it was that their pride and chivalry
+had ever been taken advantage of: the invaders being convinced that no
+reprisals of a character sufficiently dastardly or atrocious to meet
+their own depredations, would be indulged in by their chivalrous
+opponents. In evidence of the spirit that actuated both parting
+individually in this connection, we may refer to the massacre of
+Mullaghmast, on the one hand, where the English, under professions of
+the purest friendship, lured many of the Irish chiefs and nobles to a
+conference or council, and then suddenly pouncing on them, murdered
+every, single soul of them in cold blood; while, on the other hand, we
+may contrast with this cowardly act--which is but one of a series of
+the same sort--the noble and generous conduct of Tir-Oen, at the battle
+of the Yellow Ford, in 1598, where, after defeating the Queen's troops
+with terrible slaughter, taking all their artillery and baggage, as
+well as twelve thousand pieces of gold, the remainder of the shattered
+army was totally at his mercy, when he might have put every soul that
+composed it to death. Unlike the cowardly invader, the field once won,
+he sheathed his sword, and ordered the remnant of the enemy to be
+spared, as they were unable to fight longer, and commanded that they
+should be conducted in safety to the Pale. In these two instances we
+have a thorough insight into the character of the invader and the
+invaded: so that not another word need be said upon this part of the
+subject.
+
+And in this manner have the O'Neills and the Irish fought the English
+up to the present hour. Circumstances have, we know, from time to
+time, caused a lull in the tempest of arms, but the moment
+opportunity served the smouldering fires burst forth anew. Not a
+single day of pure and happy sunshine has ever obtained between
+England and Ireland, since the flag of the former first flew over the
+latter. Throughout every single hour of seven hundred long years,
+Ireland has been secretly plotting or openly fighting against
+England. Not one solitary reign, from Henry II down to Victoria I,
+but has been marked with Irish dissatisfaction of English rule.
+Either in the aggregate or in detail, the Irish people have,
+throughout that long period, been constantly asserting their right to
+independence, and their unalterable antipathy to the presence of a
+foreign power upon their shores. And the same spirit that fought the
+Henrys, Elizabeth, William and the Georges, is alive still, and
+lighting their descendants to-day; 1688, 1798, 1848, and 1868 are all
+episodes of the same history; and the volume now must soon be closed.
+Humanity and civilisation, common justice and the laws of nations,
+demand that a people who have battled against tyranny and usurpation
+for seven successive centuries, and who have still preserved intact
+their identity, their traditions and their altars, shall be no longer
+subjected to the brute force and infamous exactions of a freebooter
+who has so long played false to every principle of honor, and who has
+been the highwayman of powers and principalities for countless
+generations.
+
+The record of England in relation to Ireland, is one of the most
+atrocious known to the history of mankind. It is fraught with the
+blackest ingratitude, the vilest injustice, and the direst
+oppression. Notwithstanding that Ireland first gave her an alphabet,
+and taught her how to spell her name--notwithstanding that Irish
+missionaries had nurtured her early educational institutions and
+reclaimed her from Paganism, she misrepresented their religion and
+their learning in high places, stole in upon them while they slept,
+and turning upon them like the frozen snake in the fable, robbed them
+of their independence, and loaded them with chains. Every year of her
+accursed dominion upon their shores has been marked with some new and
+overwhelming oppression. She has spit upon their creed, broken their
+altars, hunted them down with blood-hounds, robbed them of their
+estates, exiled them penniless to foreign shores, banned their
+language, murdered their offspring, destroyed their trade and
+commerce, ruined their manufactures, plundered their exchequer,
+robbed them of their flag, deprived them of their civil rights, and
+left them, houseless wanderers, a prey to hunger, cold and rags, upon
+their own soil. Of all this she stands convicted before the world;
+and for all this she must alone, so sure as there is a God above her.
+Ireland still lives, and so do her wrongs. The O'Neills and thousands
+of brave scions of the past, are still with her, while the rank and
+file of her sons are as bitterly opposed to English usurpation to-day
+as they were seven hundred years ago. Besides, at the present hour,
+the approaches to their final triumph are made luminous with the
+generous countenance of free America, and the glorious conviction
+that heaven bends benignly over them; and thus it is that they now
+stand shoulder to shoulder in eager anticipation of the coming hour,
+when their banners shall yet once more be flung to the winds, as,
+with a cry that rends the very earth, they dash down upon their
+deadly and relentless foe, and smite her hip and thigh as of yore;
+dealing her the last fatal blow that forever seals her infamous doom.
+
+In the order of Providence, a great corrective, or reactionary
+principle, attends the misdoings of nations, that, sooner or later,
+exerts itself in restoring the equilibrium of justice, and avenging
+the infringement of any of those laws, human or divine, constituted
+for the welfare and guidance of our race. Whether on the part of
+governments or individuals, no act of palpable cruelty or barbarity,
+has ever escaped the censure and reprobation of all good and true
+peoples since the world became civilized; so that in this connection,
+the oppressed or injured party has always had the countenance and
+sympathy of humanity, at least. True, that an effective expression of
+this sympathy may have often been chilled or embarrassed in
+individual cases by political considerations or unworthy interests;
+but then the tendency to illustrate it was there, and in this sense
+alone, it has often exerted a benign influence. Hungary, Greece,
+Poland, &c., have all, in turn, had the sympathy of mankind; and so
+have had the oppressed colonies and people of Great Britain. The
+cruel treatment, treachery and fraud practiced in the name of justice
+and religion upon the Sepoys of India, by England, have awakened the
+deepest commiseration in the bosom of all good and true governments,
+and aroused, at the same time, the strongest indignation even on the
+part of nations not over-scrupulous of chains themselves. In like
+manner, the condition of Ireland has, from time to time, commanded
+the attention of the world; and, through the cruel expatriation of
+her children, made itself felt more widely perhaps than that of any
+other nation. When England perjured herself for the hundredth time,
+and violated the Treaty of Limerick, she exiled to France a host of
+our countrymen, who afterwards met her at Fontenoy, as the Irish
+Brigade, and trailed her bloody and broken in the dust. The wrongs of
+the past were with them. The cruelties of the Henrys, the murders of
+Elizabeth, the confiscations of Cromwell, and the perfidy of William,
+so nerved their arm at the period, that their charge upon the English
+is mentioned as one of the most memorable and destructive on record.
+But if they had more than sufficient grounds for dealing a death blow
+to the power of the tyrant then, how must this debt of vengeance have
+accumulated since; when, to the wrongs already enumerated are to be
+added the atrocities of the Georges, as well as those of their worthy
+descendant--that traitress to humanity, whose hands have been just
+imbrued in the innocent blood of Allen, O'Brien and Larkin, and who
+now holds in thrall, within the gloom of her noisome dungeons, some
+of the noblest spirits that have ever breathed the vital air in this
+or any age of the world? How, we say, must this debt of vengeance
+have been heaped up since; and may we not, under its terrible
+pressure, the next time that we have a fair opportunity of meeting
+the enemy face to face, anticipate a repetition of that glorious
+charge in every individual descent we make upon her ranks, until we
+shall have ground her into pulp, and avenged the blood of our
+martyrs, which has for ages been crying aloud from the ground, "how
+long, Oh! Lord?"
+
+We have said that the misdoings of nations are, in the order of
+Providence, attended with a corrective or reactionary principle,
+which, sooner or later, exerts itself in restoring the equilibrium of
+justice; and in no case has this been made more apparent than in that
+of Ireland. When under the frightful pressure of famine, murder and
+robbery, her children fled her shores, and sought refuge in the open
+arms of free America, the tyrant who had caused their exile, never
+fancied, for a moment, that she was laying the foundation stone of
+her own ultimate destruction, and gradually forming an Irish Brigade
+on this continent, which should, one day, with a terrible rebound,
+repay all the cruelties and wrongs to which she had subjected them
+from generation to generation. She little fancied, that in each
+individual Irishman that she had driven from his native shores to
+seek an asylum beyond the seas, she had sent forth an agent of her
+own destruction, that would colonize, in common with his exiled
+brethren, the whole world with a sense of her infamy, and build up,
+on this free continent, an opposition so tremendous to her interests
+in every connection, that it should command the attention of every
+civilized people under the sun, and shake her institutions and
+existence to their very centre. As is invariable in such cases, she
+administered the antidote with the poison; and transformed the
+victims of her wrongs and cruelties into enemies and soldiers; and
+now that, in the aggregate, they assume the proportions of a powerful
+and antagonistic nation outside her borders, they only await the hour
+when they shall descend upon her to the hoarse music of their ancient
+war cry, and, on the banks of the Shannon, and by the Blackwater,
+smite her hip and thigh, as of old; but this time without generously
+escorting her broken and disabled ranks to the borders of the Pale,
+or permitting them, in the hour of defeat, to recruit their exhausted
+forces, so that the fight may become more equal.
+
+From the landing of Strongbow, in 1171, at Port Largi, then on
+subsequently called also the Harbor of the Sun, near Waterford, down
+to the sacking and burning of Magdala, the capital of King Theodoras,
+in the present year of grace 1808, the history of English rule and
+conquests has been one of bloodshed, perjury and crime. Look where
+you may, and you encounter continuous atrocities similar to the
+massacres of Elizabeth and Cromwell, or the blowing of the Sepoys of
+India from the mouth of the cannon of the invader. Well may the
+ensign of England wear an encrimsoned hue; for, from time immemorial,
+it has been stooped in the blood of the nations: and that too,
+without her people having ever fought a proud or decisive battle
+single-handed. Her fame, in this connection, rests solely upon the
+influence of her gold and the power of foreign bayonets. Scotland and
+Ireland have been the main stay of her armies; her native element,
+_per se_, affecting their composition in but a secondary degree. The
+muster rolls of the Peninsula, and the supplementary field of Waterloo,
+have attested this assertion to the fullest. The fact is, her laurels,
+for the most part, have been gathered by Irish hands. Taking advantage
+of the proud daring and chivalry of our people, in connection with the
+poverty and oppression which she had wrought among them, she shook her
+gold in their half-starved faces, as she does to-day, and lured them
+into her service whenever she had a point to attain in the field.
+Through this channel, and through it alone, the fame of her arms became
+established; the true aspirations of her own sons seldom exceeding the
+exalted limits of a bread riot, or the sudden exploits incident to some
+poaching expedition. As a general thing, the English are traders and
+diplomats, rather than soldiers. Their character for bravery has been
+won through the lavish use of their subsidizing gold, rather than
+through any innate warlike propensities on their part. They have never
+fought for a myth, or an abstract, chivalrous idea; but always for some
+bread and beef object, however apparently unconnected with the project
+said to be had in view. In the exemplification of their Christian
+missionary spirit, too, this feature of their character is abundantly
+set forth. Wherever they have succeeded in introducing the Gospel
+among the heathen, they have subsequently inserted the wedge of civil
+discord, to be followed on their part by the sword of conquest. No
+more forcible illustration of this can be found than that presented
+by India, and other of their dependencies that we could name. In
+Ireland, also, the same spirit has been evinced; but under different
+circumstances. She was already civilized and Christianized when the
+invader first landed upon her shores; but in no way was he enabled to
+totally overthrow her independence, except through the instrumentality
+of the brand of religious discord, which, for upwards of two hundred
+years, he had kept flaming at the foundations of her nationality. It
+was the hostility bitterly fomented between the Protestants and the
+Catholics of Ireland, from 1782 to the year 1800, that led to the
+so-called Union, and from this latter period left her, to the present
+hour, at the mercy of one of the most relentless and unprincipled
+despotisms that has ever disfigured the annals of the human race.
+
+Edmund Burk was right when he declared in his place in Parliament, if
+we remember correctly, that the Penal Laws enacted by England against
+Ireland, were characterized by an ingenuity the most fiendish on
+record, and an attempt to oppress, degrade and demoralize a people,
+without a parallel in the history of even the most barbarious ages.
+Within the recollection of persons now living, nine-tenths of the
+population were held in a condition of the most abject slavery, and
+treated as aliens and enemies at their own doors. Add to this the
+fact, that, previous to the granting of Emancipation, scarce a
+generation had passed away since their priests were murdered at the
+altar, or hunted down with dogs, like wild beasts; their goods and
+chattels seized upon by any emissary of the government, and at a
+nominal valuation appropriated to his own use; their creed and
+language denounced and outlawed; their children deprived of the light
+of learning under a penalty the most fearful; and, wherever the
+tyrant had the power, their lands confiscated and handed over to
+their oppressors. The wonder has long been, that, under such a
+terrible regime, Ireland had not sunk into the most hopeless
+barbarism, or that England had not absorbed her, until, as Lord Byron
+once observed on the subject, they had become one and indivisible, as
+"the shark with his prey." No more desperate attempt has ever been
+made to blot out a nation, and none has ever failed more signally;
+for, notwithstanding this dreadful cannonade of ages, backed up with
+the final and murderous assault of the Reformation and the Georges,
+Ireland, to-day, is more powerful and united than she has ever been
+since the sceptre of the Dane was broken upon her historic shores.
+This fact is sustained by evidences teeming upon us from every point
+of the compass. A great and mysterious embodiment of her influence,
+and a vague and oppressive sense of her unseen presence, hang
+ominously over all the councils of her task-masters, and build up
+strange dynasties in the disturbed slumbers of even royalty itself.
+Nor bolt nor bar can shut out the low mutterings of her approaching
+thunder, or exclude her ubiquitous hand from tracing, in letters of
+blood, the impending doom of her infamous oppressor upon the wall.
+Heaven has decreed it; and thus it is, that, in more than one quarter
+of the globe the exiled children of her matchless hills and vales
+have multiplied into a positive power, that, inflamed with the
+memories of her undeserved sufferings, shall, one day, be
+precipitated upon her enemies with the most destructive and
+overwhelming effect, and humble them forever in the dust.
+
+To avert this blow has now become a desideratum so great with
+England, that all her cunning and genius are brought to bear upon the
+subject. So long as Ireland was dependent solely upon her own
+resources, and the spirit of revolution confined strictly within her
+borders, England felt herself competent to avert the evil day, for an
+indefinite period, through the instrumentality of the rope and the
+bayonet; but now that beyond the seas, the terrible war cloud of
+Fenianism fills the whole west, surcharged with vengeance and the
+great, broad lightnings of American freedom, she reels to her very
+centre, and begins to loosen her hold, claw by claw, upon her victim,
+in the hope that her lacerated and bleeding prey may be satisfied
+with a partial release from its sufferings, and still permit her to
+hold it in her modified clutch. Here she shall fail, however; for the
+people of Ireland know her too well to permit her to breathe the same
+atmosphere with them, or preserve the slightest footing on their
+soil. They know her to have been a traitor, a perjurer, a robber and
+an assassin, throughout the whole of her infamous career. Besides
+remembering her at Mullaghmaston and Limerick, they had a taste of
+her quality in 1782, when, under the pressure of the Protestant
+bayonets of the famous "Volunteers," she, by a solemn act of her
+King, Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, swept Poyning's
+despotic Law from her Statute Books, and relinquished FOREVER all
+right and title to interfere in the local affairs of Ireland, only to
+perjure herself subsequently, by creating rotten boroughs and
+dispensing titles and millions of gold, for the purpose of
+controlling those very same affairs, not only more effectually than
+ever, but with the further view of diverting all the resources of the
+country out of their legitimate channels into her own hands, so that
+she should be at once the tyrant, and the purse and conscience keeper
+of our race. They remember all this, we say, and now they are about
+to call upon her for an account of her stewardship, and make her foot
+the bill, and that, too, to the very last farthing.
+
+Of course, we are aware that much of the elevated mind and strength
+which invigorate the Irish element on this continent, in this
+connection, is to be attributed, unquestionably, to the sublime
+lessons of the great American people, and the generous sympathy they
+evince invariably in regard to nations deprived of the blessings of
+freedom. Time was, we are aware, when the children of Ireland had no
+such exalted idea of human liberty as they possess to-day, and when
+they would have hailed the return of kingcraft to their shores, on
+the restitution of their independence, with every demonstration of
+pleasure; but that period has passed away, and forever. Having once
+tasted the blessings, and imbibed the idea of American institutions,
+they have now cast aside every sentiment of barbarism in this
+relation, and stepped out on the broad platform of justice and common
+sense; ignoring the mere accident of birth, and paying homage only to
+those attributes and characteristics which, in themselves, tend to
+the elevation of the human family, and which are not confined to any
+peculiar class or people.
+
+When it becomes understood, that ever since the introduction of
+printing, and the consequent diffusion of book and newspaper
+literature throughout Europe, the history and people of Ireland have
+been subjected by the invader to every description of the grossest
+misrepresentation, it will create no small degree of surprise, that
+the country has survived the assault, or that she presents to-day a
+compact individuality, that commands the sympathy and respect of most
+of the nations of the earth. Heaven, itself, must have inspired the
+vigor, truth and heroism which, through a lapse of seven hundred
+years, have battled for the right against the most fearful odds, and
+that now arms her, on both sides of the Atlantic, with the mighty
+resolve which cannot fail to result in her final redemption from the
+chains of the oppressor. Her vitality in this connection has scarcely
+a parallel in the history of the past; from the fact, that she has
+been subjected to a twofold persecution--that of semi-barbarism, and
+that of civilization also. The atrocities of the hybrid freebooters
+that invaded her shores in the twelfth century, were not more
+revolting than those which characterized her rulers six hundred years
+subsequently, when they were engaged in founding educational
+institutions, and printing whole cargoes of ten-penny Bibles, for the
+purpose of pandering to the whims of the age, and doing honor to the
+spirit of the royal Pacha who moulded his creed to his lusts, and
+left his rottenness a loathsome legacy to his successors. Yes, the
+wonder is, that she has survived all this, and, instead of falling
+into the vortex prepared for her, now stands with her uplifted arm,
+awaiting the propitious moment, when she can deal a final and
+irresistible blow to the ingrate that, in days of yore, she had
+warmed into intellectual life on her own hearthstone.
+
+If there had been anything in the climate, soil, people or
+geographical position of Ireland, to operate against her prosperity
+as a nation, or calculated to retard her progress in any connection
+whatever, there might be some misgivings in relation to the causes of
+her poverty and degradation; but as the most reliable political
+economists, and even those unfriendly to the Irish name and race,
+admit that no such drawbacks exist, we look, of course, to the system
+of government to which the country has been so long subjected, as the
+source of all the evils that have so cruelly and pertinaciously beset
+it. McCollough, Wakefield, Foster, and other English writers, bear
+the highest testimony to the richness of its soil, the salubrity of
+its air, and its other great natural advantages. Its harbors, bays,
+lakes and rivers are among the finest in the world, while its
+neglected mineral wealth is presumed to be all but inexhaustible. In
+addition to this, it is stated by Dr. Forbes--one of the Court
+physicians, who had made a tour of the kingdom--that the inhabitants
+are of a character the most industrious, and bear up under the
+oppressive system which weighs upon them in a manner the most heroic.
+It is to opinions from such sources as these we point, with every
+degree of confidence, as they cannot be charged with being prejudiced
+in our favor; and were we inclined to be more diffuse upon the
+subject, we might quote author after author, and all of English
+proclivities too, who bear evidence to the suggestive character of
+the elements of material wealth which we possess in every relation,
+and which, through the disastrous policy pursued towards us from
+generation to generation, have been paralyzed and prostituted to an
+extent that almost defies comprehension.
+
+Why did England violate a solemn pledge, given in 1782, to the
+effect, that she relinquished all claim to interfere in the
+management of the local affairs of Ireland, and conceded to the
+people of that country the undoubted and inalienable right of
+conducting their own internal affairs upon any basis they thought
+proper? After having experienced the beneficial results of this
+policy upon the sister kingdom for a space of eighteen years, why did
+she revoke the act establishing it, and force the hated Union upon a
+people, a majority of whom were not free to express an opinion upon
+the subject, or to resist a measure thrust upon them through perjury,
+intimidation, bribery and fraud? The reason has long been quite
+obvious to the world--the manufacturing interests and the trade and
+commerce of Ireland have ever been and must ever remain antagonistic
+to those of England. This fact has always influenced the legislation
+of the latter country, and brought it to bear heavily and unjustly
+upon almost every Irish project that has been undertaken for the last
+three hundred years. When any particular Irish manufacture was found
+to interfere with the interests of a similar one in England,
+instantly devices were set on foot by the enemy to crush it, or so
+embarrass it that its destruction could not fail to follow. It was
+banned and taxed out of the market until it died. In this way, the
+silk, glass and woolen manufactures of the country were destroyed;
+the latter having so injured the English manufacturers in the time of
+William the Third, that they presented a memorial to this dignified
+and affectionate son-in-law of James, praying that the manufacture in
+Ireland might be suppressed, as it was interfering with the success
+of the woolen trade in England; which prayer the king entertained
+favorably, and promised to grant. In this way, from the earliest days
+of the invasion, the interests of Ireland have been trodden under the
+feet of the oppressor; while, in a religious point of view, her
+people have been held for generations in the most frightful bondage,
+and constrained to contribute to the maintenance of a Church which
+nineteen-twentieths of them believed to be heretical, and which had
+been thrust upon them in violation of every right, human and divine.
+
+Now, however, it is brightening up on the verge of the horizon, and,
+like chickens, England's untold acts of infamy and oppression, in
+regard to Ireland, are coming home to roost. In every city and
+hamlet, throughout the great Republic of the United States, and in
+every town and village in Ireland, as well as throughout the rural
+districts, there exists a regiment or detachment of the vast army of
+the Irish Republic. No matter how invisible the force may be at any
+particular point, yet there it exists, awaiting the signal to pounce
+upon the enemy, and avenge the wrongs of ages; each member of it
+feeling, within his heart of hearts, that those injuries have reached
+him individually, and that, without the opportunity of wiping them
+out, even at the expense of the last drop of his heart's blood, the
+conquest, when achieved, would be almost worthless in his eyes. It is
+with this element that England, at the present juncture, has to deal
+at home and abroad; and now that the avalanche, after rolling down
+the steep of seven successive centuries, has accumulated in magnitude
+and force most tremendously, and sufficiently to overcome every
+obstacle that happens to lie in its path, ere long we shall find it
+leaping in thunder upon the plain, and overwhelming those who so long
+mocked at its approach, and who now so vainly attempt to stay its
+resistless course.
+
+
+*       *       *       *       *
+
+
+RIDGEWAY.
+
+AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE
+
+OF THE
+
+FENIAN INVASION OF CANADA.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+On a gloomy evening in the early part of May, 1866, and while astute
+politicians were struck with the formidable aspect of Fenianism in
+both hemispheres, a solitary soldier, in the muddy, red jacket of a
+private in the English army, might be seen hastily wending his way
+across a bridge which led from one of the most important strongholds
+in Canada, to a town of considerable pretensions, that lay directly
+opposite, and to which he was now bending his steps. Although the
+weather, from the season of the year, might be presumed to be
+somewhat genial, yet it was raw and gusty; and as the pedestrian was
+without an overcoat, the uncomfortable and antagonistic shrug of his
+shoulders, as the chill, fitful blast swept past him, was quite
+discernible to any eye that happened to catch his figure at the
+period. Soon, however, he left the bridge and river behind him, and,
+stepping on terra firma, turned hastily down one of the unpretending
+streets of the town, and entered a restaurant, out of the drinking
+saloon of which, several narrow passages led to small convivial
+apartments, or rather compartments, in which the landlord, or "mine
+host" professed to work culinary miracles, of every possible shade,
+in the interest of his patrons. The establishment, although not the
+most fashionable in the place, was still regarded as respectable, and
+was, consequently, the frequent resort of many well-to-do tradesmen,
+and others, who, after the cares of the day had been laid by,
+generally repaired thither to slake their thirst with a flowing
+tankard, or indulge in "a stew," a quiet game of billiards or a
+cigar, as the case might be. From the description of the various
+pictures which adorned or decorated the bar-room, the nationality of
+the proprietor was easily discerned. Just over a goodly and shining
+away of handsome mirrors that, inside the counter, reflected a maze
+of graceful bottles, cut glass and various ornaments appropriate to
+the profession, hung a large map of Ireland, very beautifully gotten
+up: while on either side of it, a neat, gilt frame, enclosing a most
+excellent likeness of Daniel O'Connell and Robert Emmet,
+respectively, harmonized in every relation with the map itself.
+Around the walls of the room, and throughout the whole establishment,
+kindred prints and paintings were somewhat profusely scattered;
+presenting unmistakable evidences, that the proprietor hailed from
+the Emerald Isle, and had no inclination, whatever, to disguise the
+fact from either his customers or the world.
+
+At the period that the soldier entered the premises, there were some
+half dozen persons seated in the bar; each discussing his favorite
+beverage or enjoying his peculiar "weed." Among these there was one
+individual, however, whose appearance was singularly striking, and
+who was taking part in the general conversation with an easy
+flippancy and keenness of observation that showed he was a person of
+no ordinary information or experience. There was something about him,
+nevertheless, that, notwithstanding all his efforts to be attractive,
+was strangely repellent. His small, grey eyes, thin, blue lips and
+hooked nose, gave an expression to his countenance which was far from
+prepossessing; while his soft, low, purring chuckle of a laugh,
+whenever he made a point in his favor through some facile observation
+that interfered with the deductions of those around him, evoked the
+idea, that he was some huge, human mouser that was congratulating
+himself on having disposed of some unfortunate and unsuspecting
+canary. He was, withal, shapely, and had an air of refinement about
+him, the most decided, and, quite beyond the ordinary run of saloon
+habitues. His complexion though somewhat dark and out of keeping with
+the color of his eyes, was yet pure; while his teeth were remarkably
+white and brilliant, and apparently as sharp as lancets. In height he
+was about five feet ten inches; and in age, somewhere in the vicinity
+of thirty. He was dressed in plain gray clothes; and, from all one
+might gather from his external appearance, was a person in
+comfortable circumstances. He was unknown not only to "mine host,"
+but to every one present; having, as he informed them in the ordinary
+flow of conversation, but just arrived in town, where he had business
+to transact which might detain him for a few days, or possibly
+longer. This information had been volunteered before the arrival of
+the soldier; so that when the latter had taken his seat, he was
+literally a greater stranger as to the name or intentions of the
+hook-nosed gentleman than any one present--the former having been
+communicated to the landlord as Philip Greaves, and the latter, as
+already intimated, quite freely disclosed during the natural flow of
+the conversation in which he had taken and still took part.
+
+Perhaps there were no two beings on earth so dissimilar in every
+relation, as were he and the red coat who now ensconsed himself in
+one of the chairs, and accepted the invitation to take a friendly
+glass with the stranger. He, humble as the rank he bore in the
+service, was a young man of most prepossessing appearance and
+excellent address. His figure, although slight, was beautifully
+symmetrical and finely knit. In stature he was about five feet eleven
+inches, and was apparently as agile as a leopard. The whole volume of
+his heart was laid open in his broad, manly brow and clear dark eyes;
+and his laughter rang out now and then, at the brilliant wit or
+searching sarcasm of his neighbor, in such pure and joyous tones, as
+to be infectious even amongst those who were paying but little
+attention to what had provoked it. He could not have numbered more
+than twenty-five or twenty-six summers; and it was almost painful, in
+the presence of such manly beauty and so light a heart, to dwell on
+the fact, that the possessor of both, was in absolute slavery, how
+carelessly soever he wore his shackles. While both these individuals
+differed the one from the other to the extent already mentioned, the
+proprietor of the saloon, in turn, presented an appearance as
+dissimilar to that of either of his customers as did that of the one
+to the other. He was a man of herculean proportions, and blessed with
+as commonplace features as you could find in a day's walk. Every
+fibre of his frame bespoke the most gigantic strength, while his
+full, round face glowed with the most refreshing health, and
+presented at the same time as stolid an expression as could well be
+imagined in connection with his vocation. Still, there was something
+in his keen, gray eye and about his mouth, that bid you beware of
+taking the book by the cover; while an odd word of the conversation
+that now and then reached his ear, called up a strange expression of
+intelligence which swept across his features with the speed of light,
+and then left them as quiescent and apparently unintellectual as
+before. This individual whom we shall name Thomas O'Brien, or Big
+Tom, as his friends were wont to call him, although never regarded as
+being over brilliant, there were those who averred that he not only
+possessed a fund of good, common sense, but who stated further, that
+he was a man of great influence not only among the soldiers in the
+fort, but among many of his countrymen both in town and out of it.
+Tom spoke very slowly and always in an oracular manner; nor were his
+movements behind his bar of a very demonstrative character; as no
+press of custom, whatever, seemed to possess the power of
+accelerating his motions or inducing him to exceed the steady formula
+that he appeared to have adopted in relation to serving his
+customers; still he possessed the jewel of honesty and urbanity as an
+offset to all this; and, like most large men, was, on the whole, of a
+kind and excellent temper. When seen standing by the river or in any
+elevated position, he conveyed the idea of a sort of human
+lighthouse, or a chimney on fire, so fiercely red was the tremendous
+shock of hair that covered his towering head. He was still a young
+man, and, like the soldier, unmarried; although the heart of the
+latter had gone forth and was in the safe keeping of a charming young
+cousin of "mine host," who had emigrated to America some time
+previously, and who now resided with her friends in the city of
+Buffalo. Tom had preceded his relatives by some years, and had
+sojourned, up to the period of their landing, in the United States
+also; but taking a sudden notion, as it would seem, he pulled up his
+stakes, and, like other adventurers, settled down, apparently
+haphazard, in the town in which he now lived; and where he had
+already been upwards of two years; having bought out the "Sign of the
+Harp," as we shall call it, with all its appointments, from another
+Son of the Sod, who had made up his mind to go West.
+
+Before the soldier, whom we shall name Nicholas, or Nick Barry, had
+finished his glass, Greaves entered into conversation with him in
+relation to the strength of the fort, and the nationality of the
+regiment that garrisoned it; observing, at the same time, that, of
+course, as usual, a fair sprinkling from the Emerald Isle was to be
+found among them.
+
+"Yes," said Barry, "go where you may throughout the empire, and
+whenever you meet a red coat you will be right in four cases out of
+six in putting it down as belonging to an Irishman; that is, provided
+its precise color and texture are like mine; but you would not be so
+safe in applying the same rule wherever you chanced to encounter the
+clear, bright flash of the genuine scarlet."
+
+"And why?" returned Greaves, with an inquiring air which seemed to be
+quite at sea upon the subject; although up to that moment, his
+conversation was such as to lead one to infer that he could scarcely
+be in the dark upon a subject so generally understood.
+
+"Because," said Nick, "the Irish are only fit to do the fighting; and
+that's always done, you know, by the rank and file."
+
+This reply, although not over satisfactory to the interrogator,
+seemed to afford infinite amusement to Big Tom, who, with a perfect
+sledge hammer of a laugh, exclaimed when Barry had finished:
+
+"Well done Nick, and the divil a betther could it be said if I said
+it myself."
+
+This unusual and lively demonstration on the part of O'Brien, seemed
+to attract the notice of Greaves, who, with the utmost good humor,
+observed, while glancing in the direction of the bar:
+
+"From Ireland, too, I'll bet my head!"
+
+"Seven miles out of it," returned Tom with a slight twinkle of his
+eye, "and, of coorse, a gintleman so larned as you will be able to
+tell where that is."
+
+"Well, for the life of me," observed Greaves, "I cannot divine what
+you are at, with your 'seven miles out,' but as I'm an Englishman, I
+suppose that accounts for it."
+
+"He means by what he has said," interrupted Barry, "that he is from
+Connaught, which, for some reason or other, is regarded as seven
+miles out of Ireland."
+
+"For some raison or other did you say," returned Tom. "Faith and its
+raison enough there is for that same; for it was to Connaught that
+Cromwell and the rest of the blaggards banished or confined the Irish
+hayros that gave the Sassenach such throuble in oulden times, and
+that's the raison, you know, that the sayin, 'to h--l or Connaught,'
+first got a futtin in the world, and that Connaught is regarded as
+bein seven miles out, by the people who know the ins and outs of it."
+
+This was delivered in a quiet, oracular manner from which there was
+no appeal; so the conversation continued to flow in a kindred
+channel--Barry observing that the regiments then stationed in Canada
+were largely _adulterated_, as he humorously termed it, with the
+Irish element, which, during such times of commotion, was considered
+by England safer abroad than at home.
+
+"How is that?" said Greaves, casting a searching glance towards the
+speaker. "I should fancy that the British soldier was safe, and true
+to the crown whether at home or abroad; although I am free to
+confess, that the Irish, as a nation, have much to complain of."
+
+"And how can you separate the man from the nation; and if a people
+are oppressed and wronged as a whole, are they not oppressed and
+wronged individually?" replied O'Brien.
+
+"The inference is reasonable," returned the other; "but as England
+seems sensible that something ought to be done for the amelioration
+of the condition of Ireland no doubt the two nations will soon settle
+down in the bonds of amity and love, and, in a better state of
+things, forget all their bickerings and heartburnings."
+
+"There was a payriod," retorted Tom, "when England could have done
+somethin to appase Ireland, but that payriod is past and gone
+forever! Durin the airly days of O'Connell, the repale of the Union
+and the abolition of the Church Establishment would have worked
+merricles. These measures would have done away with absenteeism, an
+unjust and gallin taxation, and would have given Ireland the
+conthrol, in some degree at laste, of her own local affairs. If the
+Act of 1782 previntin England from intherfarin in any degree in those
+affairs was revived, it would have given the Irish a chance to build
+up their manufactures and recruit their ruined thrade and commerce.
+It would have recalled the landlord to his estates, from forrin
+parts, and re-inthroduced a native parliament that understood the
+wants and wishes of the people, and that was intherested in carryin
+them out, and givin the masses an opportunity of developin their
+resources and turnin their soil to account, that is acre for acre
+more fertile than that of England, to-day. It would have gathered
+home from the four winds of the earth the scatthered wealth that has
+followed the absentee to distant lands and made Dublin and Cork and
+every city in the counthry alive with min and wimmin, that were able
+to pathronise Irish manufactures, aye, and pay for them too. All this
+it would have done and a thousand times more; but as I have already
+said, the chance has been thrown away by England, never to be
+recovered by her durin _secula seculorum_; for now the light of
+American freedom has fallen upon Ireland, and, pointed out what ought
+to be her thrue standin, and the insufficiency of what she once would
+have been satisfied with. In the broad effulgence of its glory, the
+people of Ireland now persave that so if long as they attached any
+importance to the mere accident of birth, or bent the knee to
+hereditary monarchy, they were but walking in the valley and shadow
+of death. The great moral spectacle of American freedom built upon
+the broad and imperishable basis of the voluntary and intelligent
+consint of a whole people, has so upset their household gods and
+desthroyed the prestige of kingcraft in their eyes, that they now
+look forward to the total overthrow of monarchical institutions in
+their midst, and the establishment, on their shores, of a Republic in
+every particular the counterpart of that which now commands the
+admiration of the world, across the lines there, and which is
+gradually sappin the foundation of British rule on this side of the
+lakes, as well as litherally swallowin us up unknownst to ourselves.
+This is how the case stands now; so that we can aisily persave, that
+England has lost the power and opportunity of conciliatin the Irish
+race; bekase they have no longer a feelin or sintiment in common with
+her."
+
+These observations, which were made with a degree of ease and
+eloquence regarded as totally foreign to Tom, actually electrified
+his hearers, and drew a compliment from Greaves; while Barry, who
+knew a good deal of him, was so astonished at his sudden and earnest
+volubility, he could not resist the temptation of assuring him that
+he was an honor to his country, if not to humanity at large. The
+other three or four individuals present joined in the sentiment, so
+that, for the time being, O'Brien was no ordinary personage in their
+minds, while a quiet wink from one to the other seemed to place it
+beyond a shadow of doubt, that, in their estimation, Big Tom knew
+more than he ever got credit for.
+
+When the conversation again began to flow freely, the gentleman, with
+the hooked nose, turned it imperceptibly upon Fenianism, and the
+rumored intention of the Organization, in the United States, to make
+a descent upon Canada at no distant day. At this point, O'Brien put
+in a word or two, to the effect, that he was not so sure of the
+propriety of the Brotherhood invading the Province, as its
+inhabitants were not in any way answerable for the wrongs which had
+been inflicted by England upon Ireland. Here Barry observed, that
+although he was not competent to speak on the matter, and had no
+desire to endorse or countenance such an invasion, he regarded a
+Fenian attack upon Canada fully as justifiable as an assault of the
+same character upon England, or any other portion of her majesty's
+dominions. The empire, he contended, was a unit and no part of it
+could be assailed, that did not possess, in relation to Ireland, just
+as inoffensive people as the Canadians were. Fenianism, he presumed,
+did not pretend to make war upon individuals, but upon a government,
+in any or all of its ramifications, that was alleged to be oppressive
+and an enemy to civil and religious freedom; and so long as any
+people chose to endorse the acts of such a government by defending
+them, and adhering to the flag under which they were said to have
+been committed, so long were they amenable to the party who assumed
+to be aggrieved in the premises, as aiders and abettors of the
+offence.
+
+This position was so reasonable and so logical that there was but
+little room for dispute upon the subject. And hence the absurdity of
+certain squeamish gentlemen who, before and since the invasion of
+1866, have denounced a descent upon Canada as not so justifiable as
+an attack upon the more central parts of the empire, from the assumed
+fact, that the Canadians are in no way chargeable with the wrongs
+inflicted by the British Government upon Ireland. Such an argument to
+a military man, or astute politician, would be the very height of
+absurdity. The outworks are always stormed and taken before the
+citadel falls; nor are those who occupy or defend them regarded with
+any personal ill feeling by the assailing party, and are only enemies
+in so far as they choose to espouse the cause and defend, at the
+point of the sword, the acts and existence of a government held to be
+corrupt and oppressive. From the difference in population and other
+circumstances, there are a greater number of inoffensive persons in
+England, in relation to Irish grievances, than there are in Canada;
+so that, adopting the very style of argument used by those gingerly
+or subsidized cavillers, there are more causes for justifying a
+descent, at any time, upon the latter than upon the former country.
+The truth is, the masses or people of any country are, for the most
+part, inoffensive on the whole, and are merely wielded by governments
+with a view to maintaining a power for good or evil, having in many
+cases themselves no very clear idea of the grounds upon which the
+field may have been taken; and laying down their arms at a moment's
+notice, without being concerned as to the expediency or justice of a
+cessation of hostilities. In truth, even amid armies thundering down
+upon each other at the word of command, there are necessarily
+thousands of unoffending persons who entertain not a single feeling
+of animosity against their opponents individually, and who are but
+simply the exponents of an idea that their rulers deem necessary to
+maintain at the point of the bayonet; although they themselves may
+not sympathize with it to any extent whatever. So that it is
+apparent, that the invasion of Canada was never undertaken with a
+view to despoiling or injuring the people _per se_ of that country;
+but for the simple purpose of making a descent upon a point of the
+British empire most accessible to the arms of the Republic of Ireland
+on this continent, in the hope of establishing a basis that would
+enable Irish Nationalists to operate successfully against a
+government that had for seven hundred years subjected their country,
+name and race, to every injustice and persecution known to the
+history of crime. Such are the contingencies of war, that the
+innocent are dragged into the vortex by the guilty, and that those
+who choose to adopt a flag and are found armed in its defence, are
+constructively the enemies of the invaders, and according to the
+usages of all nations amenable in the field for the conduct of their
+rulers. Whatever may be said to the contrary, then, by English
+sympathizers or weak-kneed patriots, so long as Canada is a portion
+of the British empire, so long is she a legitimate point of attack
+for the enemies of that empire, and no description of special
+pleading can make it otherwise. And here we would advise the people
+of the New Dominion to look into this matter and weigh the
+consequences of being influenced by any seeming or real hostile
+attitude to the government of the United States, or the mighty hosts
+which are now gathering in battle array in the cause of Irish
+freedom. England is fallen! Her power and prestige are gone forever!
+The star of Irish liberty has already emerged from the clouds that
+have so long lain piled up along the horizon of the land of the
+enslaved Celt, and no power on earth can obscure its growing Lustre,
+until it blazes forth in the full meridian, splendor of Irish
+nationality and independence! Let our neighbors, therefore, we say,
+not be betrayed into raising a puny arm against the tremendous force
+that cannot fail to be exerted ere long in this connection, or their
+redemption from the British yoke and their consequent absorption by
+the great American Commonwealth may be reddened with more blood than
+the circumstances of the case really require.
+
+When Barry had finished his few observations on this topic, Greaves,
+in further pursuance of the subject, and with the apparent view of
+gathering the tone of Canadian opinion upon it, observed, that if all
+the Irish population of the Provinces were as true to the sentiment
+of the independence of their country, as O'Brien and his military
+friend, there might be some reason for apprehending that the intended
+invasion of the Canadas by the Fenian organization of the United
+States, would tend to more alarming results to England than were
+anticipated by the friends of that country; remarking, in addition,
+that the Irish element must be very large in her majesty's Canadian
+possessions, if one might judge from the recent St. Patrick's Day
+demonstration throughout them, and the various St. Patrick's
+Societies to be found scattered from one end of the colony to the
+other; all of which were, no doubt, more or less tinged with opinions
+and aspirations similar to those held by the two individuals who had
+just spoken.
+
+"Oh, yes," rejoined Big Tom, "there are St. Patrick Societies in
+abundance, but let me inform you, that instead of bein national
+associations, as they purport to be, they are the very sthrongholds
+of England in this country, and, with scarce an exception, the
+deadliest opponents to the very indepindence that we have benn jist
+spakin about. For the most part, they are filled chock full of a pack
+of miserable toadies to the governmint, which manages to gather into
+them a pack of rottin, ladin Irishmin who can make speeches, dhrink
+'the day and all who honor it,' sing 'God save the Queen,' and talk
+English blatherskite about the glory of the impire, the army and
+navy, and everythin else in the world save and except the wrongs of
+poor, ould Ireland, and the way to redhress them. Why, sir, barrin a
+word dhropped here and there, you'd think it was in an Orange Lodge
+you were, if you happened to step in on one of those societies while
+engaged in celebrating, as they call it, the anniversary of their
+pathron Saint; for it's nothin you'd hear but 'Rule Britannia,' 'The
+Red, White and Blue,' and kindhered sintiments, and if a chap did
+happen to give 'The harp that wanst,' why, its the sweet, soft air
+they'd be admirin, and the poethry of Tom Moore, rather than the low
+wail for vingeance that was smothered in the heart of the song
+itself. What could you expect from sich a St Patrick's Society as
+that of Toronto, with a gintleman at its head with the freedom of an
+English city in his breeches pocket, and a desire to emulate English
+statesmen and English institutions in his heart! Look, also, at the
+able and larned Irishman who stands at the head of the University of
+that same methropolis of the West, and whose eloquence so mystifies
+his faithlessness to Ireland as to confuse you, and almost lade you
+captive, until, on cooler deliberation, you find that his response to
+'the toast of the evenin,' is naither more nor less than a superb
+burst of oratory, robed in green and goold, but with a heart as
+purely English as that which throbbed within the breast of the
+renegade Wellington or the late wily Lord Palmerston. Oh, no! the St.
+Patrick Societies of America, and of every other portion of the
+globe, are simply whited sepulchres, or false beacons erected or
+fosthered by the English governmint to mislade the unsuspectin
+portions of our race from the allagiance due to their own counthry,
+by studiously inculcatin sintimints and ideas favorable to English
+supremacy, which can be paraded before the world as the thrue
+expression of the Irish people, in relation to the red that governs
+them, and their willinness to remain as they are, part and parcel of
+the impire. Sich min as the two I have jist mintioned do more to
+perpetuate the thraldom of our country than the most unfrindly and
+subtle statesman that exists on the other side of the Atlantic
+to-day; bekase they are powerful inemies, by their example in our own
+camp, and bekase there are those amongst us who are aisily led, and
+who consequintly fall a victim to their influence and example."
+
+"Sure, we all know, that the Scotch thricksther at the head of the
+govermint here, could do but little if it was not for such people as
+Ogle R., George. L., Darcy and 'the docther,' as he is called in
+Toronto; and thus it is, that although the three Toronto gintlemen
+that I now name, are, I honestly believe, deservedly respected and
+esteemed in every other relation of life, they belong body and sowl
+to the English sintimint of the counthry; and if the most favorable
+opportunity was offered them to-morrow, would never raise a helpin
+hand to place the green above the red. But, as this is dhry work, and
+as I have not had sich a bout at it since I opened here, come, one
+and all, and let us wet our whistles, for I see you have jist made
+spy-glasses of your tumblers."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+Although delivered in a style somewhat uncouth, there was a great
+deal of truth and native eloquence about these observations of
+O'Brien. There is no doubt but the St. Patrick Societies of this
+continent, and perhaps of the world, are characterized, in no
+ordinary degree, by the spirit and design to which he alluded. In so
+far as those belonging to the British empire are concerned, he was
+right, almost without an exception; for it must be admitted, that
+these societies are, for the most part, filled with pseudo patriots,
+who discard all revolutionary theories, and are of the opinion, that
+the independence of their country, if they ever cast a glance in that
+direction, ought to be achieved in the most lady-like manner, and
+with "white kids." Look, for instance, at some of the members of
+these associations and kindred bodies in New York and in various
+other parts of the Union, and analyze the spirit which finds
+expression in their observance of the anniversary of Ireland's
+tutelar Saint. From the moment that the cloth is removed, until the
+last of the company gyrates out of the room to his carriage, we have
+nothing but a war of eloquence between rival politicians who are
+candidates for municipal or other lucrative honors, or a subtle bid
+for Irish support through some adroit manoeuvre, by which an
+adversary is, for the time being, thrown into the shade. To be sure,
+Mr. Richard This or Mr. John That, may occasionally give us a taste
+of his research and learning, in a re-hash from the "Annals of the
+Four Masters," or from some of the leading periodicals of the day;
+and we may, in addition, be treated to an _original_ poem touching
+Ireland from some of the various up-hill-workers of the Muses, with
+whom the great mercantile centre abounds; but as to anything
+practical relative to the amelioration of the wretched condition of
+the country in whose name they assemble upon such occasions, that is
+simply out of the question; all parties, as a general thing,
+satisfying themselves with a hacknied and stereotyped enumeration of
+her wrongs, and the usual bland denunciations of her oppressors.
+
+And here we give an illustration of St. Patrick Societies under their
+most patriotic aspect; for the power of speech which characterizes,
+this great Commonwealth, and our total immunity from English
+persecution, enable the spirit which actuates these societies,
+beneath the skull and cross bones of St. George, to be a little more
+patriotic here, in its language at least, than it dares to be in any
+portion of the dominions of England. Still, its positive antagonism
+to Irish independence, under the British flag, is scarcely more
+reprehensible than its negative influence in the same direction under
+the Stars and Stripes; so that Ireland, suffering at their hands
+alike, might with every degree of justice place them in the same
+category.
+
+After all, it is the masses that free a nation, and thank God for it.
+A leader may in vain look for a host to follow him, but a host never
+in vain for a leader, and hence the defection of a few prominent men
+from the great, Irish national idea which now so moves this
+continent, and commands the attention of the world, amounts to but
+little save sorrow at the stigma it casts upon our race. The rank and
+file of our people are true to the spirit that fired the O'Neill's
+and the Geraldines of old; and this being the case, the freedom of
+Ireland is secured beyond any possible contingency--England is
+brought to bay at home and abroad. The mighty embodiments of Irish
+power and patriotism, yclept Fenianism, stalks forth through the
+empire with an uplifted glaive in its hand, and no one can say how
+soon or where the swift stroke of destruction shall fall. Its
+presence fills with gloomy alarm every nook and corner of the land,
+and paralyzes all the energies of the oppressor. Through its
+overwhelming influence, the most cherished institutions of the
+usurper are being overthrown, and the crown and mace all but
+converted into baubles. It has destroyed the power and prestige of a
+hereditary aristocracy, and thrown, in a measure, the whole
+government of the land into the hands of Commoners. The privileged
+classes, no longer oracular, recede before it, and a great democratic
+idea occupies the ground upon which they stood--in short, illuminated
+and impelled by the glorious spirit and impulses which moved the
+immortal founders of this grand Republic of the West, it has gone
+forth to avenge and to conquer, and to build up upon the shores of
+the Old World such a grateful monument to the genius of American
+freedom, as shall, from its lofty summit, pour its radiance over the
+darkest valleys of Central Europe, until the frozen grasp of
+despotism yields to its magic touch and the chains shall fall from
+the bleeding limbs of millions, who on emerging from the valley and
+shadow of death into the pure sunlight of liberty, shall sing paeans
+in honor of the great American people who first taught humanity to
+the nations of the earth.
+
+When all present had done justice to O'Brien's proffered "treat," and
+when Greaves seemed to be moved to a friendly view of Irish
+nationality, in a gap in some desultory conversation that happened to
+occur casually, this latter worthy asked whether he could be
+accommodated with a room at "The Harp," while he remained in town, as
+he was a stranger in a great measure, and having accidentally, as he
+said, made the acquaintance of one he believed to be an agreeable
+landlord. Tom replied in the affirmative; for, in connection with the
+saloon business, he kept a few boarders and had, besides, ample
+accommodation for more than one occasional guest. Soon then, Greaves,
+who was to send the following morning to the railroad station for his
+luggage, picked up a small traveling bag by his side, asked to be
+shown to his room, as he professed to be somewhat tired, and bidding
+the company "good night," while shaking hands with Barry, disappeared
+with Tom down the long passage which led to his sleeping apartment on
+the floor above.
+
+When O'Brien returned to the bar, half a dozen more of his usual
+customers had dropped in to exchange a kindly word with him, and
+taste his newest "on tap." Before reaching the counter, however, and
+just as he was passing Barry, he whispered something in the ear of
+the latter, which seemed to arrest his attention, and to which he
+appeared to answer with a significant nod and peculiar expression of
+countenance. Barry being off duty, and having received permission to
+remain in town all night, paid no regard to the nine o'clock drums
+and fifes audible from the garrison; and although quite an abstemious
+young fellow, he made himself sufficiently social with the new
+comers, most of whom were acquaintances. The remainder of the evening
+was passed in the usual bar-room style; although the conversation for
+the most part, turned upon the wrongs of Ireland and the mode of
+redressing them. Now that Greaves had retired, there appeared to be
+less restraint upon the few who had been a witness of the
+observations he had made upon the subject, for they one and all
+seemed to flow into the common channel of sympathy, so largely
+occupied by O'Brien in this connection. In addition, one of them
+ventured to remark, that although Greaves pretended to be an
+Englishman, he was evidently no such thing; for on more than one
+occasion, he gave utterance to expressions that were not only purely
+Irish, but tinged with a genuine Irish accent and native peculiarity,
+that no mere accident could account for, and which was, without
+doubt, the genuine thing itself peeping out at the elbows of a
+foreign dress. This idea seemed to find favor with O'Brien, although
+Barry was not impressed with its correctness, from the fact, no
+doubt, of his constant intercommunication with the English and Irish
+element that was so jumbled up in his company.
+
+As it became later, the party began to drop off, until about twelve
+o'clock, up went the shutters and round went the heavy key in the
+bar-room door--all having disappeared at the latter period, save
+Barry and one of his most intimate friends who seemed loath to leave,
+and inclined to take another glass. No sooner then, were the doors
+and windows securely fastened, and the gas extinguished, than both
+these parties accompanied by Tom with a bed-room lamp in his hand,
+proceeded to a small and comfortable apartment which was sacred to
+the foot of every individual who was not a tried friend of O'Brien.
+Here all three seated themselves beside a comfortable coal fire that
+burned brightly in the grate: when Tom, on extinguishing the lamp,
+after having lit the jet of gas that hung in the centre of the room,
+exclaimed:--
+
+"Nick, my name's not Tom O'Brien, or we have got the divil up-stairs!--but
+ what he's up to it's hard to say: although I thought it was jist as
+well to let him take up his quarthers here, seem that I'll be able to
+keep an eye on him--now that the times are becomin sarious."
+
+"Certainly," replied Barry, "his appearance is far from prepossessing,
+but you know, Tom, it's not always safe to judge a man by this criterion."
+
+"That's thrue," returned the other, "but didn't you hear the fella how
+he wanted to sift you about the Irish sintiment of the garrison, as
+well as lade us out upon the feelins of the Irish in gineral throughout
+the Province?"
+
+"I did, of course," answered Nick, "but really thought that the
+gentleman, being a stranger, was simply asking for information's sake
+only, and had no ulterior object in view."
+
+"I agree with you, O'Brien," interrupted the third party, who was
+named Burk, and who had been in the saloon during the period Greaves
+was present, "there can be nothing good in so cunning a face; but
+what is the real news to-night, and have you heard from New York or
+Buffalo?"
+
+"I have harde from both places," returned Tom, "and everythin looks
+well; but how are things here, and are you all prepared to assist the
+invading army when they cross the lines; and what number of men can
+we fairly count upon?"
+
+"It has, I believe, been ascertained beyond a shadow of doubt,"
+replied Burk, "that there are upwards of one hundred thousand men
+throughout the Provinces who would at once rush to arms if they found
+the flag of the Irish Republic firmly planted at any one point within
+our borders; while it is known or believed, that more than twice that
+number would follow in their wake, if Toronto was once in the hands
+of the invaders. In fact, Toronto and Montreal once taken, the day is
+ours, for we should have the French almost to a man, no matter what
+Monsieur George Etienne or Master John Alexander may say to the
+contrary. Canada is evidently tired of British rule, and is only kept
+from kicking over the traces by a pack of government officials who
+hold the purse strings, and a subsidized press that destroys the
+homogeneity of the people, by making them doubt each other, and
+impressing every man disaffected to the Crown, with the idea that
+every other individual Colonist, or nearly so, is opposed to him. In
+this way, the sentiment of independence which underlies the nine
+tenths of our population is obstructed and embarrassed, and one man
+prompted to look with distrust upon another, although both may
+entertain precisely the same sentiments in relation to the
+desirability of throwing off the British yoke. As to how the army
+stands, Nick here can tell you more about that than I can."
+
+"The army," said Barry, "is just as you might expect it to be. The
+Irish who compose it in part, are, as you know, not British soldiers
+from choice, but from necessity. They had no resource between
+starvation and a red coat; so that their oath of allegiance to the
+English Crown may be said to have been exacted from them under pain
+of death. For ages, their country had been devastated and plundered
+by the power that now holds them in special thrall, and the means of
+existence wrested from them through the inhuman exactions of a
+tyrannical government. Their name and race had been banned, their
+humble homesteads razed to the ground, and their families scattered,
+naked and hungry, throughout the length and breadth of the land, or
+exiled to foreign shores. The stranger had stolen in on their
+hearthstone, robbed them of their lands, goods and chattles, usurped
+their powers of local legislation, and then closed every door to
+preferment against them, leaving them without a hope or a crust for
+the future, on their own shores. Under this horrible pressure,
+thousands of them necessarily gave way and fell victims to those
+gaunt recruiting sergeants of the government--Hunger and Rags.
+Unable to earn wherewithal to keep body and soul together at their
+own doors, or within their own borders, and perceiving that the
+commerce, the manufactures and all the native resource of their
+country were crushed to the earth, beneath the relentless heel of the
+oppressor, they fell into the pit-fall dug for them by an accursed
+perjurer and traitor, and, in obedience to the first law of nature,
+assumed her livery, and swore allegiance to her flag. But think you
+that either God or man attaches the slightest importance to an oath
+exacted under such circumstances? Here am I, Nick Barry, now in the
+service of the usurper, and driven into it with tears in my eyes and
+rebellion in my heart, and do you suppose that I regard my oath as
+other than an additional incentive to plot the downfall of the
+infamous tyrant and robber who hounded me into swallowing it, and
+who, to-day, keeps the girl I love out of her mother's property,
+that, on a mere technicality, was laid hold of, and thrown into
+chancery, by a villainous and traitorous relative, long in the secret
+service of the government at home, when he found the poor, young
+thing an orphan, and without a wealthy friend in the world to back
+her, and that too, upon a claim that hadn't a leg to stand upon, as
+everybody knew? My soldier-life, and his continued absence in
+England, prevented my meeting the villain before he died; but as he
+has left the suit to his son, who, I learn, is no better than he was
+himself, and is also a great hanger on about the Castle of Dublin, I
+am in hopes of one day or other meeting this same gentleman, who
+purports to represent the old villain in this case, when, no matter
+how the chancery suit may go, I shall hold him to a severe reckoning
+for the injustice and hardships to which she has been so long
+subjected through their joint instrumentality. But why should she
+complain any more than Tom there, whose father's side of the house,
+once powerful and wealthy, in the west of Ireland, have been all but
+beggared through the same infamous government, and their accursed
+agents, who had plundered them of every acre they possessed, and
+exiled the bravest and best of them to these distant shores?"
+
+These few observations were made with an earnestness and vehemence
+that showed how fierce and hostile the blood that boiled in the veins
+of the speaker. Nor was there any appeal from the inexorable logic of
+his remarks. From the inhuman manner in which England has, for seven
+centuries preyed upon the vitals of Ireland, and plundered and
+expatriated her children, the latter are morally absolved from all
+allegiance or fidelity to her, no matter what the circumstances of
+their plighted faith. No man should be bound by oaths or obligations,
+to maintain the supremacy or defend the interests of a tyrant,
+exacted under an inhuman pressure or in the presence of such an
+alternative as the poor Irish recruit is subject to, namely, that of
+enlisting or starving. How can any Irish soldier, possessed of a
+single spark of pride or patriotism, and wearing the queen of
+England's livery to-day, be other than the deadly enemy of the
+representative of a people who have laid his country waste, murdered
+his kindred and left him and millions of his race without a roof to
+cover them on their own native shores? How can he gaze with any
+degree of enthusiasm or pleasure upon the blood-stained rag that
+waved over Mullaghmast, that was perjured at Limerick, and that
+endorsed with its baleful glare all the demoniacal atrocities of the
+Penal Laws? "Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God"--therefore
+the children of Ireland who have been so long trodden in the dust
+under the feet of an usurper, are but obeying the dictates of heaven
+and of humanity, when, by every means within the boundaries of
+civilization, they endeavor to encompass not only their own
+redemption from the bonds of the oppressor, but the total destruction
+of his power in every connection. Ireland owes no allegiance to
+England. For seven hundred years she has been crying out against the
+colony of foreign bayonets that have kept her in bondage and reduced
+her to beggary. For one single hour, throughout the whole of that
+long period, she has never voluntarily accepted the condition of her
+thraldom, or bowed submissively beneath the British yoke. She
+therefore cannot be regarded in the light of a conquered nation, but
+must be looked upon as still engaged in the deadly and mortal
+contest, whose first field was fought long years ago, between the
+Anglo-Norman freebooters and the Fenians of Cuan-na-Groith, or the
+Harbor of the Sun, when Strongbow, at the instance of the second
+Henry, made an unprovoked descent upon her shores.
+
+"Yes," replied Tom, when Barry had finished, "both I and mine have
+felt the cruel fangs of the despoiler; but, sure, where is the use of
+singlin out ourselves, when the whole of the thrue native
+Irish--which manes the nineteenth twintieths of the kingdoms-are jist
+as badly off. The quarrel is not yours nor mine, nor the grievances
+naither. Both belong to every man, woman and child possessed of a
+pure dhrop of Irish blood in their veins; for all have suffered
+alike, as far as that is consarned. And, now, all that has to be done
+on the head of it, is jist to wait the nick of time that we are all
+expectin, and then, with one well directed and united blow, dash the
+tyrant to the ground on this side of the Atlantic, and thrust to
+Providence, the sympathy of the great American people and our own
+sthrong arms and hearts for the rest."
+
+"Quebec and the fort beyond there," observed Burk, "may give us some
+trouble; but further than this, from what has been ascertained of the
+Province generally, there is little to be apprehended. The intimate
+business relations and the intermarriages between the Canadians and
+the people of the United States, will exercise a most powerful
+influence in the case, while the manner in which both the English and
+Canadian Governments fomented the recent civil war on the other side
+of the lines, cannot fail to have embittered the American people
+against the British Flag, wherever it is to be found. The treacherous
+attack of England upon the existance of the Republic, in subsidizing
+the South with arms and money, and in destroying, as she did for a
+considerable period, the American carrying trade, through the
+instrumentality of pirates built and fitted out in her own ship-yards
+and docks, will now afford the American government an opportunity of
+paying her off in kind, through permitting Fenianism to pursue its
+course without interruption, until the Provinces become part and
+parcel of the Union, when they have served as a basis of operation
+for the purpose of fitting out expeditions against the arch enemy of
+Ireland and of human freedom, and contributed to the final redemption
+of that oppressed country from the bonds in which it has so long
+lain. Surely, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander;
+and if England, through the House of Commons, cheered the Alabama
+when her destructive qualities were described before that body by Mr.
+Laird, and, after having built the pirate, sent her out to make war
+upon the North when it was in sore trouble--surely, I say, America
+will not be over anxious to throw obstructions in the way of any
+party who may take in hand the chastisement of such an infamous
+power, no matter what the grounds of the quarrel. But when it comes
+to be understood that for the last ninety years, and up to a very
+recent period, England has been the deadly defamer and the secret or
+avowed enemy of America and American institutions--when it comes to
+be understood, that the statesmen, the business men and the wives and
+daughters of the citizens of the American Commonwealth, ever since
+the immortal Washington won the day for the oppressed of the whole
+world, have been subjected to the sneers and jibes of the English
+aristocracy and press, and held up to the ridicule of despotic
+Europe--when this comes to be understood, I repeat, in connection
+with the fact, that the cause of Ireland is the cause of human
+liberty and of republican institutions, there will be but little fear
+of America stepping out of her way to uphold the skull and
+cross-bones of St. George, either on this or on the other side of the
+Atlantic ocean, or, in fact, in any portion of the globe."
+
+"Nor will the clear-sighted children of the Republic be cajoled into a
+friendly attitude towards this blood-thirsty dastard, because that,
+in the feebleness and fear that have now overtaken her, she essays to
+gloze over the infamous acts of which she stands convicted before the
+nations, and assumes an air of friendship towards them. Had the Union
+fallen, through her infernal machinations, not a city throughout her
+dominions but would have blazed with joyful illuminations at the
+result; while her government would again introduce the impressments
+of 1812. Even when the slightest reverse was suffered by the arms of
+the North, the news was heralded throughout the whole of England with
+tokens of the most intense satisfaction; while both her people and
+statesmen took a fiendish delight in referring to the Commonwealth as
+"the late United States!" All this, I say, will influence, and ought
+to influence, America in favor of the independence of Ireland, and
+prevent the American people from regarding the present pusillanimous
+blandishments of John Bull as other than simply the result of
+cowardice, and an attempt to propitiate a great power that had
+survived his infernal machinations, and now looms up a just and
+mighty avenger before him. So long then, as England is permitted to
+hold Ireland, that is battling for her rights, in chains, or to taint
+permanently the pure atmosphere of this free continent, so long will
+the Stars and Stripes shine with subdued lustre, and the memory of
+the immortal heroes of '76 be but half honored, by those who are
+pledged to defend it to the death in the sight of both God and man."
+
+"As to Quebec and the other garrisons down this way," observed Barry,
+"when Hamilton and Toronto are in the hands of the Army of the Irish
+Republic, they will be easily managed. None of the strongholds are
+proof against Irish sympathizers, in their vicinity. This I know to
+be true. Every genuine Irishman within easy hailing distance of the
+garrison at Quebec, has more than one tried friend within its walls;
+and so of the other strongholds along the St. Lawrence and lakes. But
+supposing, for argument's sake, that any of those forts should take
+it into its head to stand a siege, where would it be when invested
+with such an army as Fenianism can now put into the field, composed
+of thousands upon thousands of veterans who are still grim with blood
+and smoke from the terrible fields of the South? What, too, would
+your militia do, with their holiday legs and maiden swords, against
+the men who fought at Cold Harbor, Gettysburg or Bull Run? Why the
+one-fourth of the force which it is said Fenianism has at its
+command, would sweep Canada like a tornado from Sanwich to Gaspe, and
+be recruited every yard of the road, besides; while the instant one
+signal victory was won by them, the government of the United States
+would at once acknowledge them as belligerants. This, I believe, is
+the true state of the case; and if the Fenian organization across the
+lines, and here amongst us, possess honest, brave and competent
+leaders, the overthrow of England in the Provinces cannot fail to be
+achieved; for, after all, she has no secure footing in the hearts of
+the masses, and enjoys nothing but a mere official existence here,
+under the protection of her guns, and through the instrumentality of
+a corrupt government and a hireling press. But as it is getting well
+up in the small hours, and as I feel I need some rest, I think I'll
+take another tumbler, if you only join me, and then turn in."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+When young Barry spoke of the girl of his love, he referred to Kate
+McCarthy, now in her twentieth year, and certainly one of the most
+beautiful Irish girls that had emigrated to America for many a long
+day. Kate and he had been schoolfellows and neighbors from their
+infancy, and, as they grew up, were regarded as a sort of "matter of
+course match," from the fact, that they were always together, and
+apparently cut out for each other. They were both natives of the
+county Leitrim, and born on the banks of the Shannon, in the sweet
+little town of Drumsna. It was by the beautiful waters of this noble
+river that they first felt that impassioned glow that colors all the
+after life of man or woman, and which is as different from the
+feelings that characterize early boy or girlhood, as the noon-day
+solar blaze is from the cold and placid beams of the pale new moon.
+There is one point at which the true passion of love, in all great
+hearts, leaps into fierce and instantaneous existence. There may be
+many imperceptible approaches to it in some cases, we know, but out
+of these it is possible to turn aside. When the hour arrives,
+however, in a single moment the storming party, under one wild
+impulse, unknown before, mounts the ramparts of the heart, and, after
+a moment's sweet confusion, the garrison falls and is surrendered
+forever into the hands of the enemy. And thus it was with our hero
+and heroine. Although they had long been the dearest of friends and
+constant companions--although they had long felt that the happiness
+of the one was necessary to that of the other, the great secret of
+their existence was never fully revealed to them, until they felt
+they were about to be separated from each other for an indefinite
+period; Kate to accompany her only relatives to America and poor
+Barry to enter the British army, under a pressure of poverty too
+dreadful to relate. As already intimated, the prospects of both had
+been blighted through oppression and villainy, brought to bear upon
+them by distant relatives, who were the infamous agents of a still
+more infamous government. The case of Nick, although sore enough in
+its way, was not so heartrending as that of Kate. He was of a sex
+fitted to wrestle with the storms of life, but she, proud and brave
+as she was, occupied a different position. Fortunately for both,
+however, through the instrumentality of a small pittance set aside by
+the Courts in her case, and a kind relation in that of Barry, their
+education was far above their pecuniary pretensions, so that at the
+age of twenty Kate was really an accomplished and refined girl, while
+her lover, at that of twenty-five, was a dashing young fellow, with a
+well stored mind and quite as capable of acquitting himself agreeably
+in society as any man, no matter what his rank, in the regiment to
+which he belonged. It was, then, in consequence of his education
+that he was looked up to by his comrades; although neglected and
+studiously kept in the back grounds by some of the officers of his
+company, who, viewing his attainments through the, medium of their
+English spectacles, closed the door of preferment against him, and
+never suffered a single stripe to appear on his jacket. With as good
+blood in his veins as the best of them, and with a sense of the
+wrongs inflicted upon his country by the government whose abettors
+they were, he could never bring himself to stoop to the fawning and
+servility through which the lower grades of rank are attainable, only
+in the service; and thus, it was that, from first to last, he was
+viewed with an eye of suspicion by his superiors, who regarded him as
+an incorrigible young Irishman, who, notwithstanding that he wore the
+uniform of a British soldier, had no love for the service or the
+interests it represented.
+
+Barry entered the army under the most terrific pressure only. He
+found that Kate and her friends were destined for America, and being
+himself, at the period, totally destitute of funds and without the
+means of realizing them speedily, in a moment of desperation he
+enlisted in a regiment that was under sailing orders for that
+country, in the hope of being stationed somewhere near the being he
+loved, and of being able, at least, to keep up a constant and
+unbroken correspondence with her until fortune should turn the wheel
+in his favor. And so he enlisted and parted from Kate and her
+friends, to follow her in a short period across the Atlantic, and
+renew his vows of love and affection upon another shore.
+
+The ship that had borne her away from his view had been scarcely two
+days at sea, when the deadly intelligence reached his ear that the
+sailing orders of his regiment had been countermanded, and that
+instead of proceeding to Quebec, it was to sail for Malta, where it
+was likely to remain for perhaps a couple of years. This dreadful
+news almost annihilated him. He had made a sacrifice to no purpose,
+and was now bound hand and foot beyond the hope of redemption. Before
+Kate and he parted, he had agreed to write her to Quebec, in care of
+a friend, if anything should occur that might postpone the sailing of
+his regiment, or that portion of it that was for foreign service; and
+now the dreadful opportunity arrived, when he found himself called
+upon to convey to her the intelligence, that not only was the sailing
+of the regiment postponed, but its destination altered. In due course
+the fatal disclosure reached her, and almost deprived her of life and
+reason. In the space of one brief hour she passed through the agony
+of years. The being she loved, in the burning ardor of his young
+soul, had hastily--thoughtlessly sacrificed his freedom; and all for
+her! It had been a sufficient dagger to her soul to see him attired
+in the blood-stained uniform of the enemies of her country, yet she
+knew that he had been driven by the most inexorable circumstances to
+assume the hated garb. But now he was overtaken with twofold
+desolation--he was a slave, and beyond the reach of one kind word of
+solace from her, for whom he had sacrificed all, save and except that
+which might be borne to him, through the ordinary channels, across
+the trackless deep.
+
+Racked as she was with those torturing reflections, and while the
+first wild burst of grief was yet rolling down her cheeks, she
+determined to begin her lone, young widowhood by instantly writing to
+him and bidding him hope. In this epistle, all the nobility of her
+true heart and nature blazed forth so transcendently, and with such
+fierce, womanly fervor, that the moment it reached the hands of the
+young soldier the light was re-kindled within him, and he at once set
+about procuring his discharge, or rather realizing the means of
+effecting his release from the bonds into which he had allowed his
+pure 'though ungovernable passion to betray him. His education, as
+already observed, was most excellent, and now, when off duty, he
+turned it to good account, and slowly but surely began to add daily
+to what trifle he was able to save from his paltry pay, in the hope
+of yet commanding a sufficient sum to purchase his freedom and enable
+him, ultimately, to sail for America. In this way, and during the two
+years he was stationed at Malta, he spent his spare moments, being
+throughout that whole period particularly fortunate in keeping up
+what was life to him, an unbroken correspondence with his beloved.
+
+At the expiration of three years, having been quartered, on his
+return from the Mediterranean, for the last one, in England, at
+length came the welcome and startling intelligence, that the
+regiment, now indeed, was to proceed forthwith to Canada, where it
+would be likely to remain for a considerable period. In a delirium of
+joy he communicated the happy intelligence to his love, and had just
+time to receive a hurried epistle in reply, in which the very arms of
+the true-hearted and beautiful Kate seemed thrown open to receive
+him. For some months previously, however, she had been informing him,
+from time to time, of a very disagreeable position in which she had
+been placed, through the persistent attentions paid her by an Irish
+gentleman named Lauder, who, by some means or other, had so
+ingratiated himself with her relatives, as to win them over to urge
+his suit; and who was reputed to be a person of means. These hints,
+however disagreeable, were always accompanied by a renewal of the
+vows they had long since plighted on the banks of the Shannon, and
+the fervent assurance that no one living or yet to live should ever
+lead Kate McCarthy a bride to the altar, save her own Nicholas Barry.
+
+When Kate and her relatives arrived at Quebec, they remained in that
+city but a short period, as they had friends at Toronto, as well as
+near Fort Erie and at Buffalo, in the State of New York, whom they
+were desirous of visiting, and near whom they had determined to
+settle permanently. Unfortunately for Barry, the more intimate
+guardians or relatives of Kate had become unfriendly to his suit ever
+since he entered the army; impressed, as they had become, with that
+Irish idea, that the red coat of a private soldier in the British
+service was the most disreputable that could be worn. In this light,
+therefore, they encouraged the advances of Lauder, in the hope that
+absence would so weaken the first love of Kate, as to induce her to
+yield ultimately to her new suitor. But they little new the girl with
+whom they had to deal; for when Lauder, under their sanction, made a
+formal declaration of his passion to her, she quenched his hopes, as
+she supposed, forever, by informing him that both her heart and her
+hand were previously engaged, and that were they even at her
+disposal, she should be quite unable to bestow them upon any
+gentleman for whom she did not and could not entertain a single
+particle of true love, although he might have secured her esteem.
+This rejection, however, did not, as she supposed it would, preclude
+the possibility of any further advances from such a quarter, for
+Lauder, nothing daunted, kept up the siege when and wherever he
+could, without giving absolute offense; so cunningly and intangibly
+did he still pursue the object set before him. At last, nevertheless,
+so constant were his visits at the house, and so permanent a footing
+was he getting in the estimation of her friends, that, after having
+resided at Toronto upwards of two years, she left it at the instance
+of one of the family, who, on their first arrival in America, had
+settled in Buffalo, to which city she proceeded, and in which she now
+took up her residence.
+
+While in Toronto the thought struck her that she might be able to
+turn whatever abilities she had to account, in the hope of being able
+to accumulate sufficient funds to aid our young hero in purchasing
+his discharge, fearing, as she did, that his own opportunities, in
+this relation, would be greatly restricted. So with her needle, and
+through the instrumentality of a small private school, she ultimately
+found herself mistress of the required amount, and was about to
+forward it to Nicholas, at the very period when she received
+intelligence of his regiment being ordered to America. She therefore
+thought it better to wait until they met, as she had made up her mind
+to set out, when apprised of his arrival, for any place in which he
+might happen to be quartered, and there plan for their future and his
+freedom.
+
+In due time Barry reached Quebec, and from thence was ordered, with
+his company, to the town in which we first encountered him. Here he
+was soon joined by the true-hearted Kate, who remained for a few days
+with her cousins, Big Tom and his sister. During this period it was
+decided that Nicholas should purchase his discharge when he found
+that there was any prospect of the regiment being called home. The
+reasons for his not at once availing himself of the freedom he knew
+he could obtain at any moment, need not now be referred to more
+minutely; and as Kate left him to return to Buffalo, just four months
+previous to the opening of our story, after having made more than one
+pilgrimage from the United States to spend a few days with her
+cousins as she averred, it was settled upon finally, that he should
+quit the service in the ensuing summer, when they should become man
+and wife, as well as residents of the great Republic of the United
+States of America.
+
+The intimacy, then, between Big Tom and Nick, is now accounted for in
+a satisfactory manner; and thus it was, that whenever the young
+soldier got leave to spend a night out of the Fort, he invariably
+took up his quarters at the sign of the Harp, where he not only knew
+he was welcome on his own account, but was sure to find company that
+was agreeable to him, and sympathized with all his aspirations in
+relation to his poor, down-trodden country.
+
+Kate McCarthy, as we have already said, was in her twentieth year at
+the time we were first introduced to O'Brien and his customers, and
+certainly, as previously intimated, a more lovely woman could
+scarcely be found in a day's walk. Her face and figure were absolute
+mirages of beauty, while, if there could be such a thing as black
+sunbeams, her eyes and hair would have illustrated them to intensity.
+She was above the medium height, with a slightly olive complexion
+that harmonized superbly with the glorious orbs through which the
+pure light of her soul poured forth a mellow blaze, and the dark,
+heavy tresses that fell in shining masses upon her pearly shoulders.
+Nothing, too, could surpass the intensified loveliness of her soft,
+rounded arms, and exquisitely shaped hands and feet, while her
+delicious mouth and beautifully chiseled nose and ears were really
+mysteries of loveliness so rare, that few could entertain the idea
+that she who possessed them could have laid her whole heart at the
+feet of a common soldier, and that, too, when it was in her power to
+turn such charms to high account in the every day market of society.
+But she knew Nicholas Barry and the nobility of his nature, and was
+aware, in addition, that had he not, like herself, been the victim of
+foul play and of a government that fostered crime in its adherents,
+he would never have been constrained to swear allegiance to the flag
+he both hated and despised, or have been obliged to exchange the garb
+of the son of a true Irish gentleman for that which had so lowered
+him, in the eyes of her relatives at least. But rich or poor, in
+scarlet or homespun, he was all the same to her; and now that he was
+almost at her side, and master, in a measure, of his own fate, she
+only looked forward to the period when she should have a legal right
+to his protection, and to call him by that name which, beyond all
+others is the one that lies nearest a woman's heart.
+
+The relative and his wife with whom Kate lived in Buffalo, were, in
+reality, noble and true-hearted people. They had known Nicholas from
+his childhood, and had always loved him for his manliness and bold
+struggles to gain some position at home in which he might be able to
+realize a sufficiency to maintain both himself and the girl of his
+love, before he led her to the altar. They had witnessed his repeated
+failures when he applied for any vacant situation where his education
+could be turned to account, and felt for his dire disappointment upon
+many an occasion when he was denied even a subordinate office in
+connection with the management of the large property that had once
+belonged to his family. With pain and anger they saw his praiseworthy
+exertions baffled at every turn, and, unlike the rest of their
+relations, discovered more of his self-sacrificing spirit still, in
+the desperate step he took for the purpose of joining his betrothed
+upon a foreign shore--a step which they would have gladly prevented,
+had their own slender means been sufficient to have transported him
+with them to their new home. Moved by this spirit of kindness and
+esteem, these worthy people were the very main-stay of Kate in the
+hour of her sorest trial, and now that Barry was near her once more,
+they entered heart and hand into all her projects, and were delighted
+to know that his discharge should be purchased before his regiment
+was ordered to leave the colony.
+
+It must not be presumed, however, that Kate, since her arrival in
+America, had permitted herself to be a burden, in even the slightest
+degree, upon any of her friends or relations. Far from it; from the
+moment that they became settled at Toronto, up to the hour of
+Nicholas' arrival in the colony, she not only supported herself
+through her industry and perseverence, but contributed, in a degree,
+to the maintenance of some of them also. Of course, in view of the
+all-absorbing object she had before her, regarding her lover, she
+could not be expected to do much in this latter relation; yet she did
+what she could, and so satisfied her pride and her conscience.
+Sometimes the recollection of the long and weary chancery suit would
+obtrude itself upon her, but only to provoke a hopeless and languid
+smile, prompted by the conviction that her enemy, whom she had never
+seen, and who had recently succeeded to the claims of his
+father--Philip Darcy, now but a few months dead--had too much
+influence with the government and its legal minions, to permit her to
+indulge in the slightest hope, that, were the case decided tomorrow,
+it could be otherwise than against her. Consequently, it mattered but
+little to her whether she was worsted by Philip the elder or Philip
+the younger; so, in this way, she now invariably disposed of the
+unpleasant matter. Yet, she felt, notwithstanding, deeply and
+bitterly upon the subject: and knew that she was the victim of a most
+diabolical plot; but she did not permit this to interfere with her
+daily avocations, or induce her to sit down in apathetic sorrow, and
+repine over a fate that no effort of hers could influence in any
+degree whatever.
+
+Still, as may be readily supposed, both from her education and a
+knowledge of her own personal wrongs, and those which had for
+centuries been inflicted upon the unhappy land of her birth, she was
+no friend or admirer of the government or people who had wrought her
+so much ruin in this connection. On this head she was most
+inexorable, and felt that it was the duty of every true Irishman and
+Irishwomen in existence, to conspire, as best they could, against a
+power which had plunged their race and country into such frightful
+ruin; and she believed, firmly, that, in so far as her native land
+was concerned, its children were justified in using any means by
+which they could rid themselves of a tyrant and usurper, who, in
+violation of every law, both human and divine, subjected them to
+sword and flame for ages.
+
+It will be perceived, then, that both Kate McCarthy and Nicholas were
+influenced by the same just and deadly spirit against England; and
+that neither thought it otherwise than meritorious, to hurl that
+tyrant to the dust, at any time and under any circumstances. The iron
+had penetrated their souls; and now that rumors were afloat touching
+the intention of the great organization of Fenianism, which
+overspread the American Union, to make a descent upon the Canadas,
+with a view to destroying the power of England upon this continent,
+and ultimately rescuing Ireland from the grasp of the oppressor,
+Kate's eye was lit, from time to time, with the most patriotic
+fervor; while the world could, at any moment, discover the true
+nature of the fame that burned within her soul, from the emerald
+sheen of the silken band which invariably bound up her raven hair,
+and encircled her snowy throat.
+
+Once or twice she happened to encounter Lauder in Buffalo, so as to
+recognize him without the possibility of mistake; while on several
+occasions, she could not divest herself of the idea that he had just
+passed her in disguise; although she could not imagine what prompted
+him to such secrecy, when she never noticed him since she had left
+Toronto, or recognized him on the two occasions when she chanced to
+meet him in the public street. Yet, a strange presentiment seemed to
+impress her that he had not, after all her plainness with him,
+abandoned the idea of obtaining her hand, notwithstanding the
+repugnance she had always evinced towards him. Now, however, that
+Nicholas was almost within hail of her, and that her friends, in
+Buffalo at least, were true to her in every relation, she felt secure
+from whatever machinations her imagination conjured up; and,
+therefore, whenever the subject suddenly obtruded itself upon her
+thoughtful moments, she dismissed it as summarily; reassured by the
+conviction that she was totally beyond the reach of any schemes that
+might have been concocted in relation to her or her future.
+
+For the purpose, however, of setting the matter at rest forever, she
+was resolved that her lover should leave the service now as early as
+possible; and, stimulated by this desire, on returning to her
+residence, one evening towards the middle of April of the year in
+which we first encountered him on the bridge leading from the Fort,
+she addressed a letter to Nicholas, urging him to leave the army as
+soon as practicable, assigning as a reason the presence of Lauder in
+Buffalo, whom she had, as she felt assured, again encountered or
+rather discovered in the vicinity of her residence, and adding a
+further reason, based upon the rumor, that the Army of the Irish
+Republic would soon move upon Canada, and that his regiment could not
+fail to be called out to oppose it--a circumstance that would, as
+she well knew, be the cause of more actual pain to him, than anything
+that could possibly occur in the discharge of what was termed his
+duty.
+
+This letter Barry received the second day after it was written; and
+on consulting with O'Brien, at once set about procuring his
+discharge; but as the Colonel of his regiment had gone to the Lower
+Provinces, from which he was not to return for a week or two, the
+matter was left in abeyance until he should again arrive in town. In
+due course, however, he did return, and the necessary application
+being made, no objection was offered to granting the discharge, as
+Barry's conduct had always been most unexceptionable since he entered
+the service.
+
+In this way matters stood, then, on the night on which we found Big
+Tom in secret conclave with his two friends, Nick and Burk, in his
+own little sanctum; Nick having got leave to stay out until morning,
+as the officer in command informed him, it was probably the last
+request he should have the power of granting him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+An organization so wide-spread and so numerous as that of the Fenian
+Brotherhood, it was not to expected that all its members, without an
+exception, were good men and true; yet so rarely were traitors found
+among its ranks, that no patriotic confraternity of its magnitude had
+ever, in ancient or modern times, presented so pure a record in this
+relation. When we take into consideration the fact that, the
+insidious and subsidizing gold of England was brought to bear upon
+the frightful poverty of the masses that composed the organization in
+Ireland, as well as the temptations to treason held out by the
+government, through their agents in the Republic of the United States
+of America, the wonder is that there were not more Corydons and
+Masseys to do the work of the usurper, and betray the cause to which
+they had sworn fealty. However, there were traitors sufficient at
+work to cause great damage in individual cases, and send many a brave
+fellow into the gloomy depths of a British dungeon. Nearly all the
+injury in this connection, however, appears to have been done at
+home, as treason of this character was totally powerless under any
+foreign flag--or at least not so capable of direct mischief. From the
+first moment of the inception of the organization, the British and
+the Canadian governments had their paid spies in and outside the
+American press, who kept the authorities well informed as to all the
+particulars that transpired within the range of their observation or
+through other channels; but these disclosures were necessarily meagre
+and, in many cases, totally unreliable; from the circumstance that
+those disreputable parties, for the purpose of magnifying their
+importance, and securing further the patronage of their employers,
+colored and distorted facts so terribly, that scarce a line from
+their pens or a sentence from their lips was worthy even the
+slightest credence. Still, from time to time, some little rumor
+struggled to the surface, which pointed to treachery somewhere; and
+thus it was that the authorities of the organization were often
+placed awkwardly in relation to the idle though dangerous gossip
+which occasionally singled out this individual or that, as the party
+who had betrayed his trust. In the various cities along the American
+frontier, there was from time to time a good deal of this gossip--a
+circumstance that might have been quite easily accounted for; seeing
+that the inhabitants of some of these places were in what might be
+termed hourly intercommunication with the people of Canada; giving,
+in some cases, rise to suspicions, which were in the main without any
+foundation. This distrust, although affecting the stability or
+growing prosperity of the Brotherhood in scarcely any degree, had yet
+the effect of strengthening the hands of British sympathizers in the
+Union, and inducing them to resolve themselves into little coteries
+or societies--such as was hurriedly formed not long since under the
+influence and guidance of Mr. H----, of Buffalo, for the ostensible
+purpose of aiding destitute Canadians, but with the real design of
+keeping an eye upon Fenianism, and disclosing, as far as the members
+could divine, all its intentions, hopes and prospects, to the British
+government. Occasionally an emissary, direct from Great Britain, in
+the guise of a lecturer or tourist, visited these associations and
+received their report, which, as far as was practicable, he verified
+by personal observation, and through whatever reliable channels, he
+believed to be open to him. These emissaries have been supplemented
+by others of a somewhat different character, but all bearing upon the
+interests of England. In this latter case, however, it has been the
+direct unfriendly relations between the American government and that
+of Great Britain, which had stimulated the pilgrimages of certain
+individuals of this class to the shores of the great Republic.
+England perceiving that she had Fenianism to deal with on the one
+hand, and American hostility, regarding her infamous course during
+the late war, on the other, in her cowardly fears for the
+consequences, backed up her anti-Fenian agents, by sending out such
+persons as Mr. Charles Dickens and Mr. Henry Vincent, to prove to the
+citizens of the Commonwealth how friendly the sentiments that England
+had always entertained for them, and how disasterous a thing it would
+be to both peoples, should a war, under any circumstances, be
+permitted to take place between them. Both these gentlemen, and
+others, distinguished and popular in their respective literary
+shades, went forth preaching peace and good will between the Saxons
+on the one side of the Atlantic and their so-called American cousins
+on the other. With an audacity the most barefaced and unaccountable,
+upon every possible occasion, opportune or otherwise, they wore the
+olive branch at their button-hole, and described in periods the most
+eloquent, the identity of blood and interests which characterized both
+nations, and which it were heinous to ignore. Notwithstanding that for
+ninety long years their infamous government had been indulging in the
+most heartless sneers, insults and injustice towards the press, the
+people and the executive of the United States--notwithstanding that
+during the late war every reverse of the arms of the Republic was
+hailed with heartfelt joy by the English party, both at home and in
+Canada, and that pirates were built and fitted out under the very eyes
+of the British Cabinet, and with the secret sanction of that corrupt
+horde, to make war upon American commerce and destroy the Union in the
+hour of its extremity--notwithstanding all this, we say, and maugre
+the kindred circumstance of subsidizing the South with money and arms
+so as to prolong the fratracidal conflict until both parties lay
+bloody and broken at the feet of English despotism, these able and
+smooth-tongued gentry had the accursed assurance to stand up in most
+of the principal cities of the Democracy, and assert broadly, that
+England was the true and tried friend of republican institutions and
+of the people who sustained them on the free continent of America.
+Under the liberal laws which accord freedom of speech to every man who
+touches the shores of the Republic, these men had, we know, a right to
+express, publicly or otherwise, their sentiments in this connection,
+how treacherous and untenable soever; but what we could never fathom,
+was the daring of any journal professing to be true to the interests
+of freedom or those of the Union, in endorsing those sentiments and
+setting them forth to the world as truthful and worthy the acceptance
+of every genuine American, no matter what his creed or party. An
+attempt so monstrous to stullify all past experience and ignore all
+history has never been made in any relation whatever; and the wonder
+is, that, few as they are, so many Americans have been led astray by
+it. To any individual, of even the most ordinary penetration, it must
+be obvious, that the present cringing and treacherous attitude assumed
+by England towards the American people, is but the mask of a foul and
+dangerous spirit, snatched up in a moment of mortal fear to be worn
+only until some opportune moment arrives when it can be thrown aside
+with safety, revealing the old, familiar, demoniacal scowl which lurked
+unaltered beneath its smiling exterior. America, to be true to herself,
+must beware of such false lights, of the press as these. They are for
+the most part subsidized by English gold, or so imbuded with English
+sentiment, that the interests of the Union are quite a secondary
+consideration with them. In evidence of the truth of this assertion,
+we have only to dwell upon the apathy with which these journalists
+regard the building up of a dangerous despotism upon our borders,
+in the very teeth of American traditions and sentiments, and in
+opposition to the feelings of the masses whom it effects more
+immediately, and who were not permitted by their tyrants to express
+a single opinion at the polls on so grave a subject as the total
+disruption or remodeling of the constitution under which they lived.
+Look at the expression of Nova Scotia on this head, and see how it
+reflects upon the course pursued by the great American people in
+relation to the confederation of the adjoining Provinces. Not long
+since the inhabitants of that section of the New Dominion set forth,
+in a memorial to the British government, that this same confederation
+was forced upon the people of the Canadas, through falsehood, bribery
+and the vilest fraud. And, yet, free and generous America, who assumes
+to be the day-star of freedom on this continent, and to the world,
+permitted this despotic measure to be enforced at her own threshold,
+and in relation to a people, thousands upon thousands of whom
+sympathized with her interests and institutions, and looked forward
+with longing eyes to the hour when the Stars and Stripes should float
+from every flag-staff and tower throughout the whole of the English
+possessions in the New World. Surely the missionary spirit of the
+Republic has not been best illustrated in this instance; nor can we
+discover now, how it is, that the authorities of the Union sit quietly
+playing at thumbs, while the Parliament of the Dominion is voting
+millions for the defenses of the new despotism, and framing projects
+that are intended to result in a line of impregnable forts from
+Sandwich to Gaspe, and at every point where it is possible for an
+invader to set foot upon their shores. Wait until false, foul and
+treacherous England can sit beneath the shadow of the guns of her
+infant monarchy, on the Canadian frontier, and then see if she does
+not begin to show her cloven foot anew. Let her once get a permanent
+foothold among the newly projected fortresses along the St. Lawrence
+and the Lakes, with Quebec as their key, and the peace and prosperity
+of America, as well as the stability of republican institutions,
+cannot be counted as secure, for a single day, from petty annoyance,
+or perhaps inroads of a more formidable character. This idea may,
+we know, be scouted by those who have a well grounded faith in the
+destiny of the American people and the power they undoubtedly possess
+in a naval and military point of view; but, after all, a gun is a gun
+and a garrison a garrison; and to allow an implacable and formidable
+enemy to possess herself of either, within range of our fire-sides,
+when we can prevent it, is what we should call courting the presence
+of a bombshell on our borders, that may at any moment be thrown into
+our midst.
+
+Without dwelling further on this particular point, however, we may
+observe, that through some of the channels already referred to, the
+English government became aware, in 1865, that it was the intention
+of the Irish Nationalists in the United States to make a descent, at
+no distant day, upon Canada, and seize it as a basis of operations,
+with a view to carrying out their projects for the redemption of
+Ireland. In connexion with this information, they found, also, that
+the troops in Canada were largely interspersed with Irishmen, and it
+was consequently deemed necessary to send a secret agent to the
+Provinces to look into the case and report upon it, or rather upon
+the sentiment of the Irish element in the colony, whether in or out
+of the army, in relation to Fenianism. This they thought could be
+best accomplished through the instrumentality of a tried emissary of
+their own, as even from the Provincial Cabinet conflicting accounts
+were arriving constantly in relation to the all-important subject. In
+furtherance of this view, the Castle of Dublin was, of course,
+applied to, and a creature selected to do the work, who was not
+himself fully aware that his position was recognized by the imperial
+Cabinet so decidedly, but simply fancied himself in the capacity of a
+sort of trusty policeman, appointed by one of the Castle authorities,
+who was anxious to know for himself how the case stood on the other
+side of the Atlantic. This agent was one of the cleverest of his
+class, and possessed of the most consummate cunning, and a spirit of
+reckless daring but seldom evinced by members of his tribe. Already
+he had rendered substantial service to the Viceroy and to England, as
+an inveterate spy, and a scoundrel who had, on more than one
+occasion, distinguished himself in the witness box. In addition to
+his investigations in Canada, he was instructed to extend the line of
+his observations to the United States also, and to move from point to
+point, as his own judgment might dictate in the premises. He was, of
+course, furnished with ample means to carry out successfully the
+project intrusted to him; and although but little faith could be
+placed in his integrity, so far as the disposal of the funds put in
+his hands were concerned, yet, by an opportune circumstance,
+connected with his own personal interest, and overriding any sum that
+was entrusted to him, the Castle was enabled to hold him in check, no
+matter how he might be tempted, or where he chanced to move. With his
+activity and fidelity thus insured, this miserable wretch, who went
+in Dublin by the name of Philip the Spy, was despatched on his
+mission, and, in due coarse arriving at Quebec, set about it in his
+usual cautious and conning manner. He visited the Citadel as a
+stranger, under the ordinary pass from the Town Major, and soon made
+himself agreeable in the dark, low canteen among the soldiers.
+Whenever he thought he discovered a young and inexperienced Irishman
+among the rank and file, he was unusually pleasant and communicative.
+With such a companion he always moved about the garrison, descanting
+upon its force and power, and imperceptibly stealing into his good
+graces, until he found some opportunity of making an apparently
+accidental enquiry touching the information he was desirous of
+obtaining. In this way he became possessed of the knowledge that even
+Quebec held within its impregnable walls many a man who was far from
+being the true friend of England, and who, as he surmised, waited the
+opportunity of not only deserting her flag, but betraying her
+stronghold into the hands of her enemies. In this state of things he
+could not but discover the truthfulness of the beautiful line of the
+poet, "_Coelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt_," for he
+perceived that the mighty waters of the great Atlantic were
+insufficient to wash out the blood stains from the skirts of England
+in relation to Ireland, or to remove the deep hatred of the exiled
+children of the latter, towards a tyrannical power that had held them
+in bitter thrall so unjustly and so long.
+
+Satisfied of this, and of the additional fact, that the garrison was
+invulnerable from the river side only, and that much of the artillery
+that manned the citadel was all but worthless, on the pretense of
+being a friend to the cause of Irish freedom and a deadly enemy to
+England, he learned that not only were there many Fenian sympathizers
+within the walls of the garrison, but that the city outside was
+literally alive with similar friends, some of whom were to be found
+among the French population, who had never forgotten England's
+treatment of the First Napoleon, or her conquest of Canada in the
+days of Wolf These he knew himself were sore points with the Lower
+Canadians, and likely to bear bitter fruit in relation to English
+interests in America, one day or other. He perceived also that these
+facts, taken in connection with the unfriendly feeling which England
+had engendered in the United States, through the Alabama piracies and
+secret subsidies to the South during the war that had just closed,
+would, tend to both foster and embolden Fenianism, until it grew
+almost into an institution in the New World, or became, at least, a
+leading idea with no inconsiderable portion of both the Canadian and
+American people. He knew that every civilized nation on the face of
+the earth, save England herself, sympathized with the lamentable
+condition of the country to which he himself was a traitor; and such
+being the case, he felt how easy it would be on the part of these
+sympathizers, to find a means of justifying almost any measure that
+might be adopted against the usurper, by the organization at home and
+abroad. He saw and felt all this, and thus it became him to be doubly
+cautious, as he could not but understand, that were his mission
+divined by those whom he was now hourly betraying into positions of
+death or danger, it would go hard with him indeed. In fact, the idea
+struck him, that England, with all her boasting, was but little
+better than a camp in America; and that, as in Ireland, she was
+surrounded here also, by a hostile although a less demonstrative
+population.
+
+And, certainly, a truer deduction than this has never been drawn from
+any premises whatever. The nine tenths of the loyalty of Canada
+towards the British Crown, is superficial and terribly unreliable.
+Subtract the official and the Orange element from the masses, and
+they would drift at once into the arms of the United States. The
+events of 1837 prove that a strong undercurrent of American feeling
+exists in the colony, and various subsequent disclosures prove that
+it is even now only restrained by circumstances. When we find
+Canadian representatives on the floor of the House of Assembly,
+threatening England with an appeal to Washington in a certain
+connection, and when we see Americans filling some of the highest
+offices in the Dominion, and sitting at the Council Table with the
+representatives of royalty, we may be sure that the interests of
+Great Britain are not in safe keeping in such an atmosphere, and that
+such persons can always be brought to see how necessary it is to the
+_material_ welfare of the inhabitants of the Canadas that they should
+become part and parcel of the free and prosperous Republic of the
+United States. They cannot fail to see, that in their present
+dependent position,--lying, as they are, in the grasp of an English
+aristocrat, unacquainted with their wants and wishes, and who
+sympathizes only with the Crown, their trade, their commerce, and
+their internal resources must suffer to a frightful extent. So long
+as they are outside the pale of the Union and under the British flag,
+so long will a mighty war cloud hang upon their borders, that is
+liable to roll in upon them at any moment. The fact is fixed and
+unalterable, that the people of Ireland have secured for all time a
+permanent footing on this continent, where their numbers, wealth and
+influence have become irresistible, touching any project that they
+may entertain within the limits of the American Constitution. We say
+the American Constitution, for to this they have sworn fealty, and
+its maintenance is to them a matter of the first importance--a matter
+of life and death; from the fact, that it is to its generous
+provisions and the liberal spirit of its framers and their
+descendents, as well as to the kind sympathy of the American people
+in general, that they now owe their all. Were it not for the noble
+stand against tyranny taken by the heroes of 1765, and the subsequent
+glorious career of the country they had freed from the grasp of the
+English tyrant, Ireland should be still laden with chains the most
+hopeless; but, now that free America has influenced her to higher
+aspirations than she had ever felt previously in relation to human
+liberty and just and enlightened government, it is probable that she
+shall become the first fruits of American institutions on the
+despotic side of the Atlantic, and raise her bright republican head,
+in the midst of the hoary tyrannies of Europe, a glorious monument to
+the genius of American liberty and power, as well as to the memory of
+the immortal heroes of the war of Independence, who first taught
+manhood to the nations, and hurled to the dust, beneath their feet,
+the foul and blood-stained braggart who had sought to build up her
+despotic rule upon their virgin shores. In no way can America so
+justify the purity and sincerity of her soul in relation to her
+institutions, as by hurling them against the despotisms of the old
+world, and diffusing amongst its peoples, wherever she can with any
+degree of propriety, the blessings they are so eminently calculated
+to impart. And no point stands more invitingly open at the present
+moment for an experiment so indispensable to the true prestige of her
+power and greatness, than Ireland. Self-evident as the fact is, that
+that country has for generations been kept in slavery at the point of
+the bayonet, and plundered and starved by an accursed despot and her
+own deadly enemy, too, she can with the greatest possible ease move
+in the direction of breaking those galling bonds, and wreathing the
+poor, fleshless limbs, so long lacerated by them, with the flowery
+links which so bind her own glorious children in one harmonious and
+invincible whole. So long as Ireland lies groaning beneath the heel
+of the usurper, so long shall America have failed in her mission, and
+her duty towards God and man. She cannot be truly great, and sit down
+beneath her own vine and fig tree, listlessly enjoying the blessings
+of liberty, peace and plenty, while her kindred and friends lie in
+chains on the opposite side of the Atlantic, or while the infamous
+flag of the despot who oppresses them, and who but recently sought to
+stab her to the heart, floats in triumph on her very borders. Both
+heaven and humanity demand something more at her hands; and if
+actuated by no higher motive than that of mere self-preservation, or
+of providing against a rainy day, we would advise her, in view of the
+powerful armaments and the ingrained antagonisms which characterize
+Europe in every direction, to assist in establishing one friendly
+power at least on the shores of the Old World, which, in the hour of
+need, would make common cause with her in the interests of freedom,
+justice and truth. This, and the fact of the attempt now being made
+by England to build up an armed despotism in the New Dominion of
+Canada, are, in our humble opinion, matters of the deepest moment to
+the great American people; while we are equally convinced, that,
+should they neglect to avail themselves of their right to interpose
+wherever human suffering of the most heart-rending character obtains
+under the sway of a tyrant, or where the peace and security of a
+whole continent is threatened, by portentous and aggressive
+undertakings on its confines, the day will arrive, and that speedily,
+when they will be afforded a bitter opportunity of regretting their
+criminal apathy and neglect, without the power of atoning for either.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Although Kate had, as we have already stated, encountered Lauder on
+more than one occasion in Buffalo, without any very uneasy feeling as
+to his unpleasant proximity, yet she was not totally devoid of
+suspicion that she was, in some way or other, the cause of his
+presence in that city. True, she had rejected his heart and hand in
+the most decided manner; but then there was something about the man so
+obtrusive and yet so cunning, that at times she could have wished
+herself totally beyond has reach or hopes, as the wife of the noble
+young fellow she loved so ardently. When in Toronto, she had been
+sorely tried by the insidious attacks and insinuations of her
+persecutor, bearing upon the character and vocation of Nicholas,
+regarding which he appeared to be exceedingly well informed. He spoke
+of the uniform faithlessness of soldiers in general--their wretched
+mode of life and morals, together with the stigma that invariably
+attached to the wife of any individual who wore a private's coat in
+the service. In addition, he seemed to be conversant with the
+pecuniary embarrassments of Kate, as well as with the circumstances of
+the chancery suit, and, as he averred, the settled opinion at home,
+that it would be soon decided, and, without any possible doubt, in
+favor of the son of Philip Darcy. All this was heart-rending in the
+extreme to the poor girl; but yet her faith never faltered for a
+single moment in the truth and fidelity of her lover; and what cared
+she for aught else in the world, so long as he was left her without
+spot or blemish. Observing the foothold that Lauder had in the house
+and estimation of her relatives, she did not feel herself at liberty
+to treat him with all the contempt and severity that he deserved; so
+that she was too often, for appearances sake and out of respect for
+the feelings of those under whose roof she was, constrained not to
+notice in anger much that had escaped his lips regarding Nicholas, or,
+rather, the possible character which he had turned out to be under the
+baneful influence of a soldier's life. When, however, she accepted the
+hospitality and kindness of that portion of the family who had taken
+up their residence in Buffalo, and who were the staunchest friends of
+young Barry, she, at once, cut the acquaintance of her rejected
+suitor, and, as already observed, passed him once or twice in the
+street without deigning to notice him.
+
+This probed Lauder to the quick, and aroused all the fiend within him;
+and now that Barry had reached Canada, he determined to work in some
+way the ruin of either the one or the other, in order to make their
+union impossible, were even the most revolting crime necessary to that
+end. While dwelling on this subject, every vestige of humanity
+disappeared from the heart and face of the wretch who would encompass
+such ruin, and that, too, in the case of two individuals who had never
+injured him in thought, word or act. He was slighted and rejected by
+the only woman on earth that he cared to marry, and he would be
+avenged at even the risk of his life. He would dog her footsteps were
+she to move to the uttermost ends of the earth, until an opportunity
+to put his infernal plans in operation arrived; and as he had
+abundance of means at his command, he would enlist in his service
+those who would not hesitate to sell their souls for gold. Moved by
+this diabolical impulse, he followed her to Buffalo, and there made
+the acquaintance of two unmitigated villains who kept a low gambling
+house in one of the vilest streets in the city, and who were capable
+of any atrocity known to the annals of crime. These two vagabonds were
+already refugees from Canadian justice, having been concerned in one
+of the bank robberies so frequent in the Provinces, and had an
+accomplice of their own stamp on the Canadian frontier, not far from
+their present den, to whom they were in the habit of secretly
+forwarding goods stolen on the American side, to be kept until the
+excitement regarding the robbery had subsided, and an opportunity
+presented itself for disposing of them in some part of the Province
+where detection would be impossible. Under the cover of night one or
+the other of these wretches frequently stole across the lines and
+visited this locality, where he remained concealed until a fitting
+period occurred for returning to his old haunt.
+
+Of this stamp were the two persons whom Lauder now took into his
+confidence and employment in relation to the abduction of Kate
+McCarthy from her friends, and her transportation into Canada to some
+place of secrecy and of safety, until he should be able to force her
+into an alliance with him, or failing in this, make such a disposition
+of her as should, at least, place an eternal barrier between her and
+Nicholas. Among their friends and acquaintances these two villains
+were known as "black Jack" and the "Kid,"--the former as forbidding a
+specimen of the human race as ever breathed the vital air. He was low
+and thick set, with a neck like a bull, and a frame of prodigious
+strength.. His nose was broad and flat, his month large, his ears of
+immense size, his forehead low and retreating, while the breadth
+between his ears at the back of his head was inconceivable.
+
+His companion in crime, the Kid, in so far as external appearance was
+concerned, was his intensified antipodes. He was slightly formed and
+of rather prepossessing appearance; and were it not for a sinister
+expression of his full watery, grey eyes, remarkable when excited by
+anger, and some coarse and sensual lines about his mouth, perceptible
+upon all occasions, he might pass unnoticed among the thousands that
+crowded daily the locality in which he lived. He was the general, Jack
+the army--he plotted, Jack executed; and thus it was, that, through
+his consummate cunning, they had both been enabled to avoid justice so
+long. They ostensibly kept a sort of drinking saloon, from which they
+professed to banish all disreputable characters, and which, through
+the clear-headedness of the one, and the awe in which the great
+personal strength of the other was held, was unusually free from the
+disreputable rows and scenes that generally characterize such places.
+
+If the Kid and Black Jack differed from each other in personal
+appearance, they were nearly if not quite as much opposed to each
+other in dress. Jack's attire was of the very coarsest description,
+and always slovenly in appearance. No matter what the season of the
+year, he invariably wore a dark blue flannel shirt, a short, heavy
+over-coat, with huge, deep pockets, thick, iron-shod boots, coarse,
+loose trousers, and a huge, greasy, slouched, hat, of black felt,
+invariably pulled over his eyes when out through the city. The only
+difference as to the disposition of his attire, touching winter and
+summer, was, that during the former season he always served his
+customers with his slouched hat and jacket on, while throughout the
+warmest part of the latter, he was invariably to be found behind his
+dark, dingy bar, with his shirt sleeves tucked up and his collar
+unbuttoned and thrown open, displaying a pair of huge, swarthy arms,
+covered with coarse, black hair, and a broad and massive chest,
+presenting a similar aspect, and which exhibited all the
+characteristics, in this connection, of the most savage denizens of
+the forest. Such, then, were the personal appearance and the character
+of the two men whom Lauder now visited by stealth from time to time,
+but always in a disguise which defied detection, and which was made up
+with the most consummate skill.
+
+Unconscious of all the danger that surrounded her, Kate still kept the
+even tenor of her way, happy in the prospect of soon becoming the wife
+of the man she loved; while Barry, on the other hand, felt but little
+apprehension as to any fears that she had expressed in relation to the
+proximity of Lander; believing, as he did, that she was totally beyond
+his reach or power, and that his presence in Buffalo was occasioned by
+some business not in any degree connected with her. What, he argued,
+had she to fear from any man whom she despised, and from whose society
+she had deliberately and pointedly estranged herself? The days of
+feudal abductions had passed away, and if in this practical age a
+woman refused to become the wife of any man, she had a perfect right
+so to do, and there the matter ended. Besides, was she not beneath the
+roof of her own relatives, who loved her with the sincerest warmth,
+and who were able to protect her until she could claim the shelter of
+his own breast, as he stood by her side the husband of her heart. All
+this went to reassure him, so that when he sat down to reply to the
+letter which urged him to procure his discharge at once, he wrote in
+the most cheering and happy manner, bidding her to be of good heart,
+that she was safe from the importunities and machinations of any
+individual who sought to gain her affections; but intimating, at the
+same time, that he should at once, or as soon as practicable, leave
+the army and as quickly as possible join her on the other side of the
+great lakes.
+
+In the love that exists between two true Irish hearts that have been
+pledged to each other, deliberately and solemnly on the threshold of
+man and womanhood, there is often something so confiding, so
+unreasoning and so unselfish, as to put one in good humor with
+humanity. There is no country on earth in which the love of gain
+intermixes with the affections of the heart to so small an extent as
+in Ireland. In this relation we, from time to time, witness in the
+Green Isle such genuine and grateful glimpses of the better phases of
+human nature, that, no matter to what subsequent inconvenience and
+embarrassments they may tend, they, for the time being, at least,
+charm us into a recognition of something that is, after all, beautiful
+and truthful in our souls. Except where the inexorable tyranny of
+birth creeps in, our matrimonial alliances are, for the most part,
+purged of the cool calculation of Scotland, or the bread and beef
+considerations of the English. This may be censurable in us, and
+doubtless it is; but, still, the charge lies more against our heads
+than our hearts. It is a fact the most indisputable, that in England
+most of the marriages in high or low life are those of _convenance_,
+while in Ireland the contrary is the case. Even the poorest Irish girl
+in the land gives her hand only, where she can bestow her heart; nor,
+as a general thing, can any amount of wealth induce her to ignore her
+pride or affections in this connection; while, should her love be
+given to even the simplest peasant that ever stood by her milking
+pail, she is totally beyond the reach of temptation. On the part of
+both there is an out-going of souls in this direction that may be said
+to be peculiar to Ireland. Completely outside all physical accidents
+and circumstances, there is a commingling of spirit which ratifies a
+compact for all time, and lives in the future as well as the present.
+Stretching beyond the hoar, such souls are not dependent upon mere
+personal contact or intercourse for the vitality of the passion that
+animates them, for they are ever _en rapport_ with each other, and
+clasped breast to breast wherever their individual physical
+organizations may be. In this manner they bid defiance to fate and all
+materiality; living on, undivided, and secure in the continuence of
+the power that binds them to each other. Such individualities become
+one spiritually--all their aspirations are identical--all their
+sentiments are the same, and so closely do they become united, that
+you cannot destroy the one without destroying the other. We know and
+feel, beyond any shadow of doubt, that there are beings whose loss or
+total annihilation we should be unable to survive, and if doomed to
+live, whose place could never be filled in our souls, throughout the
+endless ages of eternity. Hence the generous and beautiful, provision
+of the All Wise and All Good. To every human heart, that interprets
+His Laws aright and conforms to His will, he presents that beautiful
+counterpart which, although mysteriously foreign, is yet, so
+delightfully and essentially, a part and parcel of our two-fold
+nature.
+
+In no country in the world, then, does this divine law of natural
+affinities prevail more than in Ireland; and in no case had it ever
+been more clearly illustrated than in the case of Nicholas Barry and
+Kate McCarthy; as each, if so inclined, could have sacrificed the
+other in forming a matrimonial alliance respectively, identified with
+what was believed, to be undoubted wealth. For the hand of Kate, long
+before she left her native land, there had been more than one suitor
+of means; while handsome Nick, previous to his entering the army, was
+an object of the warmest admiration on the part of many a damsel whose
+prospects were of the most flattering description. But all to no
+purpose; not one of the wealthy women was Kate McCarthy in the one
+case, and not a single well-to-do gentleman was Nick Barry, in the
+other. So this made all the difference; and Nick and Kate, without
+pausing to cast their horoscope, gave themselves to each other, as
+already described, by the banks of the Shannon--a river whose bright
+murmuring waters have reflected more beautiful eyes and manly forms
+than those of any other in Europe, or perhaps the world. Without a
+thought for the future at the moment of which we have already spoken,
+they plighted their faith for all time and eternity; and well they
+kept their vows; although previous to the arrival of Nicholas in
+America, they had been upwards of three years separated from each
+other-the one leading the life of a soldier in a sunny clime, and the
+other, on a far distant shore, hoping for the hour when they should be
+once more side by side.
+
+When, however, our hero found himself the plighted lover of the being
+he adored, and discovered himself simultaneously separated from her
+toy the most cruel, unexpected and perverse fate, he bent, as
+previously observed, every energy towards effecting his release from
+the bonds he had assumed for her sake. He consequently, instead of
+wasting his hours in sullen and useless repining, set actively to work
+and kept both his mind and his body in a healthy condition; never
+losing confidence for a moment, in his own ability to secure freedom or
+permitting the hope to be shaken, that he should ultimately join the
+woman of his love in the new world, and there realize an independence
+for both. And here we may observe, that this feature in the character
+of Nicholas was one of the noblest and most dignified that could
+possibly distinguish any member of the race to which we belong. The
+world has been lost to many a man, from the fact of his not sitting
+down to look circumstances fairly in the face, with a full
+determination to grapple with them and give them a tussel for if
+wherever a good man and true places any reasonable and legitimate
+object before him, no matter how dark the clouds that surround him,
+in nine cases out often he achieves it. The grave error in this
+connection is, that finding our inability to move the great mass of
+our difficulties out of our road _en bloc_ and at once, ignoring the
+lesson taught by the constant drop that wears the stone, we sit down
+overwhelmed, and never set sturdily about trying to remove it
+piecemeal. The most profusely illustrated lesson that heaven has yet
+taught to man, is that of industry and perseverence. Whether within
+the fragrant chambers of the golden hive, or in the kingdoms of the
+busy ant, or mid the curious nests that swing from forest boughs, we
+roam in thought, we find what perseverence can accomplish, and that
+too, by steps almost imperceptible in themselves. It is the individual
+atoms that build up the mighty and effective aggregate that overawes
+all opposition, and like an avalanche sweeps all resistance before it.
+The loftiest pyramid that throws its shadow over the desert to-day,
+and that dwarfs at its foot the beholder into the most incomparable
+insignificance, incapable of being removed in fragments not larger
+than a pea, from its present site to the other side of the globe; and
+the grandest structure ever erected by human hands, has been built up
+from almost imperceptible beginnings, into the imposing dimensions
+which so overshadow the admirer and excite in his bosom feelings of
+almost superstitious awe. So that look where we may, throughout the
+whole range of nature, of science or of art, we find tee lesson of
+industry and perseverence inculcated in the most impressive manner,
+and in a language that should reach and influence our spirit struggles
+to the core.
+
+If less distinct than we have here delineated them, such were the
+sentiments and convictions that influenced the actions and conduct of
+our hero and heroine when fate had separated them. Moved by the same
+impulses, they both set about accomplishing the same end, and in the
+same manner. Barry's pen and Kate's needle flew at intervals; and the
+result, as already intimated, was, that each had accumulated a sum
+sufficient to effect this release from the army, and that it now was
+to be brought into requisition for the purpose of accomplishing that
+end.
+
+Had Nicholas been made of that sort of stuff which, with the greatest
+possible degree of coolness, lays a friend or relative under
+contribution, he might have been able, through its instrumentality, to
+realize a sufficient sum to have taken him to America, at the period
+that Kate sailed, without having had recourse to the dreadful
+alternative of enlisting in the English army; but not being built of
+such questionable material, he bowed beneath the heavy yoke,
+believing, as he did, that however distasteful and derogatory to his
+feelings, it was more honorable and independent to be indebted to
+himself, even at so great a sacrifice, for the means of joining his
+beloved on the other side of the Atlantic, than to be constrained to
+traverse its trackless waste, weighed down with the conviction, that,
+for the purpose of accomplishing an object that could at least be
+honestly attained otherwise, he had deprived those whom he had left
+behind of that of which they themselves stood sorely in need. Besides,
+he felt satisfied from what he knew of himself, and the prospects open
+to even an industrious soldier on the shores of Canada, he should soon
+be able to relieve himself of his bondage, and stand erect once more,
+freed from the humiliation of the uniform he wore. But, as already
+seen, the fates were against him in the first moments of his military
+career; and for the time every fibre of his being was almost crushed
+beneath the most frightful tension to which could have been possibly
+subjected. How dreadful must have been the appalling intelligence of
+the countermand of his regiment to the Mediteranean, when it first
+fell upon his ear; and how sufficient was the awful announcement to
+crush any ordinary mortal. Yet, with the elasticity which is ever
+inseparable from a true and noble spirit, when the first crash of the
+news bore him almost to the earth, he steadily began to brace himself
+against it, and ultimately, though by slow and painful degrees,
+straightened himself beneath it, and, although it was not the less
+heavy, stood erect under it at last, and bore it squarely upon his
+shoulders.
+
+Poor Kate, although brave, too, had at first almost given up hope,
+when, a few days after her arrival at Quebec, she learned the fatal
+intelligence contained in the letter already referred to; but soon
+perceiving, as he did, that nothing was to be achieved by useless
+murmuring or hopeless inactivity, she shook herself, as free as her
+strength would permit, from the dreadful incubus of the sorrow that
+bowed her to the earth, and turned whatever talents she possessed to
+good account; working night and day to accomplish the great and only
+desire of her heart, and trusting to heaven for the rest. In this way
+her constant and unwearied exertions lightened much of the load that
+could not have failed under less favorable promptings, to have crushed
+her completely, and have, in all human probability, consigned her to a
+premature grave.
+
+And thus, we see, that these two brave young spirits had all but
+accomplished the wish of their hearts, at the period at which our
+story opens, and that they were now but simply awaiting the hour when
+Nicholas should be able to exchange the hated red jacket that he wore,
+for a dress more in consonance with not only his own feelings, but
+those of the being he so faithfully loved.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+Whatever censure may be attached to any portion of the career of the
+founders of Fenianism, after the organization had become a recognized
+power on both sides of the Atlantic, we cannot divest ourselves of the
+settled impression, that the men who were mainly instrumental in
+calling it into existence and sustaining its infancy, were actuated by
+the purest motives. To be sure, Fenianism can scarcely be said to be
+the embodiment of a new idea, or the exponent of new principles; but,
+then, there was a masterly grouping of energies and sentiments in
+connection with it, which possessed the merit of originality, and
+which tended so largely, not only to popularize it, but to give it a
+foothold on every Irish national hearthstone. In the selection of the
+name by which the organization was to be distinguished, there was a
+clearness of judgment as well as a thorough acquaintance with the
+necessities of the case, that cannot fail to strike any impartial
+observer. Had the Brotherhood been organized under any commonplace
+appelation, or under any of the various names that had characterized
+the previous revolutionary societies of Ireland, the probability is,
+it would have long since fallen into line with those convivial
+associations, which content themselves with an annual exposition of
+the grievances of Ireland, over the short leg of a turkey, a "bumper
+of Burgundy," and that roar of lip artillery, against the usurper,
+which dies away in a few maudlin hiccups, about two o'clock in the
+morning, to be revived only at the expiration of another twelve
+months. Under the burden of any commonplace name, such, we say, might
+have been the fate of the organization ere this; and so we regard the
+knowledge and genius which obviated the possibility or rather the
+probability of failure in this relation, as entitled to prominent
+consideration and respect. To the superficial observer, this may
+appear of very little moment in connection with a subject of such
+magnitude; but let it be understood, that we are influenced by seeming
+trifles and the surface of things to an extent far greater than we
+ourselves are willing to confess. Notwithstanding the oft repeated
+query, "what's in a name?" there is a great deal in a name. Let two
+strangers, Mr. Harold Bloomfield and Mr. John Smith send in their
+cards together to an important official, of whom they expect to get an
+audience separately, and the chances are nine out of ten in favor of
+Mr. Bloomfield's being granted an interview first. This, we apprehend,
+holds good in a thousand kindred instances, and in no way has the
+supposition been more clearly verified than in relation to the name
+bestowed upon the organization under consideration.
+
+The name "Fenian" is of very remote antiquity, and appears to be most
+comprehensive in its signification, and to be peculiarly adapted to
+the great confraternity of patriots which now engrosses so much of the
+history of passing events. There seems to be nothing sectional in it.
+It is national in the broadest sense of the term, and primative and
+forcible to intensity. In some annotations to the Annals of the Four
+Masters we find that the ancient Fenians were called by the Irish
+writers _Fianna Eirionn_ signifying the Fenians of Ireland, and
+mentioned under the name of Fene, or Feine, which, according to Dr.
+O'Conor, signifies the Phenicians of Ireland, as Feine, according to
+Dr. O'Brien, in his dictionary, at the word Fearmiugh, signifies
+Phenicians; as they were probably called so from the tradition that
+Phenicians came to Ireland in the early ages. They are also called by
+the Irish writers _Clann-Ua-Baois-gine_, and so named, according to
+Keating and others, from Baoisgine, who was chief commander of these
+warriors, and ancestor of the famous hero Fionn, the son of Cumhall;
+but according to O'Conor, in his notes to the Four Masters, they were
+called Baoisgine, as being descended from the Milesians who came from
+Basconia, in Spain, now Biscay, in the country anciently called
+Cantabria. The Fenian warriors were a famous military force, forming
+the standing national militia, and instituted in Ireland in the early
+ages, long before the Christian era, but brought, to the greatest
+perfection in the reign of the celebrated Cormac, monarch of Ireland
+in the third century. None were admitted into this military body but
+select men of the greatest activity, strength, stature, perfect form,
+and valor, and, when the force was complete, it consisted of
+thirty-five _Catha_, that is, battalions or legions, each battalion
+containing three thousand men, according to O'Halloran and various
+other historians, making twenty-one thousand for each of the five
+provinces, or about one hundred thousand fighting men in time of war
+for the entire kingdom. The _Ardrigh_, or head king of Ireland, had,
+for the time being, chief control over these forces, but they often
+resisted his authority. A commander was appointed over every thousand
+of these troops, and the entire force was completely armed and
+admirably disciplined, and each battalion had their own bands of
+musicians and bards to animate them in battle, and celebrate their
+feats of arms. In the reign of the monarch Cormac, the celebrated
+Fionn MacCumhaill, who was descended from the Heremonian kings of
+Leinster, was the chief commander of the Fenian warriors, and his
+great actions, strength and valor are celebrated in the Ossianic
+poems, and various other productions of the ancient bards; he is
+called Fingal in MacPherson's Poems of Ossian; but it is to be
+observed that these are not the real poems of Ossian, but mostly
+fictions fabricated by Mac Pherson himself, and containing some
+passages from the ancient poems. Fionn had his chief residence and
+fortress at Almhuim, now either the hill of Allen, near Kildare, or
+Ailinn, near old Kilcullen, where a great rath still remains, which
+was a residence of the ancient kings of Leinster. The Fenians were the
+chief troops of Leinster, and were Milesians of the race of Heremon;
+and their renowned commander Fionn, according to the Four Masters, was
+slain by the cast of a javelin, or, according to others, by the shot
+of an arrow, at a place called _Ath Brea_, on the river Boyne, A.D.
+283, the year before the battle of Gaura, by the Lugnians of Tara, a
+tribe who possessed the territory now called the barony of Lune, near
+Tara, in Meath; and the place mentioned as Ath Brea, or the Ford of
+Brea, was situated somewhere on the Boyne, between Trim and Navan.
+
+In the reign of king Cairbre Liffeachair, son of the monarch Cormac,
+the Fenian forces revolted from the service of Cairbre, and joined the
+famous Mogh Corb, King of Munster, of the race of the Dalcassians.
+After the death of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the Fenians were commanded by
+his son Oisin or Ossian, the celebrated warrior and bard; and at the
+time of the battle of Gaura, Osgar, another famous champion, the son
+of Oisin, commanded the Fenian forces. The army of Munster, commanded
+by Mogh Corb, a name which signifies the Chief of the Chariot, and by
+his son Fear Corb, that is, the man or warrior of the chariot, was
+composed of the Clanna Deagha and Dalcassian troops, joined by the
+Fenians and their Leinster forces; and it is stated in the Ossianic
+poems, and in Hanmer's Chronicle, from the Book of Howth, that a great
+body of warriors from North Britain. Denmark and Norway, came over and
+fought on the side of the Fenians at Gaura. The army of the monarch
+Cairbre was composed of the men of Heath and Ulster, together with the
+Clanna Morna, or Connaught warriors, commanded by Aodh or Hugh, King
+of Connaught, son of Garadh, grandson of Moraa of the Damnonian race.
+The Munster forces, and Fenians, marched to Meath, where they were met
+by the combined troops of the monarch Cairbre, and fought one of the
+most furious battles recorded in Irish history, which continued
+throughout the whole length of a summer's day. The greatest valor was
+displayed by the warriors on each side, and it is difficult to say
+which army were victors or vanquished. The heroic Osgar was slain in
+single combat by the valiant monarch Cairbre, but Cairbre himself soon
+afterwards fell by the hand of the champion Simon, the son of Ceirb,
+of the race of the Fotharts of Leinster. Both armies amounted to about
+fifty thousand men, the greatest part of whom were slain; of the
+Fenian forces, which consisted of twenty thousand men, it is stated
+that eighteen thousand fell, and on both sides, thirty thousand
+warriors were slain. In the following year, Hugh, king of Connaught,
+according to O'Flaherty's Ogygia, defeated the Munsters forces in
+battle at Spaltrach, near the mountain Senchua, in Muscry, in which he
+slew Mogh Corb, king of Munster. The tremendous battle of Gaura is
+considered to have led to the subsequent fall of the Irish monarchy,
+for after the destruction of the Fenian forces, the Irish kings never
+were able to muster a national army equal in valor and discipline to
+those heroes, either to cope with foreign foes, or to reduce to
+subjection the rebellious provincial kings and princes; hence the
+monarchy became weak and disorganized, and the ruling powers were
+unable to maintain their authority or make a sufficient stand against
+the Danish and Anglo-Norman Invaders of after time.
+
+From what is here stated, it must be obvious, that no more appropriate
+name than that of "Fenian" could be given to the organization which
+now holds the destiny of Ireland in its hands, and which has ramified
+itself throughout almost every portion of the habitable globe.
+
+We have already observed that the selection of this name was judicious
+in more than one relation. In the first place, it was far removed from
+that of any of the well known cognomens which had characterized so
+many of the noted revolutionary associations that had already failed
+in Ireland, and, in this respect, was strong; being free from any
+unpleasant reminiscences; while, from the fact of its import not
+being generally known to the masses, it stimulated enquiry on the part
+of the curious or weak nationalists which resulted in the most
+salutary consequences. The rarity of the name led to newspaper
+expositions of it, and moved the inquiring patriot to look into Irish
+history in relation to it; and in this manner a knowledge of much of
+the ancient greatness of Ireland became the common property of those
+who were formerly but slightly acquainted with such lore. The result
+was, thousands of the Irish became interested in relation to the past
+of their race; for, in connection with this name there was that which
+was calculated to arouse the spirit of patriotism within them and lead
+them on to a further perusal of the annals of their country.
+
+It is evident, then, that no common appelation could have been fraught
+with such beneficial results; as there would have been nothing
+connected with it to stimulate enquiry or research. Repealers, Irish
+National Leagues, Whiteboys, Rockites, United Irishmen, &c., all had
+their day, and carried their meaning upon the surface; so that it was
+really necessary to give the new organization some occult,
+comprehensive and characteristic name, that would separate it in this
+aspect from all the Irish revolutionary bodies that had preceded it,
+and place it _en rapport_ with the great past of the nation which was
+the grand receptacle of its traditions and source of its pride. Here,
+then, we leave this part of the subject, without presuming that we
+have thrown much more light upon the matter than has already been
+recognized by those who have at all looked into it; for it must, we
+think, be obvious to most Irish nationalists, that the energies and
+sentiments of their patriotic countrymen, could never have been
+grouped so successfully under any of the appelations just named, as
+they have been under that of "Fenians"--given, as we have already
+perceived, to the great national army of Ireland during the days of
+her early glory and power, and which alone represented the nation as a
+whole.
+
+It is not our province to dwell here upon the infancy of the
+Brotherhood on either side of the Atlantic, or to enter into the
+various difficulties and unpleasant circumstances to which it has been
+subjected by alleged want of true patriotism and economy on the part
+of some of its founders. Sufficient to say, that through all such
+alleged obstructions it has struggled into the greatest and most
+powerful organization that has ever existed in any age of the world,
+and is, to-day, the mightiest and most invincible floating power that
+has ever influenced the destinies of any people. Its friends are
+numbered by millions and its members by hundreds upon hundreds of
+thousand. To its ranks belong soldiers, statesmen and orators, men of
+large pecuniary means and cultivated minds; cool heads and strong
+arms, and many guiding spirits who need but little light save that
+which shines within them. In addition, the sympathies of America and
+of every generous nation on the face of the earth, are with it; so
+that it has triumphed in advance, in a measure; for, backed by such
+influences, and actuated, as it is, by impulses so pure and holy, not
+a solitary doubt can obtain in relation to its ultimate success. True,
+that there are those who are thoughtless or traitorous enough to
+designate it as antagonistic to religion, and subversive, of the
+established order of things; but these, for the most part, are persons
+who reason through their pockets or their prejudices, and who are
+devoid of any thorough recognition of those great principles which are
+applicable to nations as well as to individuals and which are based
+upon the just doctrine, that resistence to tyrants is obedience to
+God--persons who are so methodical and patient under the sufferings of
+_others_, that they would pause to measure the precise length of rope
+that, was necessary to reach a drowning man. In the day of Ireland's
+triumph, such people, will cone to confusion; as will those who have
+withheld from her, in the period of her sore travail, the pecuniary
+aid; which they could have well afforded out of their ample means,
+with a view to relieving their kinsmen and suffering fellow countrymen
+from the grasp of a tyrant the most inexorable that ever drew breath.
+
+Were the Fenian organization confined entirely to Ireland, and did no
+active outside sympathy obtain for that unfortunate country the day of
+her redemption might be postponed to an indefinite period. So
+completely are all the resources and defences of the land in the hands
+of the English, that it would be difficult for the natives to make any
+lengthened or effective stand against the usurper. England has her,
+navy and her army to operate against any rising of the inhabitants, at
+a moment's warning; while every office in the kingdom, of the
+slightest importance or trust, is in the hands of her minions. Again,
+among some of the recreant sons of the soil, she has, alas too ample
+scope for the use of her accursed gold; and thus it is; that to cope
+singled handed with her against such fearful odds, would involve
+oceans of blood, both on the field and on the scaffold. When, however,
+we come to dwell on the fact, that outside and beyond her control or
+reach, another body of Irish, which has been aptly termed a nation
+within a nation--when it comes to be understood, we say, that on the
+shores of free America a mighty and invincible Brotherhood has been
+built up, actuated by every sentiment of hostility which fires the
+breast of the most implacable of her enemies to-day, and that has for
+its aim and end an object in common with the people of Ireland at her
+own doors, then we begin to perceive how harrassed and powerless she
+must be. Neither her famine, fire nor sword, can avail her here.
+Secure beneath the ample folds of the glorious stars and stripes of
+the great Republic of America, and fired with the love of free
+institutions, and taught in the great principles of freedom by the
+liberty loving American people, this mighty band of exiles, in
+connection with their children born beneath the folds of the American
+flag, are steadily preparing to join fierce issue with her and test,
+upon the open field, the prowess she has so often set forth as
+superior to that of any other nation. This is what now disables and
+paralyses her. Ireland is, for the time being, beneath her heel; but
+what of the warlike hosts that loom in the western horizon and may
+soon rush down on her like a wolf on the fold, and wedge her in
+between two hostile walls? This is the great strength, of Ireland at
+the present moment. Her energies are not walled in by the ocean or a
+British fleet She is alive and active in other lands, and so powerful
+outside her own borders, that there is no such thing as circumscribing
+her influence or operations in so far as they relate to her struggles
+for independence. It is, then, from America that she is to obtain her
+most effective aid; and such being the case, it behooves the Irish
+nationalists on American soil to be true and steady to the great
+purpose in which they are now so ardently engaged; for so far, fortune
+has smiled upon them. The American people sympathize with them and
+feel that while they are aiding them to regain the long lost freedom
+of their country, they are bringing to the dust the very self-same
+enemy that sought, by stealth and the most cowardly means, to
+overthrow their own Commonwealth, and leave the Union a hopeless ruin
+before the world. It is this which now hangs a millstone about the
+neck of the British government, and which must ultimately develope
+itself in active sympathy with any people who have for their object
+the humiliation of the skull and cross-bones of St. George, on this
+side of the Atlantic at least.
+
+And so the ball rolls; hourly accumulating force and magnitude, and
+destined, at no distant day, to sweep in upon Ireland and hurl the
+invader from her shores. No power on earth can stay its onward course.
+The freedom of Ireland is the creed of millions. The young lisp it;
+strong men repeat it in every clime; and the old of both hemispheres
+murmur it in their prayers. In short, it has taken a hold of the Irish
+heart wherever a true pulse warms it to-day, and has so incorporated
+itself with the hopes and aspirations of the Irish of all lands, that
+fate itself must yield to its power and universality. Within the last
+few years it has become part and parcel of the education of the Irish
+people wherever they are found; whether beneath the burning zone, in
+temperate latitudes or at the frozen poles; so that its ultimate
+success is beyond any possible contingency; from the fact that there
+never was a sentiment so widely spread and so religiously cultivated
+and cherished, that failed to accomplish all that it would attain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+While the children of Ireland were engaged in defending the flag of
+the Union during the late civil war, and sealing with their blood
+their fidelity to the great Republic, they were, also, acquiring a
+knowledge of arms and a warlike hardihood, which tended, on the
+cessation of hostilities, to render the Fenian organization more
+formidable than it could possibly have become, had peace pervaded the
+land from the inception of the Brotherhood to its triumph at Ridgeway.
+All through this gigantic struggle the hand of the Irish patriot and
+exile was prominently observable. Not a field had been fought from the
+firing of the first gun at Fort Sumter to the surrender of Lee's army,
+on which their blood had not flowed in rivers. Look at Murfreesboro,
+Corinth, Perrysville, Iuka, Antietam, Chickahomany, Winchester, Fort
+Donaldson, Island Ten, Shiloh, Lexington, Bull Run, Carnifex Ferry,
+the Rappahannock, the Mississippi, the Cumberland, the Potomac and
+Fredericksburg, "where one-half of Meagher's Brigade are still
+encamped _under the sod_," and we have evidence of the truth of this
+assertion, the most ample and complete. Amidst these scenes of
+terrific carnage, the warlike genius and matchless personal bravery of
+many a distinguished Irishman were eminently conspicuous; while the
+latent fires that had previously lain dormant in the breast of others,
+leaped forth into a glorious conflagration, that commanded the
+admiration of every true soldier and evoked the recognition of the
+Commonwealth at large. Amongst this latter class stood pre-eminently
+forward, the present President of the Fenian Brotherhood throughout
+the world--GENERAL JOHN O'NIELL, a brief sketch of whom we introduce
+here for obvious reasons, drawn from authentic records in our
+possession, as well as from the current newspaper literature of the
+day:
+
+"To the Irish reader," observes a contemporary, well informed upon this
+subject, "and especially to that portion of our people, who are
+conversant with the past history of their country, and feel a
+patriotic pride in its glorious records, as well as a fervent hope for
+their renewal in the future--there is no name fraught with memories
+more inspiring than that of O'Neill--the princely house of Ulster, the
+champions of the Red Hand, who, for centuries, in the struggles of the
+nation against the Saxon invader, led the hosts of their people to
+victory, and only succumbed at last when poison and treachery, and
+chicane had accomplished what force failed to effect; for their valor
+was powerless against the dagger of the assassin, as were their
+honesty and open-heartedness against the bad faith of England's
+perjured tools. Like many a noble and ancient Irish house, its scions
+are to-day to be found scattered through the world, in every walk of
+life. But though its banner no longer floats over embattled hosts,
+there is magic still in its associations; and when men speak of the
+O'Neill, the Irish heart leaps fondly towards the historic name and
+the proud recollection of the days when Hugh and Owen stood for the
+rights of their people and native land, and dealt the assailants of
+both those sturdy blows which so well justified their claim to the
+blazon of the 'Red Hand.'
+
+"In our own day, too, the old blood has vindicated its inherent force
+and purity, and has found a worthy representative in the subject of
+our present sketch--GENERAL JOHN O'NEILL,--whose name, in the future
+history of the Irish race, will be as inseparably linked with the
+struggles of the present generation for national independence, as are
+those of his ancestors with the efforts made by our people in the past
+against English tyranny and usurpation. As this noble and patriotic
+Irishman is now occupying so much of the public attention, and his
+political conduct meeting with that cordial endorsement which is a
+just tribute to his bravery and patriotism--whether on the bloody
+fields of the South, routing a Morgan, or assuming the command of his
+colonel, or, with thirty men repelling the attack of a regiment; or,
+with his gallant band of Irish soldiers, chasing the 'Queen's Own' at
+Ridgeway--a brief review of his career will not be devoid of interest
+to all who desire to preserve a record of those who have deserved well
+of their country. Within the limits of such a sketch it would be
+impossible to do adequate justice to the character of a man like
+General O'Neill, and we can only assume to glance at the many
+attestations of his bravery and gentlemanly bearing which should have
+a public record, as they are from men of high position, and are of
+importance in illustrating the estimation in which he has always been
+held by his superior and brother officers. No man can produce a more
+unsullied one, or one better calculated to confirm his title to the
+high position in which his countrymen have placed him.
+
+"General O'Neill was born on the 8th of March, 1834, in the townland
+of Drumgallon, parish of Clontibret, county Monaghan, Ireland. At his
+birth he was an orphan, his father having died a few weeks previously.
+The early part of his existence was spent with his grandparents in his
+native place. Bred up in a country, every hill and river and plain of
+which was linked in story with the deeds of the mighty men of old, it
+is not to be wondered at that the mind of young O'Neill seized with
+avidity every incident of the past connected with the condition and
+history of his fatherland, or that the bias of his future life was
+given by his meditations as he rambled along the slopes of Benburb, or
+traced the victorious steps of his ancient sept, through the classic
+region where his schoolboy days were passed. That it should be so is
+only natural; for he is a kinsman, as well as namesake, of the great
+Hugh O'Neill who, with his fearless followers, swept over Ulster and
+defeated so many of England's greatest generals, and brought the heads
+of some of her pets to the block. And there is no doubt but that some
+of her favorites of to-day shall be made to bite the dust ere the
+General has done with them.
+
+"General O'Neill is a man of calm temperament, but a firm will, which,
+when excited, however, is stern and inflexible; uniting with this a
+good education and gentlemanly address, with a mind bold, independent
+and decisive. His person partakes of the character of his mind for if
+the one never succumbed in the council, the other never bent in the
+field. Few could imagine from his modest exterior the latent, fire and
+energy which burn in his bosom. His manner is as unassuming as his
+mind is noble; quiet, yet impervious to flattery or laudations, he
+seems at the same time to pay due regard to popular opinion, without
+in the least permitting it to influence him in the discharge of his
+duties.
+
+"While he was yet quite young, the family of General O'Neill emigrated
+to the United States, and his mother settled at Elizabeth, N.J., where
+she still resides. He did not follow them until 1848, when he was
+fourteen years of age. Having devoted some time to the completion of
+his studies here, he determined to engage in commercial pursuits, and
+for some time travelled as agent for some of the leading Catholic
+publishing houses. In 1855 he opened a Catholic Book Store in
+Richmond, Va., and while residing there became a member of the 'Emmet
+Guard,' then the leading Irish organization in that section of the
+country. The inclination thus manifested for the military profession
+soon proved to be the ruling passion in the mind of the young
+Celt,--checked only by the repugnance of his family towards the
+soldier's life; for, in 1857, he gave up his business and entered the
+Second Regiment of U.S. Cavalry--a regiment which has since furnished
+the most distinguished officers who have figured on both sides during
+the late war.
+
+"In the Regular Army, O'Neill rose steadily by his good character,
+bravery and aptitude, no less than by his education and invariable
+gentlemanly conduct. But though he has since filled positions of high
+responsibility, he has often declared that one of the most pleasurable
+emotions of his life was experienced when, for some meritorious act,
+he received, from his commanding officer, his warrant of Corporal.
+
+"At the outbreak of the war, the regiment with which he was serving
+was recalled from California, and on the organization of the army
+under McClellan, was attached to the Regular Cavalry Division, which
+took part in the principal battles in the campaign of the Peninsula,
+during which O'Neill was in command of Gen. Stoneman's body guard.
+After the withdrawal of the army from the Peninsula, he was dispatched
+to Indiana, where he was retained for some time as instructor of
+cavalry, drilling the officers of the force then being raised for the
+defence of that portion of the Union against the incursions of the
+Confederate guerillas. He subsequently entered the 5th Indiana Cavalry
+as Second Lieutenant, and served with that regiment, during 1863, in
+the operations against the Southern leaders in Kentucky, Tennessee,
+Indiana and Ohio. In these expeditions, which, whether in the nature
+of scouts, reconnoisances or advances, generally took the shape of
+sharp running fights, Lieut. O'Neill's skill and daring not only
+attracted the attention of his commanding officers, but further
+enlisted the enthusiasm of the men, insomuch that, when one of those
+_sorties_ was ordered, the first question asked was always--'Is
+O'Neill to lead it?'--and if the answer was in the affirmative, no
+matter how jaded the men might be, volunteers in any number were ready
+at once.
+
+"There is no greater instance of personal bravery, or gallantry equal
+to any emergency, than that related by Archbishop Purcell, of
+Cincinnati, in his account of O'Neill's encounter with Morgan, the
+famous guerilla; and as many of our readers have not read the partial
+account given in Mr. Savage's 'Fenian Heroes and Martyrs,' it may
+prove of interest to them, as his encounter with Morgan is more
+generally spoken of than understood. Archbishop Purcell says:--
+
+'There is a remarkably brave officer suffering from diarrhoea,
+contracted in a three month's chase after Morgan, now in St. John's
+Hospital, in this city--Lieut. O'Neill, of the 5th Indiana Cavalry.
+His mother resides in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Her adventurous boy
+enlisted in the regular army at the time of the Mormon excitement in
+Utah; was afterwards sent to California; was made Sergeant for
+distinguished services on the Potomac; employed on a recruiting tour
+in Indiana, and promoted to a Lieutenancy in the famous 5th Indiana
+cavalry.
+
+'Respecting his encounter with Hamilton's rebel force, in May, the
+Indianapolis papers spoke of the exploit of Lieut. O'Neill, and a
+detachment of his company, as one of the most daring and brilliant
+achievements of the war. The Lieutenant has kindly furnished us with
+the following interesting account of the part he took in the defeat of
+Morgan. The authorities here have recommended him for promotion to the
+rank of Major.
+
+'INCIDENTS OF THE FIGHT WITH MORGAN, AT BUFFINGTON'S ISLAND, ON THE
+20TH OF JULY.
+
+'On the night of the 19th, about 10 o'clock, Gen. Judah, with his
+cavalry and artillery command, left Pomeroy for Buffington. The
+General sent First Lieutenant John O'Neill, of the 5th Indiana
+cavalry, with fifty men, ahead, with instructions to try and open
+communications with the militia, said to be in close proximity to the
+island. The Lieutenant was delayed by losing the road during the
+night, and did not arrive till about an hour and a half after
+daylight. He then learned that the militia had been skirmishing with
+the enemy during the night, and that Gen. Judah's advance had been
+ambushed, the morning being foggy; and the General's Assistant
+Adjutant General, Capt. Rice, with some twenty-five or thirty men and
+a piece of artillery, and Chief of Artillery, Capt. Henshaw, had been
+captured and sent to Gen. Morgan's headquarters on the river road,
+some thirty miles ahead of him, on the enemy's left flank. The
+Lieutenant at once resolved to recapture what had been taken; and,
+with his Spartan band, kept steadily on. Several parties tried to stop
+him; but a volley from the "Sharp's" carbines of his boys invariably
+drove them back. At length he came on Morgan, with two regiments and a
+body guard of one hundred men. The Lieutenant halted his men suddenly,
+at an angle of the road, within one hundred and fifty paces. He gave
+the command "ready," and intended to have given them a volley; but
+seeing some of his own men in front, he did not fire, but commanded
+"forward," and dashed in amongst them. If he had fired, every shot
+must have told, he was so close. Morgan, with his two regiments and
+body guard, ran without firing a shot. All our prisoners were
+released, and about thirty of the enemy taken. Some were killed and
+wounded. The Lieutenant pursued Morgan about two miles clear off the
+field, and captured three pieces of artillery, which he carried off
+with him. This was the last of Morgan on the field. The Lieutenant
+cannot tell how many he killed or wounded, as his fight was a running
+one, extending over four miles; but the surgeon in charge of burying
+the dead and looking after the wounded, reported that most of both
+were along the river where O'Neill had been.'
+
+"The above, from Archbishop Purcell, is an unquestionable testimony of
+the daring and audacity of the subject of this sketch in the field.
+The _National Journal_, in giving an account of the same battle, says:
+
+'Lieutenant O'Neill, of the 5th Indiana Cavalry, now appeared by
+another road, with but fifty men, and charged two different regiments
+so desperately that they broke and left our captured guns, officers
+and men in our possession.'
+
+"The _Louisville Journal_, after relating an instance of O'Neill's
+personal bravery, says:
+
+'Lieutenant O'Neill is the same who, about two weeks ago, while out
+with Col. Graham, on the Tennessee side of Cumberland, with twenty men
+as an advanced guard, came up with Hamilton, having two hundred men
+drawn up in line--charged and ran him thirteen miles, and with his own
+hand, while ahead of his men, killed five--two of them with the
+sabre.'
+
+"To go into detail, and give a minute account of the many instances of
+gallantry, pluck and determination displayed by the subject of our
+sketch, would be beyond the scope of our present purpose, as they, at
+the same time, would only tend to multiply instances, without lending
+any additional proof. But we cannot, as it directly bears on his
+letter of resignation, with accompanying letters of endorsement from
+distinguished Generals, pass over that singular and noble proof of
+unexampled bravery--his assuming the command of his Colonel Butler,
+when the latter showed signs of cowardice.
+
+"The affair took place at Walker's Ford, on Clinch River, in East
+Tennessee, where the division to which O'Neill's regiment was attached
+was stationed, to dispute the passage of the Southern troops, which in
+large force occupied the adjacent country. O'Neill had only a few days
+before rejoined his command, after the illness incurred in his chase
+after Morgan, and was at breakfast when the alarm was given that the
+enemy had surprised the advanced guard, and were attacking in force.
+Springing on his horse, he rallied the company of picked men he
+commanded, and for a long time held the advancing forces of the enemy
+in check, to give time for others to form line of battle. But the
+enemy were rapidly getting in rear of the Union troops, and O'Neill
+fell back on the main body of his regiment, just in time to hear his
+Colonel cry out, 'Oh, God! all is lost! save yourselves, men, the best
+way you can. Nothing is left us but retreat!' 'Not by a long sight!'
+shouted O'Neill, as, sword in hand, he dashed in front of the mob of
+soldiers, upon whom panic and the example of their commander were
+rapidly doing the work of disorganization. 'Men,' continued he,
+turning to them, 'all of you who mean to _fight_, fall in with me.'
+The effect was almost miraculous. About one hundred and fifty of the
+fugitives rallied, and with these he drove back the advancing columns
+of the enemy, saved the day, and, though severely wounded in the
+action, remained master of the field.
+
+"Of this attack, a correspondent of the Indianapolis _Daily Journal_,
+of January, 1864, says:
+
+'The rebels, finding we were retreating, determined to drive us into
+the river. About three hundred mounted men came over the hills,
+charging Company "A," 65th Indiana, and three companies of the 5th,
+commanded by Col. Butler and Capt. Hodge. Our boys began to waver. The
+Colonel tried to rally them to no effect, when O'Neill rode up and
+took command. Taking a Henry rifle from one of the 65th boys, he
+commenced firing, at the same time yelling at the men to charge them,
+which they did. For about five minutes it was the most frightful scene
+I have ever witnessed. Out of the three hundred Confederates, only
+about _twenty_ went back mounted, the balance being killed, wounded,
+and dismounted. A rebel officer, afterwards taken, admitted the loss
+of twenty killed and forty wounded in the charge. This so effectually
+checked them, and convinced them that a charge would not pay, that we
+very easily held our ground until the wagons and guns had crossed the
+river. But our brave Lieutenant, O'Neill, received a wound in the
+thigh while we were making our last stand. He rode out all day, never
+seeking shelter, cheering his men. When other officers had given up
+all as lost, he replied, "Not by a long sight." He met with a hearty
+response from the men. We afterwards learned that we were fighting
+three brigades, among them the "Texan Rangers."'
+
+"There is no nobler instance of daring or pluck, or of presence of
+mind, or decisiveness of character, equal to any crisis, than this.
+But what is the sequel? The Colonel, narrow minded as he was cowardly,
+was piqued at young O'Neill's gallantry in repelling the attack, which
+at once stamped himself with cowardice, and lowered him, as a
+consequence, in the estimation of his brother officers. After the
+battle he sent a report of the officers and non-commissioned officers
+whom he recommended for promotion, _omitting the name of O'Neill_.
+This was a direct insult to the man who displayed the most bravery,
+and had saved them from a watery grave, a fiery death, or, worse than
+all, an ignominious surrender. It at once aroused all that was stern
+in his nature--to have such a coward offer him an insult. He went to
+the Colonel, and demanded if it was true that he had sent the names of
+certain officers to the Governor for promotion, and noncommissioned
+officers for commissions over him, and omitted his name altogether.
+The Colonel replied in the affirmative. 'Then,' said O'Neill, 'I shall
+never serve another day in your regiment.'
+
+"We give these particulars in detail, as well as his resignation, not
+only on account of its boldness, but as some people try to put a
+different construction on the fact of his sending in his resignation
+at that time. Conformably with his determination, he went to his
+quarters, where, after a fortnight, he prepared his resignation, and
+sent it to headquarters. In the interim, the Colonel sent one day to
+know if he would drill the regiment. O'Neill sent back to know if it
+was an order or a request; on being assured it was the latter, he
+complied. He was expecting to be arrested every day; but the Colonel
+was too much of a coward, as he was afraid the consequences would be
+rather unpleasant. After a few weeks, his resignation was sent to
+headquarters, with letters of disapproval--but endorsing his
+complaints, and testifying to his bravery and efficiency--from Gens.
+Sturges and Stoneman. Comments on these letters would be superfluous,
+as they speak forcibly for themselves.
+
+  "CAMP NEAR PARIS, KENTUCKY, April 7th, 1864.
+
+  "Sir: I have the honor herewith to tender my resignation as First
+  Lieutenant of Company 'I,' 5th Cavalry, 90th Regiment Indiana
+  Volunteers, on account of promotions in the regiment, which have
+  placed men over me whom I cannot consistently serve under. Some of
+  them, Captains, have been Sergeants in the same regiment since I
+  have been First Lieutenant; and while I have a high regard for these
+  officers personally, I can never allow myself to be commanded by
+  them in the field.
+
+  "I served in the regular army nearly four years, in Utah,
+  California, and on the Peninsula: as private, Corporal, Sergeant,
+  and acting-Sergeant-Major, and have been in the regiment, as
+  Lieutenant, sixteen months.
+
+  "The enclosed copies of letters from Generals Hodson, Judah and
+  Stoneman, with others from the present Colonel of my regiment, and
+  the former, Colonel Graham, recommending me to Governor Morton, for
+  the position of field-officer in one of the regiments being
+  organized in Indiana, will show that I am not undeserving of
+  promotion in my own regiment, and that I have some cause to be
+  dissatisfied with not receiving it, and with having officers placed
+  over me whom, in point of military knowledge and experience, I
+  cannot regard as my superiors.
+
+  "I certify, on honor, that I am not indebted to the United States
+  on any account whatever, and that I am not responsible for any
+  government property, except what I am prepared to turn over to the
+  proper officer on the acceptance of my resignation, and that I was
+  last paid by Major Haggerty to include the twenty-ninth of February,
+  1864.
+
+  "Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
+
+  "JOHN O'NEILL, First Lieut., Co. 'I,' 5th Ind. Cav.
+
+"Rather a bold epistle this! He tells his commander squarely he will
+not serve under officers whom he considers his inferiors in military
+knowledge. We shall now give the accompanying letters to which he
+refers, from Generals Sturges, Judah and Stoneman, which furnish
+unquestionable proof of his ability and military capacity. These
+letters, from men of fine military experience, are very high references
+of O'Neill's ability. The following is that from Major-General
+Stoneman:--
+
+  "HEADQUARTERS 23D ARMY CORPS, March 8th, 1864.
+
+  "I knew Lieut. O'Neill well on the Peninsula, and as a brave and
+  worthy officer, in whose judgment and capacity I had the greatest
+  confidence. I hope he will receive the promotion to which his merits
+  entitle him, that of a field-officer in a colored regiment.
+
+  "GEORGE STONEMAN, Major-Gen., Com'g. Corps.
+
+"That from General Judah is equally as commendatory. If the one refers
+to his bravery on the Peninsula, the other testifies equally to his
+daring during the war:--
+
+  "HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, 23D ARMY CORPS,
+  In camp near Mossy Creek, Tenn., March 7th, 1864.
+
+  "It gives me pleasure to state that, from personal observation, I
+  deem Lieut. John O'Neill, of the 5th Indiana Cavalry, one of the most
+  _gallant_ and _efficient_ officers it has been my duty to command.
+  His daring and services have been conspicuous, and I trust he may
+  receive what he has so ably merited--his promotion.
+
+  "H.M. JUDAH, Brig.-Gen., Com'g. Division.
+
+"The following endorsement, written on the resignation by General
+Sturges, when forwarded to the headquarters, shows that if merit,
+military and personal, could meet with its reward, Lieut. O'Neill
+should get speedy promotion:--
+
+  "HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS,
+  PARIS, KY., April 7th, 1864.
+
+  "Disapproved and respectfully forwarded.
+
+  "This is an excellent officer--too valuable, indeed, to be lost to
+  the service. He was severely wounded near Tazewell, under Colonel
+  Graham, last December, and is estimated as one of the best officers
+  of my command. This is not the only resignation which has been
+  offered on account of the promotions of inferiors having been made
+  in the 5th Indiana Cavalry over the heads of superiors, based upon
+  political or other considerations, and altogether regardless of
+  merit. By this system junior and meritorious officers find
+  themselves cut off from all hope of advancement, and compelled to
+  serve subordinate to others for whose qualifications they can
+  entertain no respect.
+
+  "While, therefore, I disapprove his resignation for the public
+  good, I would respectfully urge that some policy be initiated
+  or recommended by which officers can see the way open for their
+  advancement according to merit.
+
+  "Respectfully,
+
+  "L.D. STURGES, Brig.-Gen. Com'g.
+
+"The following was the reply from Headquarters:--
+
+  "HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
+  KNOXVILLE, TENN., April 16, 1864
+
+  "Respectfully returned from this Headquarters, Cavalry Corps, to
+  Lieut. John O'Neill, 5th Indiana Cavalry.
+
+  "There appears to be no remedy for the evil referred to by General
+  Sturges.
+
+  "By command of
+
+  "MAJOR GEN. SCHOFIELD.
+
+  "R. MOORE, Ass't. Adj't. Gen.
+
+"Such attestations of the bravery, military skill and high moral
+character of General O'Neill, coming from his companions in arms, from
+the public press, and from Generals of experience and high position,
+form a record of which any man might be proud. Comment on them is
+unnecessary, as they speak forcibly for themselves. Of his noble
+spirit, decisiveness in the hour of danger, ability, pure character,
+and gentlemanly bearing, we have produced overwhelming testimony; but
+as he is now before the public in so very prominent a manner, it is
+necessary that the people should know minutely his every act and the
+nature of the man under whose leadership the Irish Nationalists in
+America are about to renew the good old fight for loved Erin's
+disenthralment. No matter whether on the field or in the drawing-room,
+his calmness of deportment and gentlemanly bearing are the same. The
+simplest child he would no more offend than the most powerful man.
+Uniting with such gentleness and heroic bravery, precise military
+knowledge, and a pure patriotism, may not Irishmen hope that in him
+they have found the man who is destined to lead them on to victory and
+liberty. In whatever sphere he moves, he is universally endeared to
+all; for
+
+  'In him is the heart of a woman, combined
+   With a heroic life and a governing mind.'
+
+"In the movement on Canada, in 1866, Gen. O'Neill sacrificed a
+business which, in a few years, would have made him a wealthy man. But
+he did so without hesitation; for he loved his country, and had
+pledged his life to her service. With the contingent raised by him in
+Tennessee, he proceeded to Buffalo, where, finding himself the senior
+officer, he assumed command of the troops there assembled, and, in
+obedience to the orders he had received, crossed the Niagara river, at
+the head of six hundred men, on the night of the 31st of May, and
+raised the Green Flag once more on the soil of the enemy. On the
+following evening, receiving information that the British forces were
+marching against him to the number of five thousand, in two distinct
+columns, he resolved to fight them in detail, and by a rapid march got
+between them. On the morning of the 2d of June, at Ridgeway, he struck
+them under Booker; and, though the enemy out-numbered his force _four
+to one_, routed them signally. Falling back on his original position
+at Fort Erie, he there learned that the United States Government had
+stopped the movement at other points, and arrested its leaders. Under
+the circumstances, nothing more could be done, at that time; and he
+was reluctantly obliged to re-cross the Niagara, and surrender to the
+United States forces. That he only did so under the pressure of
+necessity, is attested by his offer to the Committee in Buffalo to
+hold his ground, as his own report of the battle of Ridgeway attests,
+in which he simply says:
+
+'But if a movement was going on elsewhere, I was perfectly willing
+to make the Old Fort a slaughter pen, which I knew it would be the
+next day if I remained; _for I would never have surrendered!_'
+
+"At the Cleveland Convention of the Fenian Brotherhood, in September,
+1867, General O'Neill was elected a Senator of that body; and having
+been chosen Vice President on the resignation of that office by James
+Gibbons, Esq., he succeeded President W.R. Roberts, on the
+resignation of that gentleman, Dec. 31, 1867.
+
+"We have thus briefly sketched the principal incidents of General
+O'Neill's career, and, in conclusion, may venture to say that a more
+stainless, or meritorious, could scarcely be presented to the public.
+His whole history incontrovertibly illustrates as noble, determined
+and daring a character as ever led a brave but enslaved people to
+victory.
+
+"We could supplement this with various other official documents and
+accounts, serving, if such were possible, to illustrate still further
+the proud daring and exalted spirit of this worthy son of an
+illustrious past; but shall, at this particular point of our story,
+content ourselves with what has just been said. We might, were we so
+inclined, introduce, also, various other Irish names that shone forth
+with unrivalled splendor during the late war, and point to the
+thousands upon thousands of Irish rank and file that, on numerous
+fields, piled up ramparts of dead around the glorious flag of the
+Union; but such would not serve our purpose here, as we are restricted
+in relation to the task before us; and as the fact of the exploits and
+the bravery of hosts of our loyal countrymen are known to the
+government and people of this Republic. Sufficient to say, however,
+that amongst all those of our race who fought and bled in defence of
+the North, and the integrity of the Commonwealth, there was not to be
+found one individual who evinced more profound judgment than he in
+handling the forces at his command, or more cool daring, or instances
+of personal bravery, as well as that tremendous and overwhelming dash,
+which gained for Ney the proud appellation, 'the bravest of the
+brave?' and placed the Marshals of France amongst the foremost in
+history.
+
+"From out of this fierce civil contest, then, it is obvious from all
+that we have just said, that Fenianism, in its military aspect,
+received the largest and most important accessions. At the close of
+the conflict, thousands upon thousands of veterans joined its
+standard; and thus, in an incredibly short period, its warlike
+character became intensified, until, at last, the organization on the
+American continent loomed up before England with an aspect so
+threatening and a purpose so apparent, that she instantly set about
+putting her house in order, and began to glance in the direction of
+making some cunning, though paltry, concessions to Ireland.
+
+"If, however, the military circles of the Brotherhood were
+distinguished by the accession of many brave and patriotic soldiers,
+at the juncture already referred to, the organization, in its civil
+aspect, was not less fortunate or noticeable. Led triumphantly through
+some of the most difficult phases of its existence, by such
+self-sacrificing and noble patriots as Colonel W.R. Roberts, of New
+York, its late President, and James Gibbons, Esq., of Philadelphia,
+its present Vice President--than whom two more disinterested and
+sterling Sons of the Sod do not exist--its basis enlarged and
+strengthened, we say, by such men as these, and the able and
+truehearted Senators that surrounded them, the Brotherhood, at the
+close of the war, was in a condition sufficiently exalted to attract
+to its centre many of the ablest soldiers who had fought on the side
+of the Union, and who, with their numerous and respective followings,
+were ready to evince their love of liberty and republican institutions
+further, by resuming their swords and striking home for the freedom of
+poor, down-trodden Ireland, against a tyrant the most infamous that
+has ever existed, and to whom America owes a debt of vengeance, that,
+under any circumstances, cannot fail to be one day repaid with tenfold
+interest.
+
+"And so this grand confraternity of patriots prospered and became the
+greatest and most powerful that has ever appeared upon the theatre of
+human existence. To be sure, in a body so numerous and all but
+ramified throughout every portion of the habitable globe, there have
+been some unworthy members, who fell before the love of gain, or
+British gold; but, then, and with pride we say it, taking the gigantic
+proportions of the organization into consideration, and the
+temptations to sin which have been so constantly placed before it by
+that blood-thirsty assassin, England, it stands, by comparison,
+pre-eminently pure above any other similar revolutionary body that has
+ever obtained in either hemisphere, or in any age of the world. Up to
+the present hour, under the protection and guidance of a Divine
+providence, it has surmounted every difficulty that has beset it. It
+has outlived whatever of treason or mismanagement obtained in its own
+bosom; it has survived the cruel calumnies and falsehoods of a
+traitorous and subsidized press, and the machinations of that
+dangerous English element that sometimes steals into high places, and
+which has so often interfered with the true interests of America
+within her own borders, as well as touching her foreign relations.
+These and many either untoward influences it has surmounted; until,
+now, it stands upon a pedestal beyond the reach of danger; not only
+from its great inherent strength and virtue, but from its all but
+incomprehensible ubiquity, and positive existence in every land and
+clime. How futile, then, the efforts of its enemies to crush it either
+by ungenerous legislation, or through the propagation of falsehood.
+Fenianism is a power founded upon the immutable principles of truth
+and justice; and is, therefore, indestructible. Consequently, until it
+has achieved the grand and holy objects that it has set before it, it
+must win its way to triumph, step by step, if needs be no matter what
+the magnitude or the number of the difficulties that beset it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+Early as Barry was up on the morning following his introduction to the
+reader, he found Tom and Greaves in the bar-room, discussing one of
+O'Brien's favorite decoctions, which was averred to possess the virtue
+of giving a "fillip" to the lagging appetite, and attuning it to the
+healthiest possible breakfast pitch. Nicholas, although not addicted
+to early potations, was prevailed upon to join the party. During, the
+friendly conversation which accompanied this faithless libation to the
+Goddess of Health, Greaves observed that while he did not feel himself
+at liberty to speak freely in the mixed company of the preceding
+evening, notwithstanding what might have been termed his unfriendly
+insinuations in relation to Ireland, he was himself a true friend of
+Irish freedom; and, on all befitting occasions, an humble champion of
+her total and unequivocal independence of England. Here he produced a
+letter, from a secret pocket in the lining of his vest, which he
+handed to Tom for hasty perusal; remarking, at the same time, that he
+well knew to whom he was submitting it. A hurried glance at the
+contents induced O'Brien to open his eyes wider than they had been
+opened for some time, and to regard his companion with an almost
+bewildered stare!
+
+"Sure enough, it's his handwritin, and it's as thrue as the sun,"
+ejaculated Tom, as he folded up the letter and returned it to the
+owner, "and it's a different opinion both Nick and myself had of you
+last night, although sorry I am for it now; and there's my hand for
+you."
+
+"What's up now?" retorted Barry, well knowing that O'Brien would never
+have offered his hand to Greaves, unless there were good reasons for
+it.
+
+"Nothin' more," returned Tom, "beyond that we had formed a wrong
+opinion of our frind here, last night; for, instead of his bein' what
+I was half inclined to take him for, he cannot fail to be other than
+the right stamp, or he never could have that letther in his pocket."
+
+"That's enough for me, Tom," replied Barry, extending his hand to
+Greaves, "for whoever you endorse is sure to pass muster, in this
+place, at least."
+
+The conversation here became low and confidential; being interrupted
+only by an occasional customer who dropped in to take his "morning;"
+until, at last, breakfast was announced, and the soldier and Greaves,
+taking the hint, were soon snugly seated side by side in the little
+parlor of the preceding night, at a neat and comfortable table,
+smoking with some of the good things which so constantly characterized
+The Harp. O'Brien, from his other avocations, was unable to join them
+at the moment; so they both conversed freely on the topic that had
+just commanded their attention in the bar, and which referred to
+neither more nor less than the intended invasion of Canada by the army
+of the Irish Republic, then said to be preparing for a descent upon
+the Provinces, in the neighboring Union. Nicholas was unable to give
+any definite information upon the matter; as the authorities of the
+organization in the United States were very reticent regarding it, and
+Greaves himself appeared but little better informed. Barry, however,
+expressed the opinion that, if any man in Canada had thorough
+information on the point, it was Tom; although he himself had no very
+tangible grounds for making the observation, notwithstanding the
+strength of his surmises.
+
+"Do you not belong to the organization yourself, and if you do, ought
+you not to be in possession of some facts on this all-important
+movement?" rejoined Greaves, "and if you are not a member, surely you
+are sufficiently true to Ireland to have been informed, to some extent
+at least, in regard to it, by your friend O'Brien, who is, I learn, a
+Centre here."
+
+"Well, strange as it may appear," returned the other, "I don't belong
+to the Brotherhood, not having, yet had an opportunity to join it; and
+as for Tom, whatever my suspicions may be, I really am unable to say
+positively that he is in any degree connected with the organization;
+although I am sensible that his sympathies, like my own, lie in that
+direction."
+
+"How is your regiment situated on this point," remarked Greaves,
+leisurely breaking an egg and commencing to chip the shell.
+
+"A good many of my way of thinking," replied the other; "but, as you
+know, it is necessary to be cautious, as not only is the commanding
+officer a tartar, but most of the swords and sashes are of the same
+kidney. The fact of the case is, however, several of our fellows have
+deserted, and no doubt will join the organization in the States, and
+render good service to the cause there, in a military point of view."
+
+"Why don't you follow their example and do something for your poor,
+down-trodden country," said Philip in reply, "seeing that now is the
+time she needs the service of all her children?"
+
+"There is no necessity for my deserting," rejoined Barry, "for I have
+already applied for my discharge, which I expect to receive this very
+day; so that ere the sun sets, in all probability, I shall be a
+freeman."
+
+Greaves became silent here for a few moments, as if revolving
+something in his mind, when, lifting his head again, he resumed the
+conversation by asking:
+
+"Are strangers permitted to visit the Fort? If so, I should be very
+glad to take a peep at it this morning, as I shall have a few boars to
+spare before I can do any business, or rather before the parties I
+have come to see will be prepared to meet me."
+
+"Why, not as a general thing, just now," returned Nicholas, "but I
+think you may be able to gain admittance if you are accompanied by me,
+who will, of course, vouch to the sentry for you."
+
+"Then if you allow me," said Greaves, "I shall avail myself of your
+kind invitation, and cross the bridge with you after we have
+breakfasted, for I can well imagine that during a period when such
+rumors are afloat, the Commandant as rather chary of permitting
+strangers to enter his gates."
+
+In this strain the conversation flowed until breakfast was ended, when
+the friends proposed to sally forth from the Harp, and wend their way
+to the point already mentioned. As Barry was leaving the bar-room,
+however, Tom whispered something in his ear, which appeared to puzzle
+him for a moment, but returning a keen glance of recognition, both he
+and Greaves passed out into the cool, fresh morning-air, and began
+slowly wending their way to the Fort.
+
+There being as yet no special order about the admission of strangers,
+Greaves, with Nicholas by his side, passed the sentry without
+question, and proceeded to the canteen, which, early as it was, showed
+some signs of life. Here Barry introduced his new acquaintance to many
+of his comrades; but in such common place terms, as to attract no
+attention whatever on the part of any person. Being for parade,
+however, he was obliged to leave his friend in other keeping, for a
+short period, and so hastened to the barrack-room to prepare himself
+for his morning duties. During the interval of his absence, Greaves
+stepped out of the canteen, alone, and learning that the Colonel was
+speaking to some of the officers near the parade ground, made his way
+towards where the group was standing, and crossing the path of the
+Colonel as he was walking towards his quarters, accosted him in a
+manner which soon arrested the progress and attention of that officer,
+and brought him to a dead halt. The conversation was brief and rapid,
+while a slip of paper thrust into the hands of the Colonel, by
+Greaves, seemed to place both on a strange footing of recognition. So
+brief was the interview, that it was not observed by any individual in
+the garrison; and so quickly did Greaves return to the canteen, that
+his absence was scarcely noticed. Here Barry found him as he had left
+him, making himself agreeable to the soldiers; being more than liberal
+in paying for all they drank. As the bugle sounded for parade, he bid
+our young hero "good bye for the present," and leaving the Fort,
+proceeded to retrace his steps towards the town, or city, as it may be
+called.
+
+When he arrived here, instead of returning to The Harp, he bent his
+steps in another direction, and entered a hotel that was in every
+relation the very antipodes of the establishment in which he had
+passed the night. Here, in every direction, were to be found the
+traces of an English spirit and blind adhesion to wretched and
+exploded traditions. In the office hung the portrait of the cruel
+Queen of England, and that of her defunct consort, whose injustice and
+pedantry were so snubbed by the illustrious Humboldt. Here, too, were
+to be seen the likeness of the--iron-hearted, it should have
+been--Duke, presenting a birth-day present, or something of the sort,
+to a moonfaced yonker that sat fair and plump upon the knee of its
+royal mother. In another corner was to be found a representation of
+the Prince of Wales, for whose head and face the engraver had done
+infinitely more than nature; while directly opposite stood, in a dark,
+heavy frame, the one-armed hero of the Nile, who owed so much of his
+fame to poor Emma Harte--the unfortunate Lady Hamilton, who, after
+having conferred the most serious benefits upon England, was permitted
+to starve, with her daughter, in a garret somewhere in or near Calais;
+while some of the spurious offspring of orange and ballet girls filled
+many of the highest offices in the land she had so often served.
+
+In this establishment the subject of Fenianism was discussed as a
+leading topic, in a manner quite different from the style in which it
+was treated at the Harp. Here no voice was raised in its favor--no
+word of justification advanced in its behalf. Still, although its
+importance was ignored ostensibly, there were a nervousness and
+misgiving about some of those who conversed upon it, which showed that
+they were ill at ease. There seemed, in addition, to be some vague
+sense of insecurity preying upon them, which could only have
+originated in their want of confidence in themselves, or in some
+person or persons to whom were entrusted the gravest interests of the
+Province. This was the more obvious, from the fact, that, from time to
+time, mysterious and half-whispered enquiries were made, in reference
+to one particular individual, whose state of health or mind seemed at
+the moment to engross no ordinary share of the attention of the
+numerous guests that filled the bar or office, for the apartment was
+used as both.
+
+Greaves listened with open ears to all that transpired, and, after
+inspecting the hotel register, took up a morning paper and seated
+himself in an arm-chair at his side. While engaged, as he feigned to
+be, in perusing the news, although actually endeavoring to catch every
+whisper that floated around him, he gathered, that, for the week or
+ten days proceeding, one of the most important functionaries in the
+Province, who, although a clever man, was sorely addicted to fits of
+intemperence, was now, while the country was convulsed with gloomy
+forebodings, regarding Fenianism, again passing through one of his
+prolonged and fearful drinking bouts, and totally unfit to pay even
+the slightest attention to the momentous business of his office.
+Already, it was averred, numerous dispatches, of the most vital
+moment, were lying unopened upon his table, where they were scattered,
+wet and stained with wine and debauch, some of them having, as it was
+urged, been obviously disfigured, in part, for the purpose, perhaps,
+of lighting cigars; while, pale, wretched and half insane, the
+miserable creature to whom they were addressed, reclined on a sofa by
+their side, jabbering to a few bloated boon companions, obscene jests
+and amusing anecdotes, through which the fire of his own native wit
+sometimes shot brilliantly, though but for a single moment. This, we
+say. Greaves gathered from the conversation around him, and as in one
+or two cases he perceived, on the part of the speakers, scarcely any
+desire to preserve a tone of secrecy on the subject, he felt pretty
+much assured, that the case was a bad one indeed, and that the
+individual who could so far forget his own interests for the sake of
+the bottle, and who could be tolerated in any position of high trust
+in the State, while addicted to vices of such a character, not to
+mention others, thought by the Hamilton _Quarterly Review_ to be of a
+graver nature were that possible, must be sustained by the influence
+of persons terribly deluded, or creatures vile in their degree in
+turn, and who, like himself, were regardless of the trust reposed in
+them by the people. And yet, as Greaves afterwards learned, this same
+man came to Canada a poor, bare-footed, Scotch lad, with a father
+whose only fortune was an old fiddle, and that inexorable but
+praiseworthy characteristic of his country--a determination to collect
+the bawbees at whatever shrine first presented itself on the shores of
+the New World. Be this as it may, the daily press of the Province has
+since verified the correctness of the whispers heard by Greaves, and
+made public the accusation, that this individual, so recently
+distinguished by a mark of royal favor, for three weeks previous to
+the invasion of Canada, was so lost in a whirlpool of the most
+deplorable intemperance, as to be utterly incapable of opening or
+attending to the important dispatches which lay scattered and unheeded
+upon his bedroom table.
+
+When Greaves returned to The Harp, he found O'Brien in a state of
+great excitement. A soldier, as it appeared, had just arrived from the
+Fort, with the information that the Colonel, on second consideration,
+did not find it justifiable to apply for Barry's discharge, at a
+moment when the country was threatened with danger; and that, as the
+regiment should soon be ordered home, as he was assured, he had
+determined not to recommend any discharges until it had reached
+England. This intelligence had been conveyed to Nicholas by the
+Colonel in person, after parade, and in a manner which precluded the
+slightest hope of its being reversed by any succeeding alteration of
+opinion on the part of the individual who communicated it. A
+thunderbolt, had it fallen at the feet of the young soldier, could not
+have startled or paralyzed him more. He was actually struck dumb by it
+Here was the chalice dashed from his lips at last. He turned away in
+despair; but as he was for duty, he was constrained to smother the
+tumultuous feelings within his breast. When alone, however, and pacing
+his lonely round with his musket on his shoulder, he had time to
+measure, with sufficient calmness and accuracy, the length, breadth
+and depth of the great misfortunes that had befallen him. There was
+but one course left open to him. He had sought to purchase his
+discharge and leave the service, without the taint of desertion
+attaching to his name amongst any of his comrades, although he felt
+that he was not morally bound to remain in the service of England, for
+a single moment longer than it served his own private ends. Desertion,
+then, was the only course left open to him, and he was determined to
+follow it, upon the first fitting opportunity. Another reason why he
+would rather have been discharged in the ordinary manner from the
+service: if he once deserted he should never again, with any degree of
+security, visit any portion of the British dominions; and as Canada
+lay so close beside the United States, he would gladly have avoided
+the inconvenience of being shut out from it, as O'Brien and more than
+one of his friends resided there. However, there was now no help for
+it; to England he should never return, and so he disposed of the
+matter in his own bosom. When relieved of duty, then, and with his
+purpose fixed firmly in his heart, he once again visited The Harp,
+where he found Tom and Greaves lamenting over the intelligence of his
+misfortune, and to whom, in a moment of anxiety and excitement, he
+disclosed his determination to quit the service, and gain the shores
+of the neighboring Republic the first favorable moment that presented
+itself. Tom appeared somewhat agitated if not alarmed; at so serious a
+disclosure, made with such apparent unconcern; and it was only when
+Barry remembered the hint of the morning, which O'Brien gave him as he
+was about proceeding to the garrison, that he, himself, felt that he
+had perhaps been too incautious and precipitate before a person who,
+after all, was but a stranger to him, although apparently a kindly
+one. The cat being out of the bag, however, there was now no help for
+it; and as Greaves seemed to enter warmly into the project, and even
+offered to share his purse with Nicholas, if there was any necessity
+for it, the matter was allowed to rest as it was, and suspicion of
+Greaves, if any remained in the breast of either the soldier or Tom,
+was driven into the background, and constrained to remain in abeyance
+for the time being.
+
+When Barry again returned to his quarters, he freely discussed his
+disappointment among his comrades, and declared his determination to
+lay the matter before the Commander-in-Chief, averring, with great
+earnestness, that he had always done his duty, and that he was not
+accountable for the state of the country, and should not be called
+upon to suffer for a condition of things outside and beyond his
+control, and which he was in no manner instrumental in bringing about.
+His argument seemed plausible enough, but then what, at any time, his
+argument, when it ran counter to the desires or intentions of his
+commanding officer? Therefore, the matter, after having been subjected
+to due discussion, was allowed to fall asleep in the usual stereotyped
+style; although as may be supposed, there were one or two breasts, at
+least, that were kept alive and active by it. Nicholas, believing that
+any intelligence of his embarrassment on the subject would but perplex
+and pain Kate, determined not to write to her regarding it, but to be
+the first to bear her the news himself. As already observed, she had
+written to him to procure his discharge at the earliest possible
+moment, and now to learn that his freedom was jeopardized for an
+indefinite period, involving, in addition, his return to England
+first, would be a renewal of her old agony. This he was determined to
+spare her; so, to those of his company in whom he could confide, and
+who were themselves ripe for any project that would tend to their
+total disseverment from the flag they so detested, he cautiously
+communicated his intentions, finding, in return, that more than one of
+them were on the eve of trying their fortune in the same manner. Soon,
+then, a sturdy little band had determined to leave the Fort, whatever
+night Barry should pitch upon; premising, of course, that it should be
+some one on which he would be on duty, and at a favorable point.
+
+This much arranged, Greaves and Tom were made acquainted with the
+whole particulars of the plot; the former entering, to all appearance,
+heart and soul into it, and furthering it in every manner within the
+limits of his power. In fact, Greaves was actually behaving in a
+manner which staggered some suspicions still entertained by Tom,
+notwithstanding the letter to which reference has already been made,
+for he agreed to assist in forwarding the escape of one of Nicholas'
+company that had deserted sometime previously, and was still concealed
+in the outskirts of the town, in a place known to Barry only, and
+where he was hemmed in by detectives from his regiment that were
+continually traversing the city in colored clothes, or stationed as
+look-outs at certain points in its vicinity. Barry was most anxious
+that this poor fellow should not be left behind, and as Greaves
+promised to procure a disguise for him and have him conveyed secretly
+to Tom's on the night that the project of leaving the Fort was to be
+put into execution, Barry, at the request of Greaves, penned a note,
+which he hastily sealed with a love device well known to the deserter,
+and which he had himself received at the hands of the beautiful girl
+of his heart. The note ran thus:--
+
+  "Place the fullest confidence in the bearer. Follow his directions
+  implicitly. Your fate hangs in the balance. He will lead you to
+  where we shall meet. In great haste, &c.,
+
+  "NICHOLAS BARRY."
+
+This note he handed to Greaves, who immediately consigned it to his
+pocket-book, and set forth, as he alleged, to reconoitre the hiding
+place of the soldier, and make such arrangements in his behalf as the
+necessities of the case required.
+
+As the brief missive just quoted was written in O'Brien's, and in the
+presence of Tom himself, when Greaves left the premises, the host with
+some uneasiness observed:--
+
+"I don't know how it is, Nick, but somehow or other I cannot divest
+myself of sartain lurkin suspicions which I have of that man; although
+there is not a single Irish Nationalist in the city that would not
+offer him his hand and a glass afther seein the letther that I saw.
+However, you will remimber that the first night he came I didn't warm
+to him, as I tould you, notwithstandin that I had to give up the next
+mornin. Still, and withal he appears to be actin fair, although I
+can't make out exactly what he's about here. Any way, in for a pinny
+in for a pound, so we must make the best of it; but, if I find that he
+is playin foul--well, God Almighty help him, and that's all I'll say.
+However, three nights from this will tell the whole story, and if you
+all make good your escape, you may take my word for it, I'll make a
+clane breast of it to him and ask his pardon into the bargain. I think
+with you that it was wise not to write to Kate about your throuble and
+disappointment, or apprise her of your intintion, as it would only
+agonize the poor craytshure; but should you be foiled and taken, what
+a dreadful thing it would be for her to hear instead of the
+intelligence of your freedom, that you were in the depths of a dungeon
+from which you might have no manes of escape for years!"
+
+Barry absolutely shuddered at the possibility of such a _denouement_
+to the scheme that now absorbed his whole mind and soul. Although
+sensible of the risk he ran, he never paused to regard the peculiar
+features of the case as presented by his friend; but now that they
+loomed up before him in such bold and fearful relief, he almost shrank
+from pushing farther the dangerous project he had undertaken. Yet,
+there was no other channel through which he could hope to become
+speedily the husband of the woman he loved; while, if he abandoned it,
+he might probably be separated from her forever, as he felt convinced,
+that should an ocean roll once more between them, she would not long
+survive the calamity. In a moment, then, the faintness of his heart
+had passed away, and in its stead came the firm resolve to prosecute
+his design to the death; feeling that imprisonment for any term of
+years on the shores trodden by the being he adored, was preferable to
+freedom, such as it was, in a land cut off from her by the trackless
+desert of the great deep.
+
+Re-assured once more, then, he continued cautiously the preparations
+for his departure, attending to his duties with his usual assiduity,
+and still murmuring at the decision of the Colonel. Neither he nor
+Tom, of course, ever approached the hiding place of the refugee
+already mentioned, although they managed to hear from him
+occasionally, and to keep his spirits up. Had either, by day or night,
+ventured near his retreat, they could scarcely have escaped
+notice--the one from his soldier's uniform and the other from his
+remarkable height and personal appearance; they were, therefore, with
+all their misgivings, relieved of their embarrassment in this
+relation, by the generous offer of Greaves, who, as it seemed, had
+abundance of means at his command to further any project that he might
+think proper to undertake relative to the escape of the deserter, or
+those who had now determined to join him.
+
+In this way, then, matters stood on the very evening which was to
+close in the night selected by the intending fugitives, to put their
+designs into execution. Everything was ready, and as the clock struck
+twelve and the streets of the city were partially deserted, a cab
+rumbled up to the door of The Harp, and Greaves and a stranger,
+muffled to the eyes, stepping from it, entered the establishment and
+passed through the bar into Tom's little parlor. Greaves had kept his
+faith--the stranger was the deserter!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+As might be presumed, from what we have already said regarding Kate
+McCarthy, from the moment she took up her abode with her relatives at
+Buffalo, she resumed her industrious habits, and set to work, in real
+earnest, to add something to whatever young Barry had realized from
+his own abilities and steady conduct on both sides of the Atlantic;
+for, since his arrival in Canada, he had plied his pen amongst his
+comrades, and in other quarters, copying papers and instructing the
+children of the soldiers where he was stationed. She consequently soon
+found her little store increased, and her time fully occupied. In
+music and the earlier branches of English, she had several young
+pupils; while for some of the fancy millinery stores of the city, she
+occasionally employed her needle on some of those delicate and
+exquisite ornaments of female dress which are at once so expensive and
+attractive. Her labors were, of course, cheered through constant
+intercourse by letter with Barry; and so the time rolled on up to the
+very point when Nicholas first applied for his discharge. It may be
+considered strange, that Barry had not left the service on his first
+arrival in Canada; but, then, let it be understood, that neither he
+nor Kate had yet acquired sufficient means with which to begin the
+world; while both were steadily accumulating a little, slowly but
+safely; and when, besides, he felt assured, that having the means at
+his command, he could, at any moment, procure his discharge. We have
+already said, that owing to his proud and unyielding nature, he was
+not a favorite with his officers, and that such being the case, he
+never 'rose above the ranks; but, then, after all, the most of his
+superiors had, at times, recourse to his pen and excellent education
+in various matters connected with the regiment, requiting him for his
+services handsomely enough; but still at enmity with his Irish blood,
+and what they feared was, his anti-British tendencies. Such
+inducements as these, although accompanied with drawbacks, moved him
+to remain in the service for a longer period than he should have done
+under other circumstances, and reconciled his lover to an absence
+which she believed could be terminated at any moment. And so time sped
+with her, until the eve of the very day, on the night of which Barry
+and his comrades were to leave the Fort, when returning towards her
+home in the direction of Black Bock, from the city, just as it began
+to get dusk, she was met by an over-dressed stranger, who accosting
+her in a most respectful manner, begged to know if she could direct
+him to the residence of Miss Kate McCarthy.
+
+After recovering her surprise, and casting a searching glance at her
+interrogator, she replied, that she was, herself, Miss McCarthy, and
+begged to know what was his business with her. The man appeared to
+hesitate, as if not crediting her assertion, and proceeded to say,
+that he had a message for Miss McCarthy, but that he was led to
+believe that that lady was a much older person than the one whom he
+now addressed.
+
+"Possibly," returned Kate, "there is some other lady of my name here;
+but if such be the case, I am totally unaware of it. However," she
+continued, "as I expect no message from any person of my acquaintance,
+doubtless I am not the person you seek," and bowing slightly to the
+stranger, she turned to pursue her way in the direction of her home.
+
+"I beg your pardon for attempting to delay you," rejoined the
+stranger, "but after all, you may be the lady I seek. If you are," he
+went on to say, "you will be apt to recognize this token;" holding
+something in his hand, which he now thrust out towards her.
+
+In an instant, her whole manner altered, her cheeks flushed, and a
+strange light burned in her eyes, as she exclaimed hurriedly, and
+while greatly agitated:
+
+"Yes, I am the person; let us walk towards the house. It is but a
+short distance from where we stand."
+
+In a few moments, they were both engaged in the most earnest
+conversation, and evidently entering into some stipulation that was to
+be carried out without delay. On nearing her residence, however, the
+stranger expressed his opinion, that it were better that he should
+return to the city at once, and make some arrangements in connection
+with the subject of their conversation, whatever that was; enforcing
+upon her, in the meantime, the most profound secrecy, and the strange
+necessity, above all things, of not informing any of her friends or
+relations of the project upon which they had decided.
+
+"Twelve o'clock, at the Lower Ferry, then!" observed the stranger, as
+he turned his face towards the city.
+
+"Twelve o'clock!" she returned. "No fear! I shall be awaiting you!"
+
+When she entered the house, with a view to concealing her emotions and
+making some secret preparations for the accomplishment of the sudden
+project foreshadowed by the words of the stranger, she hastily gained
+her chamber. When alone, she gazed confused yet enraptured on the
+unexpected talisman that had been given her, and which she still held
+firmly in her grasp. Soon, however, becoming more calm, she set about
+making such arrangements for her midnight tryst as she conceived
+necessary; upon the completion of which, she penned a few lines to her
+kind relatives, begging them to make no inquiries after her, as she
+was safe; although, for reasons afterwards to be explained, she was
+obliged to leave their roof by stealth, and for the moment in utter
+darkness as to her destination. She assured them, nevertheless, that
+although her conduct was for the present suspicious and inexplicable,
+she was free from any taint of wrong, and was only obeying a voice
+that would soon justify to the fullest, and before them personally,
+the step she was now about to take. This note was left upon her
+bed-room table, where she knew it would be discovered; so, after
+declining to join the family at tea, on the plea of slight
+indisposition, she filled a traveling satchel with what necessaries
+she thought she might require for the few days she presumed she should
+be absent, and extinguishing her lamp at the hour she usually retired
+to rest, awaited, alone and in silence, for the clock to strike
+eleven; at which time she knew the family would have all sought their
+couch and be sunk in slumber.
+
+From her chamber window she perceived that the lights soon began to
+disappear from the casements of the few dwellings that were in the
+immediate vicinity of her habitation, and that the quiet of repose was
+stealing over the neighborhood. Busied with her own thoughts, and
+anxious for the future, the time for her departure drew nigh more
+rapidly than she had anticipated; so, when the last stroke of eleven
+had died away through the house, she, having previously attired
+herself for her journey, and secured, about her person, whatever money
+she possessed, took up her satchel, and cautiously descending the
+stairs, soon emerged out into the gloomy night, hastily bending her
+footsteps towards the place of rendezvouz.
+
+Here, besides encountering the individual already introduced to the
+reader, who was waiting for her, she having had to travel a
+considerable distance, and it being now close on midnight, she found a
+second party stationed by the side of a good sized boat, into which
+all three stepped upon her arrival; the two strangers seizing the oars
+and striking boldly out for the Canadian side of the river. Although
+rapid the current at the point of their crossing, so admirably did
+they manage their craft and lustily did they pull, they did not
+deviate much from the light on the opposite shore, which seemed to
+gleam from some cottage window, and which they took as a beacon and
+guide to their course. In the space of about half an hour, they landed
+at the point they expected to make, where they found a team waiting,
+with a lantern so ingeniously fixed in the wagon as to be discernible
+from the American side of the river only; this being the light by
+which the two boatmen had steered.
+
+As they all stepped ashore, Kate had a full opportunity of
+scrutinizing the appearance of the second stranger, who aided her in
+crossing the river. He was a short, thick-set, heavy man, of a most
+forbidding aspect, with a huge mouth and a broad, flat nose, without a
+bridge. He wore a blue flannel shirt and a heavy, short over-coat and
+slouched hat, and was, taking him all and all, about as villainous a
+looking specimen of humanity as one could well meet in a day's walk.
+Nor was the driver of the wagon into which she now was lifted, a very
+decided improvement in this relation. He, also, was a most suspicions
+looking fellow, although civil enough in his way. Kate felt relieved,
+however, when her earliest acquaintance of the evening took his seat
+beside her, and when she perceived the man with the blue shirt
+re-entering the boat and pushing off for the American shore once
+again.
+
+The driver now having adjusted himself in his place in front of Kate
+and her polite companion, the whip was laid to the horses, and the
+party moved briskly along the bank of the river, until they struck
+into a road which evidently led into the interior of the country. This
+road they pursued at a slow pace until the first gray streaks of dawn
+were visible in the eastern horizon; Kate's companion, from time to
+time, making such commonplace observations as the necessity of the
+case required; she supposing that the presence of the driver prevented
+him from offering her any farther explanation on the subject of her
+singular adventure. Just as surrounding objects were becoming more
+distinct, they pulled up before an isolated building, in what appeared
+to be a country place, and in which, early as it was, there was some
+person already astir, as was evident from the light which shone from
+one of the windows.
+
+Here they all alighted and were received at the door of the dwelling
+by a middle aged woman, with a strip of red silk bound round her head
+and drawn down over one of her eyes. She was dressed in a plain but
+neat manner, and exhibited sufficient traits of feminine beauty to
+recommend her to either sex. The driver was evidently her husband, and
+no very affectionate one either, if the coarse, cold manner in which
+he received her welcome could be taken as any indication on this head.
+However, as Kate was cold and weary, she gladly accepted an invitation
+to alight and enter the building, where she found a large fire blazing
+and crackling upon the hearth, in an apartment that was used as a
+dining-room and kitchen; although the house was a large one and
+clearly contained many apartments. When seated by the fire, and while
+the driver was seeing to his horses, her companion, who also seated
+himself by the warm blaze, informed her that, for the present, she was
+at the end of her journey--that the driver, his wife and a grown up
+niece or daughter, were the only inhabitants of the house, and that
+the place was selected as her retreat for the time being, for reasons
+that would doubtless be explained to her in due time. Although
+surprised and mystified at all she had already experienced, she, of
+course, had not one word to say in opposition to the disposition that
+had been made of her; for had she not in her bosom the guarantee that
+all was right; so, professing her willingness to remain in her
+temporary abode until the period for her release arrived, and
+promising to be as patient as possible, under the circumstances, she
+begged the woman of the house to show her to her room, as she needed a
+few hours rest, to which request her hostess readily acceded, having
+first, though in vain, endeavored to prevail upon her to take some
+refreshments after her journey.
+
+The room to which Kate was shown was far from a despicable one, and
+possessed many articles of furniture infinitely superior to those in
+the department she had first entered. The floor was carpeted, and the
+chairs and tables of quite a superior quality; the bed, also, seemed
+invitingly clean and comfortable, while some excellent books were to
+be found in a small, neat case, standing in one corner of the
+apartment. On the table there burned a handsome lamp, and a fire
+blazed cheerfully in a small, open stove, as though her arrival had
+been expected and well cared for. When her hostess left her, she
+examined her chamber door and windows, and found the latter quite
+secure, while in the lock of the former was a key, one turn of which
+would cut her off completely from any intrusion whatever. Seating
+herself beside her lamp, she reviewed rapidly the events of the night,
+and finding no solution for them, she slowly undressed, and consigning
+herself to the care of heaven, was soon lost in a calm and refreshing
+slumber, from which she did not awake until the sun had nearly
+attained his meridian glory.
+
+When she opened her eyes and collected her scattered senses, she
+hastily arose, and dressing herself, rang a small bell that lay on her
+table, and which her hostess desired she should use when she required
+any attendance. Immediately a gentle tap was heard at her chamber
+door, upon opening which, a young girl, about sixteen years of age,
+presented herself with a pitcher of fresh water, begging to know, as
+she placed it on the wash-stand, at what period she should bring up
+breakfast; setting about opening the windows as she spoke, and
+otherwise busying herself in arranging the room. There was something
+in the appearance of this young creature, that at once enlisted the
+sympathy and kindly feelings of Kate. Her features were strangely
+handsome and prepossessing, and her form of the very finest
+proportions. Her hands, although rough with hard work, were,
+nevertheless, small and delicately shaped, while her feet,
+notwithstanding that they were encased in a pair of over-large
+slippers, were obviously very beautiful. She was tall for her age, and
+apparently better educated than her seeming condition in life might
+warrant. But what was most peculiar about her, was an air of sadness,
+that seemed native to her expressive countenance, and which pervaded
+her smiles even, with a strange, subduing power, that nearly allied
+them to gentle tears. Her voice, too, was singularly sweet, low and
+melodious; while her whole demeanor was so tinged with what might be
+termed some lone, hidden sorrow, that Kate felt drawn towards her in a
+manner the most unaccountable. In answer to a query put to her, she
+said she was not, as was generally supposed, the daughter of the
+owners of the establishment, but their niece, as she believed; and
+that she had now been residing in the locality for over five years.
+That her uncle did a great deal of teaming, and was often from home;
+and that, in his absence, she and her aunt took care of a small patch
+of ground that lay at the back of the house. She was almost glad, she
+said, that the lady had come to stay sometime with them, and hoped
+that she would allow her to often sit by her and read during the times
+her uncle would be away; as it might tend to beguile many a weary
+hour; that is, provided the lady would have to remain any length of
+time with them.
+
+There was something in all this which seemed to move Kate strangely.
+The expression "almost glad" sounded curiously in her ears, and
+awakened in her feelings of a no very pleasurable character. However,
+she determined, upon so slight an acquaintance, not to push her
+inquiries further just then; and by way of forming a friendly compact
+with her attendant, assured her, that so long as she remained in the
+house, she should always be happy to have her as a companion whenever
+she could be spared from her domestic duties; and further, that it
+would afford her the greatest possible pleasure to sit and listen to
+her, whenever she could find a moment's time to either read for her or
+while away a few minutes in friendly conversation. This condescension
+seemed to light up the face of the interesting young creature with a
+flush of gratitude the most ardent; and with a lighter step than that
+with which she had entered the chamber, she tripped away, for the
+purpose of bringing up the breakfast to which she had already
+referred.
+
+When Martha, as Kate's new acquaintance was called, again entered the
+apartment, she was accompanied by her aunt, who was dressed just as
+she had been the night before, with the exception that the strip of
+red silk had been replaced by a purple band of the same material. As
+the breakfast, which was excellent for a country place, was being
+placed upon the table, Kate perceived that one side of the woman's
+face was discolored, and being moved to make some inquiries regarding
+the cause, was informed, that while breaking up some kindling wood, a
+splinter had accidentally struck her face. This went to satisfy her,
+of course, although she thought the large, black patch which fell down
+along the cheek was singularly dark and wide to be traceable to the
+small splinter that the woman asserted to be the cause of it. A
+strange look from Martha, too, aroused a suspicion that the origin of
+the disfigurement was not that named; so here the matter rested for
+the present.
+
+During her repast, she learned from Martha, who remained with her,
+that the name of the people of the house was Wilson; that they were
+English, and that the person who had arrived in company with her
+uncle, who was also English, was called Stephen Smith; but where he
+resided she was unable to say. This she knew, however, that he made
+occasional visits to the family, and was sometimes accompanied by a
+very ill-looking man, who remained a day or two, after having left
+some boxes or cases in charge of her uncle, who subsequently disposed
+of them in some manner unknown to her.
+
+"But," she continued, "I don't like these men. They always come in the
+night, and go away in the night, and are ever whispering; you must
+not, however," she went on to say, "mention this to either my aunt or
+my uncle; for, if they should know I had said so much, they would
+doubtless be very angry with me."
+
+"Oh!" returned Kate, "you may rely upon it, that whatever you may
+choose to say in relation to the men in question, or anything else,
+shall remain in my bosom; for to betray any confidence of the kind,
+would, in my eyes, be criminal in the last degree."
+
+"What brought you here, then!--what brought you here!" ejaculated
+Martha, in an anxious, nervous tone. "There must be something
+wrong!--some treachery, or I am sure a lady so good and pure as you
+seem to be, would never cross this threshold."
+
+Kate, becoming instantly alarmed, broke off suddenly in her repast,
+and begged the young girl, for Heaven's sake, to be more explicit.
+
+"I really don't know what more to say than I have already said,"
+replied the girl; "but, as I feel drawn towards you by some invisible
+power, short as our acquaintance has been, I will say, that I fear my
+uncle's associates are lawless men, and believe that my aunt knows it,
+and regrets it, too. But a few nights ago, when Smith came here to
+make arrangements about your arrival, as I suppose, I heard high words
+between my relatives after his departure, and, the next morning, found
+my aunt's face just as you have seen it. But we dare not say much in
+opposition to any proposition that my uncle might choose to make in
+any connection, so violent and brutal is his temper at times. For my
+own part, however," she proceeded, "so soon as I can escape from such
+thraldom and associations, I shall try and make my own way in the
+world; for my impression is, my uncle has some idea of a union between
+me and the detestable creature, Smith, who accompanied you here last
+night, and who, after an hour's rest, was again driven off by my
+uncle, doubtless to whatever point he came from."
+
+This intelligence, as may be supposed, caused poor Kate the greatest
+possible anxiety; but what had she to fear so long as she took the
+talisman for her guide? Here there could be no mistake, anyway; for
+had she not it in her bosom, and was it not from _him_? Still, that
+there was something perfectly mysterious about the whole affair, she
+was quite ready to admit; but as she had received the strictest
+injunctions from Smith not to permit herself to be seen for the
+present in the vicinity of the place, or outside the dwelling, she
+determined to obey one to whom no small power in her case had
+unquestionably been delegated by her lover.
+
+During the day Martha and Kate were frequently together--the poor
+young girl disclosing her history scrap by scrap, until at last Kate
+learned that she was in reality an orphan; that both her parents died
+when she was yet quite young; that her aunt, who was possessed of an
+excellent education, had been twice married--once to her own mother's
+brother, and subsequently to the man whom she now called uncle; that
+her own parents had been Irish, and that on their death, her real
+uncle became her guardian and true friend until his death; when, on
+this second, unfortunate marriage, the affairs of the family becoming
+hopelessly embarrassed, she and her relatives embarked for America,
+taking up their abode first in Toronto, and subsequently in the place
+where they now resided. In addition, she stated that her opportunities
+of education had been good, and that, somehow or other, since she had
+crossed the Atlantic, she managed to keep a few choice books about
+her, and avail herself of the assistance of her aunt, whenever they
+could, in the absence of her uncle, devote an hour to study or the
+perusal of some new work.
+
+The small clearing, on the verge of which the house occupied by the
+Wilsons stood, was surrounded with woods, and no other habitation was
+to be found in its immediate vicinity. From the morose disposition and
+suspicious character of the proprietor himself, but few of the
+neighbors were on visiting terms with the family; so that they might
+be said to lead a completely sequestered life. From time to time only,
+an occasional visit was paid him by some one who stood in need of the
+services of his team; and thus his standing in the neighborhood was
+that of a suspected or banned man--the general impression being, that
+he was neither more nor less than a dangerous and daring smuggler, who
+was constantly engaged in the interests of unprincipled merchants on
+both sides of the lines. This idea obtained footing from the
+circumstance that he had been observed returning late one night from
+the frontier with his wagon laden down with suspicious looking boxes
+and bales; and from the further fact, that his absences from home were
+frequently lengthy and mysterious--no one knowing the precise nature
+of his business, or the points to which his journeys were made so
+often.
+
+The clearing, itself, was under good cultivation, the spring crops
+giving fine promise of an abundant harvest. A short distance from the
+house flowed a beautiful brook, whose murmurs occasionally reached the
+ears of the inmates; while the thickening foliage of the surrounding
+groves, as they might be termed, gave shelter to various birds,
+amongst which might now be heard, at early morn and throughout the
+day, the clear, round notes of the robin.
+
+"The robin!"--what on earth has, we should like to know, bewitched
+ornithologists to designate the great, coarse, tuneless bird, that
+visits us in the earliest dawn of spring, in this far off America,
+"the robin?" Neither in throat nor plumage is it even a thirty-first
+cousin of the sweet, timid, little, brown bunch of melody that haunts
+the hawthorn hedges of Ireland and the sister island, when they are
+in bloom, or seeks a crumb at the open casement, when winter ruffles
+all its russet plumes, and sets his chill, white seal on all its
+stores; We have been often struck with the great dissimilarity
+between these two namesakes of the feathered kingdom; for never on
+these transatlantic shores have we heard what might be termed a
+domestic bird sing a song so sweet as that poured beneath our window
+in the soft blue haze of an Irish summer evening, by the genuine
+robin-red-breast, as he sang the daylight down the west, through a sky
+flushed and flecked with azure, crimson and gold, to such extreme
+intensity, that the poet or painter might, at the moment, half indulge
+in the idea, that the sun had fallen into curious ruins upon the verge
+of the horizon. Oh! the silver thread of such a song, as it flashed
+and scintillated from that trembling throat! Never shall we forget it,
+or the land in which it first wound itself around our heart.
+
+But this, we know, is inclined to be sentimental; and as we now have
+to do with stern realities, we shall resume the chain of our story by
+saying, that after her first day's residence with the Wilsons, and
+finding that the uncle of Martha had no intelligence for her on his
+return home on the evening or night succeeding the one of her arrival,
+she expressed her great anxiety to Martha, who now devoted every
+moment she could spare from her other duties, to the pleasing task of
+rendering her solitude as agreeable as possible.
+
+On the morning of the second day after her arrival she ventured to ask
+Wilson if he had any idea of when she was to be relieved from her
+embarrassing position. In reply to her interrogatory he assured her,
+that he was quite unable to give her any information on the subject,
+but was led to believe that she should not be long a prisoner, as he
+termed it. All he could say in relation to the matter was, that some
+person, with whose name even he was unacquainted, had secured, through
+a third party, his services as her host, and engaged the apartment she
+occupied, and attendance, etc. In addition to this, he observed,
+carelessly, that he was responsible for her safety until the arrival
+of those who had delegated to him the right to watch over her and
+shield her from observation until the proper moment arrived.
+
+To all this Kate made no reply; the thought having just struck her,
+that Nicholas had perhaps learned of some intended design upon her by
+Lauder, and that he took this method of transporting her to some point
+unknown to that person, until he himself could offer her his full and
+unembarrassed protection. Yet she wondered why it was that he had left
+her in such dreadful uncertainty, and did not write her explicitly
+upon the subject Again, she was perplexed at the idea that he was in
+no position to learn anything of the plots or plans of her rejected
+suitor, if he entertained any; so that, upon the whole, she was in no
+very comfortable state of mind when she rejoined Martha whom she had
+left in her chamber, and whom she now induced to make up a bed upon a
+sofa and consent to sleep in her apartment during her stay.
+
+Martha, on her part, moved by this token of friendship, and while
+sitting up late on the very night of the conversation with Wilson,
+became mysteriously nervous and, through various vague hints and
+insinuations, so far alarmed Kate at last, that the poor girl implored
+her new acquaintance to tell her frankly if she knew anything that
+bore upon her ease, or the reasons for her being so singularly
+circumstanced.
+
+To this solicitation Martha made no direct reply; but rising
+cautiously, she stepped lightly towards the chamber door, and opening
+it softly put out her head into the passage and listened for a few
+moments. Then gently closing the door, she again noiselessly retraced
+her steps, and drawing her seat close beside that of Kate, began thus,
+in a low, trembling voice, in which fear and agitation were distinctly
+traceable:
+
+"Oh! Miss McCarthy, horrible as the disclosure is, I believe that,
+instead of a smuggler, which my aunt and I long supposed him to be, my
+uncle is a robber, or leagued with robbers! This, for the first-time,
+came to our knowledge last night, after his return from wherever he
+had been. We had been always accustomed to his bringing here, during
+the night, mysterious packages; but as he informed us that they were
+goods for merchants who, as he asserted, resided at some distance, we
+took him at his word, and when he removed the goods again were, of
+course, under the firm impression that he carried them to their
+owners. However, as I have observed, on returning last night, when my
+aunt and I were assisting him to remove a heavy case from his wagon,
+while carrying it into the stable to place it under the hay beneath
+which he invariably concealed such things, my aunt and I perceived
+that, this time, it was a large trunk that he had brought, and that
+the lock had given way, disclosing gleams within it, as though it
+contained some bright objects. He did not notice the circumstance of
+the fastening having failed, and we did not call his attention to
+the fact; but permitted him to shake the hay over it as usual.
+Subsequently, however, my aunt and I referred to the matter, when she,
+taking advantage of my uncle's sound slumbers, he having retired to
+rest before her, went out again and, re-lighting the stable lantern,
+removed the covering from the lid of the great trunk, and raising it,
+perceived that it contained many valuable articles of silver and
+dress; but all evidently old, and huddled together in a manner the
+most confused. This almost paralysed the poor woman, and as I
+subsequently inspected the package, on her retiring for the night, I
+arrived at the conclusion which she had, as she informed me, herself
+previously adopted; namely, that the goods were stolen, and that Smith
+was in some way mixed up with the robbery."
+
+Now, indeed, Kate felt her situation alarming in the truest sense of
+the term, and sat looking at her companion in speechless horror and
+amazement. Mystery upon mystery it was; but as the dangers that
+appeared to surround her, though gloomy, were indistinct, she once
+more had recourse to her panacea of the token, and seeking her couch
+with a fervent prayer on her lip, was soon, like her young friend on
+the sofa, lost in uneasy slumbers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+It was on the night of Sunday the 27th of May, 1866, that Barry and
+his comrades were to attempt their escape from the Fort; and, as
+already seen, it was on the same night that the deserter was conveyed
+in a cab to The Harp, by Greaves. Two o'clock in the morning was the
+time decided upon, and a rendezvous having been appointed, our hero,
+who was on guard, saw, without challenging them, six figures steal by
+him into the darkness and immediately disappear. No sooner had the
+last of them vanished, than he placed his musket bolt upright in his
+sentry box, and the next moment was lost also in the gloom, and in the
+direction in which the figures had melted from his vision. Soon he
+reached the side of the river, where he found Tom with a boat, beside
+which stood his six companions. On recognizing him, they all leaped
+into the boat, and, although the moon was in the heavens, sheltered by
+the dark overhanging clouds that fortunately filled the sky, they
+dropped down the river, and landing Tom at a point previously decided
+upon, they all wrung his hand in silence, and once more put forth into
+the gloom, heading their craft towards the American shore, under the
+guidance of a pilot who knew every island and turn in the channel, and
+who joined them at the spot where O'Brien bid them farewell. With
+muffled oars and in the most profound silence, they moved along until
+they arrived at a turn in the channel, where they were instructed to
+bend to their work by the stranger who held the tiller; when, taking
+heart from their good fortune, for so far, they made their willing
+craft almost leap out of the water, as they gave a long pull, a strong
+pull, and a pull altogether.
+
+As day was beginning to shape the world around them, they found
+themselves nearing the American shore, and now perceiving themselves
+beyond the reach of danger and out of the jurisdiction of the flag
+they had so long and so cordially detested, they rested on their oars,
+and giving three hearty cheers for the land they were fast
+approaching, again set to with a will, and soon found themselves
+beneath the Stars and Stripes of the glorious Republic before which
+all the nations of the earth now bow, however reluctantly. On leaping
+ashore, they discovered a short distance from the water a small
+village to which, on securing their boat, they all posted; and having
+gained a neat little tavern, the shutters of which were just being
+opened, they explained their situation to the proprietor, and ordered
+breakfast, determined to rest themselves for a period, and deliberate
+upon their future movements, although the destination of Barry had, of
+course, long been decided upon.
+
+On hearing that they were deserters from the British army, and that,
+without an exception, they were all Irishmen, who had come to the
+United States with a view to aiding in any project that had for its
+object the humiliation of England, and the freedom of Ireland, the
+landlord, who was a six-footer from Tipperary--one of the
+Cummingses--gave "a yell out of him" that brought his wife and
+children in _deshabille_ to the bar-room door, proceeded by a boy of
+all work, who evidently shared their alarm and surprise to the fullest
+extent; but when, instead of a bar-room disturbance, they perceived
+the master of the premises shaking hands over and over again with the
+new arrivals, and bidding them welcome to the land of the free, they
+soon disappeared from the hall and regained their chambers, from which
+they had been so unceremoniously summoned. Cummings was literally in
+his glory, and instantly had his counter be-littered with glasses,
+bottles and decanters; while, with genuine hospitality, he made the
+fugitives partake more than once of some one of the beverages that he
+had placed before them. Ere long a smoking, hot breakfast was in
+readiness for them, prepared by the mistress of the house,--herself a
+comely Irishwoman, with a set of teeth that you'd almost let bite you,
+they were so white and sunny, and a handsome, fair face, with a _cead
+mille failte_ in every line and dimple of it. Already the poor
+adventurers began to feel the exhilarating effects of freedom, and, as
+soon as they had satisfied their appetites, each set about changing
+his soldier's coat for a rough, plain one, which had been provided by
+O'Brien and his friends, and which they found awaiting them when they
+first entered the boat.
+
+As Barry, who was regarded as chief of the little party, avowed his
+intention of pushing on direct for Buffalo, the others, who had no
+fixed point in view, determined to join him; so, when they had taken a
+few hours repose, they parted from their kind host and hostess, who
+would not permit them to pay a single shilling for anything they had
+drank or eaten since they entered the friendly hostel. During the time
+they were waiting at the railway station, they heard various rumors as
+to the intended invasion of the Province they had but just left; and
+from numerous significant hints which they had received, they were
+fully convinced that some important movement was on foot, which would
+soon develope itself in bolder outline. On entering the cars that were
+to take them west, they found the subject of Fenianism freely
+discussed, and in many cases with a friendliness that showed there
+was, in some instances at least, a feeling hostile to England among
+the American people. As they pursued their journey and received other
+accessions to their numbers as travellers, they found that this
+aversion was both widely spread and deeply rooted, so that by the time
+they reached their destination, they were fully satisfied that the
+people of America, and those of the adjoining English Colony, could
+never become true friends so long as the latter adheared to the
+standard of Great Britain, or remained part and parcel of the British
+empire. The antagonism of institutions, the infamous conduct of
+England during the late civil war, and the fixed impression of every
+true American, that the Canadas belong of right to the great people
+who now rule the continent, made it strikingly apparant that England
+had but a precarious foot-hold upon the shores of the New World.
+
+On the arrival of the train at Black Rock, Barry, who had been
+previously informed as to the precise locality in which the relatives
+of Kate were to be found, stepped off the cars, informing his comrades
+that he would join them in the city during the day. With but little
+difficulty he found the dwelling of his friends, and entering it, was
+received with open arms, and was instantly asked as to where he left
+Kate. For a moment he did not comprehend the question, but when by
+degrees he heard the fearful disclosure, that she had secretly left
+the house, by night, about a week previously, he fell into a chair,
+almost fainting, while the greatest consternation seized all those
+about him. Slowly, and with their hearts sinking within them, they
+recounted the circumstance of the note that had been written and left
+for them on her bedroom table, and the fact of her having taken some
+of her wearing apparel with her, but as to where she had gone, or with
+whom, they were in the most profound darkness. No one had called at
+the house,--no previous intimation had been given them by her as to
+her intentions; and, in so far as they were concerned, all was
+darkness. Lauder, they knew, had been in the vicinity of the Rock, but
+then, of course, he could have had no hand in the strange transaction,
+as her detestation of him precluded, as they thought, the possibility
+of his exercising the slightest influence over any of her actions.
+However, she was gone, and now, as it appeared, was the victim of some
+horrible plot or mistake beyond the reach of any elucidation, for the
+present at least.
+
+Never was a strong man so bowed to the dust as the poor young fellow
+who now found all his hopes so rudely and unexpectedly dashed to the
+earth. With a face pale as death he shook throughout every limb in a
+manner fearful to behold. In vain he looked from one face to another
+for some explanation of the dreadful calamity that had befallen
+him--all was dark and blank and silent around him. Even conjecture was
+paralysed, so completely was the disappearance of his betrothed
+enveloped in mystery. As a preliminary step, to gain even the feeblest
+information of her, he did not know how, or when or where to move.
+Could he get even the slightest glimpse of any link in the chain, he
+could set about unravelling the tangled and gloomy skein; but as it
+was, he was as helpless as a child. Secure in her fidelity, however,
+and trusting to Providence, crushed as he was, his young heart, after
+the first blow, began to rise within him, and collecting himself, he
+set about making such enquiries in the neighborhood as he thought were
+likely to throw some light upon the subject. In this he was warmly
+aided by the alarmed wife of his friend, who learned that on the very
+evening of the night of her disappearance, after having given her last
+music lesson in the house of one of her pupils, she was seen in
+company with a man, who was recognized as no very respectable
+character, by one of the hands employed in the rolling mills, who
+happened to catch a glimpse of them in conversation as he was
+returning from his work. The name of this latter individual having
+been ascertained, Barry at once visited the mills and heard, to his
+consternation, that the suspicious person seen in company with Kate on
+the evening referred to, was neither more nor less than the Kid,
+previously introduced to the reader, as one of the keepers of the low
+gambling house already mentioned, where we first met him and his
+partner of the blue shirt, alluded to also as a burglar and robber.
+
+This much ascertained, Nicholas prevailed upon the workman to
+accompany him to the den in question, into which they accidentally
+dropped as it were. The person they sought was, as usual, about the
+premises; but from him Barry could gain no information whatever,
+beyond the circumstance, that he did remember, about a week ago,
+accosting a lady near Black Bock, having taken the liberty of
+enquiring of her, whether a certain person whom he was anxious to find
+resided in the neighborhood.
+
+"I know that's a lie," said the workman, when he and Nicholas had
+gained the street once more, "for as I happened to come upon them just
+as they were separating, I heard the lady say, before she perceived
+me, and as I was turning a corner of the road, 'I'll not fail to be
+there,' or words to that effect."
+
+To Nicholas this was more perplexing than ever; although he now
+arrived at the conclusion, that Kate was the victim of some infamous
+and deep-laid plot, and that Lauder was at the bottom of it. But here
+again he was embarrassed by the circumstance, that he had never, so
+far as he knew, seen her rejected suitor, nor was he known to any of
+his friends at the Rock; from the fact that they had left Toronto
+before his arrival there, and that, notwithstanding his visits to
+Buffalo, he had never crossed their path. All, then, that Nicholas had
+to stand upon was the circumstance that she had actually been seen in
+conversation with the Kid, and that that worthy had evidently
+misrepresented the tenor of that conversation, whatever it might have
+been.
+
+The next day after his arrival, Barry, with a heart sore and dark
+enough, went in search of his comrades, informing such of them as he
+thought proper to admit to his confidence, of the dreadful condition
+of his affairs and mind. While sympathising with him sincerely,
+however, and offering him all the assistance in their power, they
+seemed absorbed with some new subject of importance which appeared to
+engross no ordinary share of their attention. Since their arrival,
+they had learned that it was a fact and beyond all doubt, that the
+Fenians were gathering along the frontier for the purpose of making a
+descent upon Canada and securing a foothold upon its shores, with a
+view to making it the basis of operations against England in their
+attempt to secure the independence of Ireland. One and all they had
+determined to join the expedition as volunteers, and Nicholas, who
+entertained a lurking suspicion that Kate had crossed the American
+frontier under some mysterious impulse or influence, half made up his
+mind to make one of the invading army also. This suspicion was based
+upon the fact of Kate's having no friends or relatives in the States,
+save those at the Rock, while she had several in Canada in the
+direction of which she might have been attracted by letters or
+representations now a mystery to him. However, he felt assured that,
+under any circumstance, she was not to be found in Buffalo or its
+vicinity; so, moved by both love and patriotism, before the evening
+had set in, he came to the conclusion to join his comrades in the
+approaching struggle.
+
+This resolution once taken, he made instant application to some of the
+Fenian authorities of the city, stating the circumstance of his recent
+arrival, and quickly found himself surrounded by a host of friends who
+were ready to share their last mouthful or dollar with him. During
+this juncture, the Irish spirit of Buffalo, strongly impregnated with
+the generous national sentiment of America, was discernible upon every
+side. The groups of patriots quietly at first arriving from almost
+every point of the compass, were received with open arms and the
+sincerest hospitality by those who had an interest in the cause of
+freedom and the humiliation of the tyrant England. There were, of
+course, a few British sympathisers among the people and press who,
+ignoring their allegiance to the Union, or the principles for which
+the heroes of the Revolution laid down their lives, threw their voice
+and influence into the scale on the side of England, but they were in
+a hopeless minority; as the great heart of the nation beat steadily in
+the interests of liberty, and inspired its sons with all the
+confidence necessary to the most complete success.
+
+To decide, with Barry, was to act. Consequently, now that he had made
+up his mind to join the expedition, he at once acquainted his friends
+at the Rock, and gave them such information and instructions relative
+to Kate as he thought desirable; intimating to them, at the same time,
+that he was of the fixed impression that she had, by some means or
+other, been lured into Canada; although a telegram, in reply to one
+dispatched to Toronto, informed his friends that she had not visited
+that city since she left it. Upon further inquiry, however, regarding
+the Kid, he learned that that respectable personage, together with his
+worthy coadjutor, Black Jack, were in the habit of paying frequent
+visits to Canada on the sly; it being thought that they were employed
+by persons who were engaged in smuggling. This information he gained
+while walking near the breakwater with a new acquaintance well versed
+in city notorieties, and who, at the moment, happened to espy a boat
+known to belong to the doubtful firm of Jack and the Kid, lying drawn
+up on the shore.
+
+This craft, of course, engaged the attention of our hero, as
+belonging, in part, to the individual who seemed to be mixed up in
+some mysterious manner with the fate of his beloved. Consequently, he
+stepped over to it and casting a glance of scrutiny at the interior,
+saw something sparkle among a little sand, that had accumulated at the
+bottom near one of the stretchers. Picking it up, he found that it was
+a handsome button that had apparently dropped from the dress of some
+lady. This he examined with the most intense eagerness; when the
+thought struck him that it was very like some buttons that belonged to
+a dress occasionally worn by Kate. Of this, however, he was not
+sufficiently certain; so, thrusting it into his pocket, he turned
+away, more perplexed than ever with the mystery that surrounded him.
+Hurrying to the Rock with the waif as soon as he could, he submitted
+it to his friends, when it was at once recognized as being similar to
+a set of buttons worn by Kate, and which belonged to a dress that, it
+was believed, she wore on the night of her disappearance.
+Corroborative as this evidence was, it availed him but little for the
+time being; although it strengthened his resolve to move with the army
+of invasion; being convinced that his betrothed had, by some foul
+means, been spirited across the borders, and all through the
+machinations of her rejected suitor, Lauder.
+
+And now how he cursed the procrastination that had kept him from
+applying for his discharge long since, when he might have procured it
+without any difficulty, and have placed her he loved beyond the power
+of any villain. Again, he was no longer free to search for her in the
+Province; for he was under the ban of military law there, and, unless
+supported by a sufficient number of bayonets, could not stem the
+torrent that should soon overwhelm him if he re-entered the
+territories of the Queen and was discovered. Yet, even death were
+preferable to the state of mind in which he now found himself; he
+therefore at once set to work to prepare himself for the coming
+contest, in the hope that when once across the borders, if even amid
+the din of war, he might gain some clue to the fate of all that he now
+cared to live for.
+
+As may be supposed, the service of such men as Nicholas and his
+comrades were, at a moment so critical, accepted with alacrity by the
+military authorities of the Fenian organization of the city. Amongst
+the various sterling patriots in power here, both he and his comrades
+were instantly taken by the hand and placed in positions where their
+knowledge of arms could be made most serviceable to the grand cause in
+which they had resolved to embark. They were all Irish, and of that
+stamp that never loses color, how fierce soever the scorching fires to
+which they might be subjected. Under a special provision, and at
+Barry's request, they were attached to the same company; while he,
+from his evident superiority in education and address, as well as from
+his thorough knowledge of drill and military tactics, was presented,
+upon joining the organization, with a captain's commission. In the
+hurry and bustle attending the note of preparation, he found some
+slight relief from the great and overshadowing trouble that darkened
+all around him; and finding how necessary it was to keep both mind and
+body employed, if he was to retain either health or energy to aid him
+in any of the important projects that now loomed before him, he gave
+no place to useless repinings, but busily engaged with the necessities
+of his new avocation, found the hours slipping by which intervened
+between the period when he swore the true fealty of his soul to the
+flag of his love, and that which was to see him a hostile invader upon
+the shores he had so recently left.
+
+As the men steadily poured into the city for a short period before the
+invasion, and filled the streets and suburbs in groups of various
+sizes, it became a matter of general conversation and surprise that,
+in bodies so peculiarly situated, and under such seemingly slight
+restraint, many of them being far distant from their homes, not a
+single individual was to be found who suffered in the slightest degree
+from even the appearance of intoxication. Look where you might, there
+was nothing but the utmost sobriety and good behaviour. Although the
+men were, for the most part, young, and many of them just from the
+bloodiest fields of the South, there hung about them an air of serious
+decorum that argued well for the mission in which they were about to
+engage. In addition, notwithstanding that, in some cases, they were
+badly housed and provisioned, a murmur never escaped their lips; nor
+could the most bitter of their enemies point to a single act where the
+law was violated by any of them, or show that even to the value of one
+mouthful of bread had been appropriated to their use without being
+paid for honestly, or given to them freely by those who felt for their
+position. This is so well known that, even at the period at which we
+write, upwards of two years after the occurrence of these scenes, not
+a solitary fact has come to light reflecting in any degree upon the
+honesty, sobriety and good conduct of these noble patriots, many of
+whom had left home penniless, to wage war against a power that had
+almost every resource at its command, and which they knew they should
+meet under circumstances that could not fail to be disadvantageous to
+them.
+
+And here we may observe, history does not record a more daring or
+chivalrous project than that entertained by the brave fellows who made
+the night of Thursday the 31st of May, 1866, memorable in the annals
+of this continent, as well as in those of Ireland. Although laboring
+under embarrassments from the most fearful mistakes and criminal
+neglect of an individual to whom the grand project of the redemption
+of Ireland from the yoke of the oppressor was, in its strictly
+military aspect, entrusted in this country--although badly
+provisioned, uniformed and equipped--although perplexed with
+mysterious, contradictory and imperfect orders, and although, at the
+very moment of their destiny, left without the leader whom they were
+led to expect should command them, they never lost heart for a moment;
+feeling that heaven would raise up amongst them a chief not only
+competent to meet the emergency of the moment, but one in whom they
+should be able to place the fullest and most enthusiastic confidence.
+
+And heaven did not disappoint their noble and confiding aspirations;
+for, when all looked dark and dreary to the more uneasy of their
+numbers, the gallant O'Neill, crowned with the laurels which he had so
+nobly won during the war that had then just closed, and true to the
+genius of his ancient name and house, stepped in upon the stage, and
+grasping the drooping standard of the Irish Republic, held it aloft;
+and, fired with the spirit of the "Red Hand" of yore, raised the
+war-cry of his race, before which many a Saxon tyrant and slave had
+trembled in the days long past.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+When Philip Greaves received the note from Barry, to the deserter who
+was secreted in the suburbs of the city, he proceeded, towards
+evening, to the point where the soldier lay concealed, and to which he
+had been directed with unerring accuracy. On reaching the house in
+which the fugitive was said to be hidden, he found but an old woman,
+who seemed neither alarmed nor surprised at his arrival. Upon
+whispering a word in her ear, however, a look of intelligence stole
+into her eyes, and putting on her bonnet and cloak, in the deep dusk,
+she motioned him to follow her, having closed and locked to door
+behind her. After leading him but a short distance, among a number of
+small though clean huts, she gained one in which the family were
+seated at their plain evening repast. As they entered the dwelling, he
+perceived that there was one vacant seat at the table, from which some
+person had evidently arisen hastily and disappeared from the apartment
+In the course of a few moments, however, and on the head of the family
+having been called aside by the old woman, Philip was greeted with a
+hearty welcome, and instantly led into a little back room, where he
+found the person whom he sought, gazing about him with a distrustful
+if not an alarmed air. To this individual he showed Barry's note,
+which he had previously abstracted from the envelope, requesting him,
+as he perused it, to return it to him again, as he wished to destroy
+it himself, lest, by accident, it should fall into other hands, and as
+he desired to say to Nicholas that he was personally cognizant of the
+fact of its being put out of the way. To this request the deserter
+readily acceded, as he would have to any other of a reasonable
+character, so delighted was he to receive the assurance that the hour
+of his deliverance drew nigh. Here, then, were the particulars of the
+plan of his escape settled upon. He was to remain still concealed,
+until Greaves called for him with a cab, but was to hold himself ready
+to quit his hiding place at a moment's notice.
+
+These preliminaries being arranged, Philip left the house and speedily
+proceeded to a neighboring hotel, where he procured a private room,
+and, calling for pen, ink and paper, at once addressed himself to
+writing a letter. Various were the rubbings of hands and sinister
+smiles which punctuated this epistle, until at last, on its being
+finished, he carefully folded it, and taking from his pocket-book a
+sealed envelope, one end of which had been previously opened with
+great care, and the superscription completely removed by a cunning
+process, he took from another compartment of his book a small note and
+introduced it into the envelope, adroitly closing the apperture with a
+little mucilage, so as to completely conceal the incision that had
+been made, and obliterate every evidence of the envelope's having been
+tampered with. This done, he slowly, and with apparent great caution
+as to the conformation of the letters, directed it, and when he found
+the ink to be completely dried, enclosed the whole in the letter that
+he had just written; placing it, in turn, in a larger envelope which
+he hastily directed to some party, from whom he apparently cared but
+little to conceal his hand-writing. This accomplished, he called for
+some brandy, and after paying liberally for it and the use of the
+room, directed his steps towards a stationer's shop where he purchased
+a postage stamp which he attached to his letter. Here, also, he heard
+the subject of the threatened invasion of the Province discussed in
+all its bearings and probable results; and here, too, the bitter
+murmurs of discontent regarding the criminal conduct of the individual
+to whom the whole interests of the country were entrusted by the
+people and the Crown, and who was said to have been already for weeks
+in a condition of mind and body absolutely loathsome. Not wishing,
+however, to delay the mailing of his letter, he soon found himself
+wending his way to the Post-office, where, with his own hand, he
+consigned the missive to the care of her Majesty the Queen, by putting
+it in the apperture that opened into the letter-box from the
+street--the office being already closed. On this, he retraced his
+steps towards The Harp, where he so managed to thrust himself in among
+the struggling suspicions of O'Brien, as to almost gain the full
+confidence of that generous patriot and banish the last doubt from his
+breast.
+
+"Well," said Tom, when he found a fitting opportunity, "how did you
+find the poor fellow?"
+
+"Willing enough to leave the Province," whispered Philip, "if he could
+only manage to get away; but I think that will be easily arranged now,
+as the storm about his desertion has blown over.".
+
+"On the night after that of to-morrow, then," returned Tom, "they will
+make the attimpt; and as I can get a man to help them who knows every
+turn and crank of the river, I have hopes of their success; besides it
+will be Nick's night for guard, and there's somethin in that, you
+know; as they can get out at the point where he stands, without much
+throuble to themselves or anyone else. However," he observed farther,
+"I hope no one will let the cat out of the bag, as it would be a cryin
+sin to have the poor fellows 'nabbed' at the very moment when they
+fancied themselves about to brathe the purest air that ever floated
+benathe the canopy of heaven."
+
+"There's no fear of that," replied Greaves, "for you and I only know
+of their intentions; although I feel that you are not exactly at home
+with me yet, for all your friendly conduct and information; but
+recollect, that I'll perform my part of the contract, and it is for
+you and them to do the rest."
+
+This speech made Tom feel a little awkward; and he was about to make a
+suitable reply, when he was happily relieved by some parties who
+dropped in, to command the attention he so willingly accorded at the
+moment.
+
+That Greaves puzzled and perplexed him there could be no doubt; but at
+no period could that individual elicit from him any information, if he
+possessed such, in relation to Fenianism. He, of course, knew that
+Philip learned from Barry that there were many soldiers in the Fort
+who sympathised warmly with Ireland; but this was as far as he was
+informed in the matter. It was obvious, however, that for some reason
+or other, he was anxious to fathom the depths of the actual
+Organization, if such existed in or about the city; but in every
+attempt he was foiled; for, notwithstanding his most subtle attacks,
+he was met at each turn by a spirit of reticence which baffled all his
+ingenuity and led him to the conclusion that, after all, there were
+perhaps but slight grounds for believing that the Brotherhood had any
+very extensive footing in the colony.
+
+Tom sometimes reasoned, that his solicitude on this head was prompted
+by patriotic motives; and then, again, the idea used to creep in upon
+him that he sought this information for sinister purposes; and thus
+the worthy host, trembling in the balance between the two impressions,
+kicked the beam on the side of prudence, and if he knew anything of
+the movements and intentions of the Organization, kept it to himself;
+although the letter in the possession of Greaves might, were he less
+cautious, have drawn from him some serious information; for Tom
+O'Brien was, at that moment, the Centre of a Fenian Circle, with three
+hundred armed men at his command, ready to join the invaders the
+instant they entered the Province and planted their standard near him
+upon British soil. This being the case, he was well aware of the
+intentions of the Brotherhood in the United States; and thus it was,
+that when he found Barry could not procure his discharge before the
+invaders were upon them, he instantly endorsed the project of his
+desertion; well knowing that, should he fail to escape before the hour
+of the movement arrived, he should be called to take the field against
+his countrymen and against Ireland; and, perhaps, under circumstances
+that might preclude the possibility of his acting otherwise than as
+their enemy. Nor did he relax in his watchfulness and caution when
+Greaves even brought the deserter to The Harp in redemption of his
+word, or, more remarkable still, when he learned, on the morning
+succeeding the night of their escape from the Fort, that seven
+soldiers of the Regiment had bid their commanding officer an
+unexpected and unceremonious adieu; and notwithstanding that the
+garrison was all but alive with sentries and guards patroling every
+avenue which led from it, made good their escape to the American
+shore, where they were now beyond the reach of the Canadian or
+Imperial authorities.
+
+No sooner had Philip ascertained that the party had made good their
+escape, than he himself prepared to bid good-bye to The Harp. O'Brien
+was not at all surprised at this sudden resolution, as Greaves had
+professed to be daily transacting business; which he asserted might be
+brought to a close at any moment. And so he had been transacting
+business; for he might have been seen occasionally entering, by
+stealth, a certain dwelling in the outskirts of the city where
+Fenianism and all Irish Nationalists had their deadliest enemy; but,
+as already intimated, this enemy had been rendered powerless by the
+wine cup for some time past, so that if there had been any matter of
+importance to transact between them, it would have been useless to
+have even approached it. Still Philip called and called, but to no
+purpose; so finding that he had pressing matters in another direction
+to claim his immediate attention, he left the mystified functionary in
+disgust, casting a glance at the numerous unopened dispatches on his
+table, and congratulating Canada on the possession of such a
+creditable and efficient, leading officer.
+
+Shaking hands with Tom, then, after having honestly liquidated his
+bill, our mysterious friend soon found himself on board a train bound
+direct for Toronto, where he arrived in due course, amid hosts of
+rumors, and military movements which were being accomplished in that
+reckless and inefficient haste, that went to prove a screw loose
+somewhere. Here he found himself on the evening of the 29th, and being
+obliged to remain in the city all the next day, he started the
+following morning for the West, when he learned, while journeying
+onwards, that the Fenian forces were massed at Buffalo and along the
+American frontier, and that a descent upon Fort Erie was sure to take
+place within a very few hours. Although he had intended to reach his
+destination before night, he was delayed at the various stations, by
+rumors which tended to make it important for the train not to proceed
+in haste, it having been alleged, more than once, that the Fenian army
+was already in the Province, and burning and destroying all before it,
+In turn, however, each of these rumors was contradicted; and so the
+cars proceeded until another was encountered. In this way the morning
+of the first of June overtook him before he had yet reached the point
+for which he was bound. Now, however, he ascertained that the Province
+was, without any manner of doubt, invaded by the army of the Irish
+Republic, and that even then the "Sunburst" was flying over the
+village of Fort Erie.
+
+This intelligence seemed to confound him, and to have exceeded
+anything that he could have anticipated. He hod fancied that,
+notwithstanding all the rumors he had heard within the last few
+months, there was no real intention on the part of the Irish
+Nationalists of the United States to actually invade the Province; and
+believed the reports of their having congregated upon the American
+frontier as either unfounded or tremendously exaggerated. Now,
+nevertheless, they were within a very few miles of him, and might be
+upon him and the neighborhood he was approaching, at any moment.
+
+There was something in this latter conviction that appeared to move
+him greatly as he stepped off the train at Port Colborne, where he
+found the inhabitants in a state of the direst alarm. Being a
+stranger, and unable or unwilling to account very clearly for his
+sudden presence here, and at a juncture when suspicion was so rife and
+every new comer subjected to the closest scrutiny, he was put under
+surveillance and not permitted to leave the village, as he was about
+to do, until he had explained his business to the authorities. Chafing
+with disappointment and anger, he was taken into custody and confined
+in one of the rooms of his hotel, until a magistrate could be found to
+look into his case. Here, notwithstanding his protestations and
+willingness to prove that he was a loyal British subject and one of
+importance too, he was detained nearly the whole day; tormented by the
+uncomfortable misgiving that perhaps, after all his generalship,
+Nicholas Barry might again be in the Province and at a point, too,
+where he should be able to frustrate all the plans he had laid so
+deeply and executed for so far with the utmost secrecy and success. At
+last, however, a magistrate was found and a private investigation of
+his case granted. The examination was brief; for scarcely had that
+functionary been closeted five minutes with him, before he was set at
+liberty and again stepped forth a free man.
+
+So utterly helpless were the people of the section of the country in
+which he now was, that they must have fallen before any considerable
+force of the invaders, had such entered the Province. The greatest
+distrust obtained among themselves; there being a strong body of Irish
+and Irish sympathisers in their midst, who scarcely cared to hide
+their sentiments. And although there was an element in the little town
+that was truly loyal to the Crown, yet it is still a matter of doubt
+as to its having been in the ascendant, in so far as numbers were
+concerned. True, that if the census of the place had been taken at the
+moment, and the tendencies of every man registered according to a
+public statement, extracted from his own lips, England should have
+carried the day by an overwhelming majority, as, on the same basis,
+she should at this present hour throughout the whole of the New
+Dominion. But had one glimpse of a victorious Irish army been caught
+in the distance, the case would have been widely different, indeed;
+and those who were constrained, through the force of circumstances, to
+fall into line with the paid, official squad who ruled the roast for
+the time being, would soon hoist their true colors and step out
+beneath the folds of that glorious banner of green and gold before
+which, with all her boasting armaments, the tyrant power of England
+now trembles to its very base. And so it will be throughout the Colony
+at large, whenever the Irish Nationalists, or any other people
+inimical to England, enter it with a view to tearing down the skull
+and cross-bones of St. George, and ultimately replacing it with the
+proud and invincible banner of the United States of America. Not a
+single doubt obtains in well informed quarters on this head; so that
+the tyrant England cannot fail to be swept ultimately from this
+continent, never to lift her dishonored head upon its free, historic
+shores again.
+
+And what wonder that the thinking portion of the people of Canada--men
+who have its material prosperity and its happiness at heart--should
+long for a union with this Republic, with which their interests are so
+intimately identified, and upon which they are almost solely dependant
+for a market and that good will that is not only necessary to their
+peace, but to their very existence? Shut out from the ocean, that
+great highway of nations, for six months of the year, they are, almost
+daily, at the mercy of the United States for any description of
+commercial intercourse, or exchange of thought, in relation to the
+material condition of the continent or their own probable future.
+Lying a frozen strip against the North pole, with all their available
+lands settled, if we are to credit the assertions made by their own
+statesmen, were this great Republic to close its doors against them,
+they should be obviously cut off, in a measure, from all civilization,
+and dwarfed both mentally and physically into the most contemptible
+dimensions. As it is, they are depending upon America for every
+refining and practical influence that warms their partial life, or
+gives any value whatever to their social status. American literature,
+tastes, habits, inventions and even foibles color all their internal
+intercourse; although the fact does not seem apparent to those who are
+interested in perpetuating British rule amongst them, and is denied by
+others from motives of envy or vanity. Add to this the circumstance
+that their government is the most wretched that could possibly be
+found among a people professing to be free. Scarce a single department
+of it but is stained with fraud of the vilest description to the very
+lips, and neither more nor less than an instrument of public plunder
+in the hands of corrupt officials. Even while we write, and for years
+back, a charge lies in the department of the Minister of Finance,
+against the present Premier of the Dominion, accusing that
+unscrupulous individual of conspiring with a whisky dealer, _while he
+himself was First Minister of the Crown_, to defraud the revenue--a
+charge made by the present Assistant Commissioner of Customs and
+Excise, whom this same Premier has been obliged to retain in office to
+the present hour, with a view to saving himself from disclosures
+calculated to drive him from office in disgrace. So dreadful have been
+the circumstances of this case, that when an offer was made
+subsequently, through the public press, to produce bank, official and
+mercantile evidence that the government functionary who preferred this
+frightful accusation was dishonest and incompetent, and that he had
+purloined public documents and destroyed them with a view to
+concealing his crimes, still this Premier dared not summon him to
+trial, although, times without number, he gave assurances, as did the
+then Inspector General, that the culprit should be brought before the
+proper tribunal, and justice done in the premises. But why need we
+complain, when Canada takes the matter so coolly; for will it be
+believed, that these two worthies--both the accused and the
+accuser--both disfigured by the most damning accusations, are still in
+the pay of the Canadian people, and have been so ever since the
+circumstances of their official character were laid through the daily
+press before the world. Not a single move has yet been made in the
+direction of justice, nor an inquiry instituted as to the truth or
+falsehood of these frightful charges. The Premier still carries the
+filthy load upon his shoulders, while his subordinate, of the stolen
+bank receipts and false report, laughs in his sleeve at the rod that
+he holds over his naked shoulders.
+
+Nor is this more than an individual case amongst others of a similar
+class. What of the tens of thousands of the people's money given,
+without the sanction of Parliament, to the Grand Trunk Railway in the
+interest of English stockholders; and the postal subsidies handed over
+to the same line, in excess of the tender made by the Managing
+Director for the carrying of her Majesty's mails? Was not the
+government liberal with the hard earnings of their poor dupes
+throughout the land, when they virtually informed the authorities of
+the Grand Trunk that they were altogether too modest in their
+estimates, and that the country ought not to take advantage of such
+nice young men, but give them more than they asked for performing the
+service mentioned? Glorious! wasn't it? We might also allude to the
+manner in which Sir John A. taxed the struggling industry of the
+Province, millions to build up his pet Parliament Houses at the back
+of God speed--buildings that almost rival those of England--and refer
+also to the delightful manner in which the Crown Lands were dealt with
+by another member of this happy family: citing the case of the Wallace
+Mine Claim, in which the Commissioner managed to dispose, at a mere
+nominal figure, of a portion of the public domain by private sale
+among a few of his friends, including a gentleman presumed to be his
+own agent, and that, too, in the face of a law which made it
+imperative upon the government to advertise all lands in the _Canada
+Gazette_ before they were put upon the market. For appearance sake,
+the lands were advertised in the _Gazette_; but when a purchaser
+dropped in to make inquiries, it leaked out that they had been all
+disposed of previously. In this way the business of the people has
+been conducted for years; and what is the result? To-day they are
+without immigration, trade or commerce--to-day there is no public
+confidence existing in any portion of the Dominion; for the government
+seem to grasp the purse-strings with one hand while they hold a drawn
+sword in the other. There is no security to be found in any corner of
+the State; and no projects, formed for the future of its people. To be
+sure, certain parties prate and jabber about the Volunteer Service and
+national defenses; but what have they to defend? If their frontier
+were bristling to-morrow with forts and bayonets, all they could hope
+to accomplish would be the shutting out of American liberty and
+national prosperity from the people. This must be self-evident to any
+individual who is at all conversant with the true nature of the case,
+or cognizant of the fact, that there cannot possibly be any hope for
+Canada so long as she holds herself aloof from the great social and
+political compact of this Union, upon the pulses of which, in her
+present helpless and isolated position, she will always have to dance
+attendance and pay the piper besides. Either the sunlight or the
+shadow of the Republic must fall on her without intermission. If she
+choose the former, well and good; let her cut herself free of the
+despotic tyrant that now holds her in cunning thrall, and step into
+the broad effulgence of American freedom, or if she will it, until
+circumstances of themselves precipitate her into the arms of the
+Commonwealth with less grace than she might otherwise have fallen into
+them, let her feel the blighting influence of the cold clouds that
+cannot fail to envelope her and paralyze all her energies in the
+interim. There is no need of mincing the matter--Canada beneath the
+skull and cross-bones of St. George, must ever remain a poor, puny
+starveling; while under the proud and ample folds of the glorious flag
+of this mighty Republic, she should at once become great, powerful and
+prosperous, as yet another star added to the refulgent galaxy that now
+rides high amid the noontide of nations.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+One grand evidence of the deep rooted sentiment that actuates
+Fenianism in the great Irish American heart, is to be found in the
+fact, that at the time of the Pittsburgh Convention, the Organization
+was in debt, and that within the brief space intervening between that
+period and the invasion of Canada, the Brotherhood armed and equipped
+thousands upon thousands of their number, and still had not expended
+the last dollar in their treasury. This is, of itself, a most
+significant fact, and one that goes far to exalt the Irish element on
+this continent in the eyes of both soldiers, citizens and statesmen.
+The abiding faith of our people in the justice of their cause, and the
+fixed conviction that it shall one day triumph, enable them to deal
+with reverses and opposition in a manner at once intelligent,
+dignified and philosophic. They know that repeated failures have been
+the crucible in which the holiest and the most successful projects
+have been tried in all ages; and, like that of the spider of Bruce,
+the heart never fails within them. Amongst them, too, were found upon
+the eve of their descent upon the Province, as well as long previous
+to it, men of undoubted patriotism, genius and chivalry. And at no
+point was this more obvious than at Buffalo. We say, more obvious, for
+we know that scarce a city, town or village in the State, and far and
+wide outside it, but contained just us good men and true as were
+possessed by Buffalo; but we refer to it thus particularly, as it is
+more immediately connected with our tale. We could mention many names
+as sterling in every relation as those we now introduce; but none, we
+apprehend, more intimately blended with the actual descent of the
+brave O'Neill upon Canada, save the handful of heroes who joined him
+in that proud and daring expedition; and none which, in the hour of
+the sorest need of the Organization, sacrificed more for the sake of
+Ireland.
+
+When the moment was considered ripe for the movement, then, the eyes
+of the Fenian authorities were turned towards Buffalo, and other
+points on the frontier lying close upon the Canadian borders. In this
+city, Francis B. Gallagher, Esq., and five or six others were regarded
+as marked personages towards which a peculiar portion of the movement
+should gravitate before finally crossing the lines. These gentlemen,
+from their independent circumstances, excellent social standing and
+undoubted patriotism, were regarded as pillars of strength upon which
+the expedition might properly lean for a moment, and adjust itself
+before attempting to cross the Rubicon and enter the country of the
+enemy. There were more, also, in this city, who evinced a spirit of
+the truest love of Ireland upon that occasion, as upon all previous
+once, and who assisted in forwarding the grand objects of the
+organization to the utmost stretch of their abilities, but as their
+names are too numerous to mention here, and as they had their
+counterpart, as they have to-day, in various localities throughout the
+Union, we shall merely note the circumstance of their existence. As to
+the Brotherhood in its military aspect here, no portion of the State
+or Union was better represented in this connection, or more competent
+to distinguish itself upon the field. Its civil relations, also, were
+equally creditable; Mr. Gallagher, as the period for action
+approached, becoming active, anxious and restless; devoting his time
+assiduously to the affairs of the Brotherhood, and constantly
+communicating with headquarters on some point of importance. And thus
+affairs stood when the first draft of men arrived in the city under
+Senator Bannon, of Louisville, Ky., and Senator Fitzgerald, of
+Cincinnati, and when the movement on Canada might be said to have
+fairly commenced.
+
+Soon, however, it began to be discovered that, although Buffalo, and
+other places, were alive to their duty and ready to contribute their
+quota to the expedition, there was a screw loose somewhere; and on the
+evening of the thirty-first of May, it was ascertained that, although
+numbers of volunteers had arrived from various points, through the
+unfortunate neglect or incapacity of the then Secretary of War, there
+was no one to command them. This was a dreadful state of affairs
+indeed, and one which admits of no palliation. It was expected that
+General Lynch, or some other distinguished officer, would take charge
+of the expedition from this point; but that gallant and experienced
+soldier, owing to the receipt of incorrect orders, did not arrive in
+time to assume the command. Up to this point, and for some time
+previously, matters had been conducted in a manner so careless by the
+War Department, that the mere casual observer might reasonably presume
+some parties connected with it courted failure. Arms and ammunition
+had been despatched to the frontier without due precaution, and to
+parties to whom they ought not have been transmitted, for various
+reasons. Again, the massing of forces at the various points of
+debarkation was neither compact nor simultaneous,--a circumstance
+which occasioned so much delay, that the American government could not
+possibly close their eyes to the fact of the invasion, without
+compromising themselves before the world. Had one simultaneous and
+compact movement characterized the expedition, the American
+authorities would never have interfered with it; but when it was
+rubbed under their nose for days, through the blundering or
+criminality of those who undertook to direct it from the War
+Department, what was to have been expected other than is now known to
+have occurred?
+
+In addition to this, no transport had been actually secured for the
+troops that had arrived at Buffalo, and the dilemma was intensified to
+the extremest pitch. What ship-owner, in the face of such bungling,
+would run the risk of placing any of his vessels at the disposal of a
+party so uncomfortably situated? That was a question which presented
+itself at the last moment, and which was more easily put than
+answered.
+
+When all was dark and uncertain, however, and when the heart of many
+began to fail, in stepped the gallant O'Neill upon the platform,
+offering to command the expedition. He had arrived previously from
+Nashville, Tenn., with his contingent, and felt how dreadful the
+position in which the project was placed. A council of war was held,
+at which Captain Hynes was present; and as this latter gentleman had
+delegated authority from Gen. Sweeney, Colonel O'Neill--now
+General--was at once placed in command. So far so good; but how were
+the troops to get across the river? The interrogatory, as already
+observed, was a perplexing one; but it was instantly solved by Mr.
+Gallagher and one or two other gentlemen, who voluntarily, and at the
+imminent risk of every dollar they possessed, pledged all they were
+worth in the world, and procured the necessary means for crossing the
+river, and landing the first instalment of the army of the Irish
+Republic upon British soil.
+
+The number of men assembled at Buffalo on the night already mentioned
+was about eight hundred,--being detachments from the following
+regiments:--13th Infantry, Colonel John O'Neill; 17th Infantry,
+Colonel Owen Stan; 18th Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Grace; 7th
+Infantry, Colonel John Hoy, and two companies from Indiana, under
+Captain Haggerty; but the number of men that could be gotten together
+when the expedition crossed did not exceed six hundred.
+
+An authentic report of this brief but glorious campaign will be found
+at the close of this work. We introduce it as historical information,
+from a most unerring source. The subject, it will be perceived, is
+treated in the most impartial and unimpassioned manner; dealing simply
+in dry details, and in that curt, soldier-like matter of fact style,
+which aims at nothing like effect, and seeks only to recount
+circumstances as they occurred, and that, too, in the briefest
+possible manner.
+
+Scarcely had the last boat, with the invading expedition, pushed off
+from the American shore, on the night of the 31st of May, already
+mentioned, when another craft, pulled by two men, its only occupants,
+followed in the wake of the receding troops, dropping a little further
+down the river, as it neared the Canadian side. From their dress and
+appearance, the rowers might have been recognized by many a
+Buffalonian, as Black Jack and the Kid, who were evidently bent upon
+dogging the invaders, and, while keeping at a safe distance, dealing
+in such plunder on their outskirts as might swell their own villainous
+coffers, while the criminality should attach to the Fenians. This
+course was prompted on their part by a sort of blind, bull-dog
+adherence to everything English, and a hope of picking up in the red
+trail of the campaign such valuables as would increase their already
+large though ill-gotten store.
+
+On reaching the Canadian shore, both these worthies, who had but a few
+nights previously conveyed Kate across the Niagara, set out for the
+village of Fort Erie, which lay about four miles up the river, and
+which they did not wish to approach directly from the American side,
+but creep towards in the rear of the moving mass.
+
+Under no circumstances does the human wolf exhibit itself to such
+monstrous intensity as under those of war. Not the wolf in the uniform
+of the soldier, for, let him be as blood-thirsty as he may, he buys,
+on the field, to some extent at least, the right to be savage. The
+current coin in which he deals is human gore; and in this relation he
+freely exchanges with his antagonist the circulating medium, and gives
+or takes, as the necessities of the moment may demand. He stands a
+nine-pin on the great bowling-alley of the field, and takes his chance
+of being knocked down in common with his opponent, who occupies a
+precisely similar position. He offers life for life; and, lamentable
+as the doctrine may be, he seems licensed to plunder, and, if needs
+be, kill. Here, of course, we speak of the mere hireling, who has no
+higher object before him than that of simple gain--who is actuated
+solely by a sordid love of gold--whose soul and body are as
+purchasable as a pound of beef in the shambles, and who is moved by
+the wretched pulses of mammon only. Such an one, although low in the
+scale of humanity, and unworthy of being mentioned in the same breath
+with the glorious patriot who unsheathes his sword for Father-land,
+Liberty and Heaven, is an angel of light compared with the lynx-eyed,
+dastardly prowler, who, when the heart of his quarry has been stilled
+by some other hand, gropes, gloved with clotted sore, among the
+mangled remains for the booty he never earned; or who, when the
+thunder of the field, or the onward course of a victorious army lays
+waste the fair land, takes advantage of the dread and confusion of the
+inhabitants, and gorges himself with plunder, as though he were a
+victor to whom should belong the spoils. Such wreckers of the dead are
+the ghouls of our race; and never had they more faithful
+representatives than the two villains who, in due course, mingled with
+the invaders in the village, anxious to commence their depredations
+before even a single shot was fired.
+
+Barry, as already intimated, joined the expedition, and was now
+numbered among the invaders. Of course he perceived that with such a
+mere handful of men, nothing could be effected in the Province; but,
+then, he never supposed for a moment, that they were other than the
+simple advance-guard of a numerous following close upon their rear. In
+addition, it was anticipated that the landing of troops upon the
+Canadian shore would be effected simultaneously along the frontier at
+different points. This was the settled conviction of O'Neill, and of
+his officers also, as the scheme formed a leading feature of the
+programme of the campaign. But here the fates were against them; for
+transportation, as we are led to believe, was not secured effectively
+at any point save Buffalo. In fact, this city appears to have
+acquitted itself with regard to the invasion, in a manner that
+reflects the highest credit upon the Fenian authorities of the
+district; for even when the expedition, on finding that the American
+Government had interfered with the transport of reinforcements, had
+considered it prudent to return, the means of reaching the American
+shore were placed at its command by the patriotic gentlemen already
+alluded to; while, farther still, when the United States authorities
+were seizing the arms of the Brotherhood in every direction, Buffalo,
+through the admirable management of these persons, contrived to keep
+its quota intact.
+
+During the morning of the landing, Nicholas happened to get a glimpse
+of the Kid and big dark companion in the village; and the circumstance
+awoke strong hopes in his bosom in relation to gaining some
+intelligence of Kate. From all he had heard, and from having found the
+trinket in their boat, he felt convinced that either one or the other
+of these scoundrels knew something of her. He, therefore, kept track
+of them until a fitting opportunity, when he accosted the Kid, as a
+sort of half acquaintance, and, by way of attempting to surprise him
+into a confession of some knowledge of Kate, produced the silver
+chased button already referred to, and asked him if he knew the name
+of the lady that had recently dropped it in his boat. For a moment the
+villain, who was, of course, none other than the Stephen Smith that
+was in the habit of visiting the Wilsons, seemed taken aback; but
+instantly recovering himself, replied, that his boat was so often
+hired by fishing parties, it would be difficult to tell the name of
+the lady from whose dress it might have dropped--that was, "provided
+it had dropped from a lady's dress, at all."
+
+Although the thrust was adroitly parried, Nicholas, who was on the
+_qui vive_, noticed his momentary confusion, and determined to keep
+his eye upon him, in the hope that something might soon turn up that
+would throw the villain more completely into his power, and enable him
+to extract from him the intelligence which he still felt satisfied was
+in his possession. With this end in view, he set one of his comrades,
+who had escaped from the Fort with him, to watch with the utmost
+caution and secrecy every manoeuvre of the wretch and his companion;
+fully satisfied, as he was, that both the rascals were determined to
+follow in the wake of the army, for purposes already mentioned.
+
+The conduct of the Invaders at Fort Erie was of such general
+excellence, that the inhabitants of that place speak of them, up to
+the present hour, in terms of such admiration as to excite the jealous
+animadversions of many of the Canadian people themselves.
+Notwithstanding that the village and its vicinity lay helplessly at
+their disposal, and was, for the moment, theirs by right of conquest,
+they entered it rather in the character of guests than in that of
+masters. Although the usages of war placed all that it contained at
+their feet, they never appropriated to their use even one solitary
+loaf of bread or glass of ale without having first paid for it. As to
+their generosity and chivalry in this connection, let us quote from
+the work of Major George T. Denison, Jun'r, commanding "the Governor
+General's Body Guard," Upper Canada; author of "Manual and Outpost
+Duties," "Observations on the best Defensive Force for Canada,
+&c."--an officer who took part in the campaign against the Fenians,
+and who cannot be charged with partiality to the invaders. In this
+work, published in June, 1866, by Rollo & Adam, Toronto, and entitled
+"The Fenian Raid on Fort Erie, with an account of the Battle of
+Ridgeway," the author, page 62, observes, first, as to the disastrous
+result of the collision between both armies, to the Canadians:--
+
+"The loss of this fight was the loss of the whole expedition. The two
+Commanding Officers were wandering about the country, the main body of
+the men captured or lying wounded about the village; the Captain of
+the Artillery struck down with the loss of a leg, and the Tug almost
+denuded of men, and the few left so hampered with a lot of useless
+prisoners, as to be unable to undertake anything."
+
+And again, after having complimented the invaders on some instances of
+personal bravery, he remarks, page 69:
+
+"Before closing this chapter, I must mention that, from all accounts,
+the Fenians, except in so far as they were wrong in invading a
+peaceful country, in carrying on an unjustifiable war, behaved
+remarkably well to the inhabitants. I spent three weeks in Fort Erie,
+and conversed with dozens of the people of the place, and was
+astonished at the universal testimony borne by them to their unvarying
+good conduct. They have been called plunderers, robbers and marauders;
+yet, no matter how unwilling we may be to admit it, the positive fact
+remains, that THEY STOLE BUT FEW VALUABLES; THAT THEY DESTROYED,
+COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, LITTLE OR NOTHING, AND THAT THEY COMMITTED NO
+OUTRAGES UPON THE INHABITANTS, BUT TREATED EVERYONE WITH UNVARYING
+COURTESY. On taking a number of the Welland Battery and the Naval
+Company prisoners, THEY TREATED THEM WITH THE GREATEST KINDNESS,
+putting the officers under their parole and RETURNING TO THEM THEIR
+SIDE ARMS; taking them down to the wharf on their departure, and
+releasing them, bidding them adieu with EXPRESSIONS OF GOOD WILL."
+
+"Another incident," he goes on to say, same page, "occurred, worth
+mentioning: A number of them went to a widow lady's house, near Fort
+Erie, and asked her for something to eat. They were about going into
+the kitchen to sit down, and she told them she would not let them
+in,--they laughingly replied, 'very well, ma'am, we'll do here very
+well, it is a very nice yard;' and accordingly they sat down on the
+grass and ate the bread and butter and milk she gave them. Another
+squad in the same way took breakfast there. In the evening a man came,
+ragged and tired, looking for something to eat. Seeing a loaf of bread
+on the table he took it up. The lady said: 'That is the last loaf I
+have.' The man looked at her and said slowly: 'Is that the last loaf
+of bread that you have? then I'll not take it,' and laid it on the
+window-sill. Seeing this, she asked him to take half. After pressing
+it upon him, he at length took a portion of it. This story is
+undoubtly true, as I obtained it from the lady herself, with whom I am
+intimately acquainted."
+
+"It perhaps," he continues in the next paragraph, page 70, "does not
+come with a good grace from a Canadian to give any credit to the
+Fenians, who, without any ground of complaint against us, invade our
+country and cause the loss of valuable lives among us; but as a
+truthful narrator of facts, I must give them credit on the only ground
+on which they can claim it."
+
+This is honest and soldierly on the part of Major Denison; but should
+these pages chance to meet his eye, he will find his theory untenable
+in relation to the immunity of Canada from the consequences of any
+acts for which England may seemingly be responsible only. The war of
+1812 was not a war against Canada, but against Great Britain, and yet
+Canada was invaded by the Americans and made the principal theatre of
+the conflict. How multifarious soever, or widely scattered its
+colonies or dependencies, every nation is a unit, and consequently
+amenable as well in detail as in the aggregate, for any offence
+committed against public justice or humanity. When you quarrel with a
+man, you don't quarrel in particular with his eye, his foot, or his
+nose, although you may punish him as a whole by inflicting injury upon
+all or any of these organs; and thus it is in the case under
+consideration; the New Dominion is the foot or the eye or the nose of
+John Bull, and as such, any enemy of England is justifiable in maiming
+him in any or all of these parts. This is the hard logic of the point;
+and if Canada wishes to escape its consequences, she must demonstrate
+to the Irish people, or to any other who may be at enmity with
+England, that she is neither part nor parcel of the British Empire.
+How ridiculous the plea set up by Canada, that because she was not
+forsooth an active individual agent of gross tyranny and injustice
+towards Ireland, she ought to be exempt from any of the consequences
+arising to the real culprit in the case. The same argument might be
+urged with as much reason, by half the population of England herself,
+who are just as innocent in this respect as the people of Canada; they
+having never been consciously concerned in any oppression of Ireland,
+either individually or collectively. But they are the friends, allies
+and abettors of the government which has perpetrated such crimes in
+relation to Ireland,--nay, more, they create and sustain the agencies
+through which these wrongs are committed; and in this they are joined
+heart, hand and soul, by the people of Canada or the representatives
+of that people. Canada, then, having sworn allegiance to the Crown of
+Great Britain, is constructively, as well as virtually, as much an
+enemy of Ireland as England is. The Firm, comprising Great Britain and
+all its colonies and dependencies throughout the world, is known as
+John Bull & Co., and the distinctive sign of the house, in all its
+ramifications, is the Union Jack or some adaptation of the red cross
+of St. George to local predilections. As in ordinary mercantile
+transactions, a debt incurred by any branch of the establishment
+involves the responsibility of the whole, and can be levied for in
+London or Hokitika. This is the true state of the case, and any
+individual who would advance a doctrine contrary to it, is either a
+simpleton or a knave.
+
+Black Jack and his companion were astonished to find such order reign
+in the midst of an invading army, and to perceive that the inhabitants
+of the village were not subjected to instant plunder, if not fire and
+sword, by the troops now in possession of the place. They had come
+over in the hope of being able to make some bold strokes in the wake
+of the soldiery, and the confusion that they had fancied should obtain
+among the people; but finding that they were foiled in this direction,
+they cast their eyes about them to see what was best to be done under
+the circumstances.
+
+"I'll be blowed," growled Jack, as they both rambled in the outskirts
+of the village the morning of their arrival, "if this ain't a go.
+Honly fancy, Kid, vot a set of spoonies these 'ere fellows har, not to
+be goin it like the Hinglish in Hindia, or in the Peninsoola under the
+Duke. I 'eard a fellow as vos there say, that they used to steal hoff
+at night and 'av hodd sport and leave none to tell the tale in the
+mornin. Glorious, vosn't it? And then ven they gathered hup the svag,
+they made it hall right vith the sentries and sometimes vith the
+hofficers themselves."
+
+"Jack, I'll never make anything of you," returned the Kid; "your
+language is so vulgar, and your address altogether so ungentlemanlike,
+that you at once peach on yourself; for anybody, with even half an
+eye, that either sees you or hears you speak, would take you for the
+villain you unquestionably are."
+
+"Oh! bless'ee, but you're a sveet cove," rejoined Jack, "and no vun
+vould suppose for a moment that you cut Sal Gordon's throat, the night
+you coaxed her hoff to marry her, just because you took a fancy to a
+couple of five-pun notes she had in her trash-bag that she refused to
+give hup afore the knot vos tied."
+
+"Come, come," winced the Kid, "no more of that, but let us see if we
+can't do a little business here, or, at least, before we return, which
+I venture to say we shall manage if we keep in the wake of these
+fellows without arousing the suspicions of any of them."
+
+"Yes, yes!" said Jack, "but vot hif ve should run foul of the henemy
+and be taken hup as belongin to these 'ere chaps, hif so be they're
+beaten, as I hope they vill?"
+
+"I tell you what, there's but one chap among them all that'll keep his
+eye on us," replied the Kid, "and that's the fellow who thought to
+surprise me into a confession, by suddenly producing a button that, I
+apprehend, dropped off the dress of the lady that we, recently ran
+over here for our new employer. I have found out his name, and learned
+that he was engaged to be married to this same beauty, who is now
+safely caged at Wilson's, where she'll soon be apt to learn that she's
+in about as nice a fix as ever she was in during her life. But," he
+continued, "I don't know what to make of that Martha. All I can do or
+say, whenever I happen to be at the house, has no other effect than
+that of apparently making her more and more opposed to her uncle's
+wishes, until I am convinced shell never be mine, willingly at least.
+And after all, I love the girl well enough; although I feel I should
+kill her before she was mine a month."
+
+Thus baffled and circumscribed, these two scoundrels prowled about the
+village until near ten o'clock, when the troops moved down the river
+about four miles, and went into camp at Newbiggin's farm. At this
+period the gallant O'Neill was in great uncertainty. Here he was in an
+enemy's country with but a handful of men, and in utter darkness as to
+what was going on at other points. Already, at Buffalo, he had a taste
+of the manner in which the War Department had conducted the expedition
+to that point; and was, of course, afraid that the inefficiency of
+that department would make itself apparent in more relations than one.
+In the ability, activity and devotion of President Roberts,
+Vice-President Gibbons and the Senate, he had the fullest confidence;
+but Col. Roberts did not take it upon himself to dictate to a
+department that was in charge of what was believed to be an old and
+experienced military officer, and one on whose judgment and practical
+skill he placed the fullest reliance. The position was a desperate
+one; but O'Neill was determined to maintain his ground on British
+soil, until satisfied that failure had obtained elsewhere, and that
+there was no probability of his being reinforced. He had long burned
+for an opportunity of meeting the enemies of the land of his birth in
+open fight; and now, although all around looked dark and uncertain, he
+was determined to join issue with any force that was brought against
+him. His men for the most part, too, shared this sentiment. True, that
+a few cowardly hounds had deserted his standard almost as soon as it
+had been unfurled on the enemy's shore; but then these were of that
+miserable breed that always attach themselves to expeditions of this
+sort without measuring their motives or the strength of their
+principles. However, be this as it may, they have forever forfeited
+their claims to the name of Irishmen, if such they were; while the
+very recollection will be painful to many, that so dastardly and
+worthless a crew tainted, even for a single moment, the pure
+atmosphere in which such men breathed as the following, not to speak
+of the noble rank and file whose names we are unable, for obvious
+reasons, to give here, and who, like them, led by the gallant O'NEILL,
+immortalized themselves on the field of Ridgeway:
+
+_OFFICERS OF THE I.R.A., PRESENT AT RIDGEWAY_.
+
+Lieutenant RUDOLPH FITZPATRICK, Aid-de-Camp to O'NEILL.
+
+Colonel OWEN STARR, commanding Kentucky troops.
+Lieutenant Colonel JOHN SPAULDING, Louisville, Kentucky troops.
+Captain TIMOTHY O'LEARY, Louisville, Kentucky troops.
+Captain JOHN GEARY, Lexington, Kentucky troops.
+Lieutenant PATK J. TYRRELL. Louisville, Kentucky troops.
+Lieutenant MICH'L BOLAND, Louisville, Kentucky troops.
+
+Colonel JOHN HOY, Buffalo, commanding 7th Regiment I.R.A.
+Lieutenant Colonel MICH'L BAILEY, Buffalo, 7th Regiment I.R.A.
+Captain JOHN M. FOGARTY, Buffalo.
+Captain WM. B. SMITH, Buffalo.
+Lieutenant EDW'D LONERGAN, Buffalo.
+
+Colonel JOHN GRACE, Cincinnati; commanding Ohio troops.
+Captain SAM SULLIVAN, Cincinnati. Ohio troops.
+Lieutenant JOHN J. GEOGHAN, Cincinnati. Ohio troops.
+
+Captain ---- BUCKLEY, Cleveland, Ohio troops.
+Lieutenant TIMOTHY LAVAN, Cleveland, Ohio.
+
+Captain ---- McDONALD, Pulaski, Tennessee.
+
+Captain LAWRENCE SHIELDS, Nashville, commanding Tennessee troops.
+Captain PHILIP MUNDY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
+Lieutenant JAMES J. ROACH, Nashville, Tenn.
+Lieutenant JOHN MAGUIRE, Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Captain MICH'L CONLON, Memphis, Tennessee.
+
+Captain ---- HAGGERTY, Indianapolis, Indiana.
+
+Major JOHN C. CANTY, Fort Erie, C.W.
+
+We trust that we have not omitted here the name of any officer present
+at Ridgeway. If it should ever appear that we have done so, it will be
+a source of great pain to us, although we can plead in apology that
+every effort was made on our part to procure a complete list.
+
+Seeing that there was not much to be made out of Fort Erie, the two
+comrades, Black Jack and the Kid, moved cautiously in the rear of the
+troops as they fell down the river; their intention being to remain
+concealed in the vicinity of any point at which an engagement might
+take place, and then trust to chance for an opportunity of rifling the
+dead or picking up whatever spoils happened to drop in their way.
+While deliberating upon this creditable resolve, about noon, as they
+had made a detour and pushed ahead of the troops, who were going into
+camp, their attention was arrested by the noise of some vehicle coming
+up a side road across which they were wending their way. In the course
+of a few moments they discovered that it was the wagon of Wilson,
+driven by that worthy, in the direction of the village of Waterloo; he
+evidently not having, as yet, heard of the Province being invaded.
+Immediately a conference took place between the three friends, when it
+was agreed that Wilson's wagon should be concealed in a wooded hollow
+close by, and that it should be made the receptacle of whatever
+plunder might be secured during the struggle that they all felt must
+soon take place. Consequently, the team was turned aside, and, after
+being unhitched, was secured in a close clump of trees, that was not
+likely to be visited by any persons in the vicinity; and more
+particularly so, when the country was now being alarmed throughout,
+and people were securing themselves in their habitations.
+
+After this being arranged, and the horses fed and watered, the party
+again sallied forth towards the main road, with a view to getting as
+near as was safe to the camp of the invaders, and gleaning some
+information as to their future movements. They had been hovering about
+in this way for some time, when they came to a point where two roads
+met, and where they perceived two wagons in which were a number of
+people, all standing and reconoitering something, in alarm or
+surprise, through a field-glass, which they were passing from one to
+the other. At a glance the trio saw that these persons were Canadians;
+and, fearing nothing, they made instantly towards them, and as though
+in ignorance of what had taken place, made inquiries as to what they
+were inspecting.
+
+While engaged in conversation upon this point, and learning that those
+in the wagons were observing a body of armed men who were moving at
+some distance from them, but whom they could not identify as either
+friends or foes, the whole party perceived an officer riding towards
+them with the greatest apparent coolness and confidence. On coming up,
+he informed them that the body of men in the distance were some
+volunteers who were not very well acquainted with the roads about
+there, and that he would feel obliged if they would just drive down
+and give the commanding officer whatever information was in their
+power upon the subject of the best route to be taken to a certain
+point, naming it. To this request they all gladly acceded, the Kid and
+Jack not daring to say a word, and not one of them suspecting anything
+from the peculiar uniform of the officer; from the fact that they were
+not aware the hat indicated that he did not belong to any Canadian
+force; believing, as they did, that the uniforms of the volunteers
+were of various descriptions. When, however, they arrived at the point
+where the men were stationed, they quickly found out their mistake,
+and, to their utter consternation, were all made prisoners, Wilson and
+his two companions included. The body that made this capture was a
+reconnoitering force commanded by Col. John Hoy; and no sooner was it
+made, than the prisoners and the two wagons were at once forwarded
+under an escort to O'Neill's camp, where, on the Kid and Black Jack
+being recognized as belonging to Buffalo, they were released at once;
+the others being held for a short period with a view to gaining some
+information from them, relative to the movements or whereabouts of the
+enemy, of which, as it subsequently turned out, they knew nothing
+whatever.
+
+This introduction to the camp was considered fortunate by the Kid and
+his comrade, who now, on being acknowledged by some of the men who
+knew nothing of their real character, seemed anxious to remain under
+the protection of the Irish flag until, as they stated, they could
+effect their escape across the river; as they now averred that, should
+they attempt to regain Buffalo alone, they could not fail to fall into
+the hands of the Canadian forces, who, it was rumored, were gathering
+on every side of the Fenian army, with the design of surrounding it
+and cutting off its retreat. This all seemed natural and reasonable
+enough; and more particularly as the two villains asserted that they
+were on their way to Chippewa on business of importance, but should
+now get back to their home as soon as practicable; they not having had
+any idea that the invasion was about to take place; and having crossed
+to the Canadian side early the evening before; that finding they could
+not get any one to recross the river with them, as things stood, they
+thought it better to keep in the wake of the army until they had
+reached some point where they could effect a crossing; not wishing to
+entrust themselves to the people of Fort Erie, after the troops had
+evacuated that place, as they felt certain that the inhabitants
+regarded them as Fenians, and would treat them as such if an
+opportunity was afforded them to do so.
+
+During the day nothing of interest transpired, until towards evening,
+when Barry, with two of his old comrades and four others of his
+company, who were thoroughly acquainted with the locality, were
+despatched from the camp, as were similar squads in other directions,
+to make reconnoissances of the enemy, if they were anywhere near the
+main body of the army. After proceeding cautiously for a couple of
+miles, and pausing, from time to time, to reconnoitre, on gaining the
+verge of a small piece of wooded land, they suddenly found themselves
+almost face to face with ten or twelve armed soldiers, in British
+uniform, who seemed to be an outpost lying in wait among some pine
+shrubs, on the opposite side of a narrow ravine. Fortunately for our
+hero, he was the first to discover the red coats, upon whom the sun
+was pouring its declining rays, revealing them to the green coats,
+while at the same time it dazzled and obscured their vision, from the
+fact that the light flashed full in their faces, while it fell on the
+backs of their advancing adversaries. A few hundred yards towards the
+upper end of the ravine, there was a small patch of wood, through
+which Barry instantly determined to move towards the point occupied by
+the enemy; hoping to be able to surprise them before they were aware
+of his proximity. This manoeuvre was accomplished rapidly, and with
+the utmost caution; but as an open space yet intervened between him
+and them, when he had gained the verge of the grove, he determined to
+remain under cover, with a view to ascertaining the strength of the
+force he might have to cope with; not knowing but it was larger than
+it seemed to be from the opposite side of the glen.
+
+Here, however, he had scarcely halted when he was discovered by the
+enemy, who took alarm; but, after a moment's pause, during which a
+good deal of coolness was observed amongst their ranks, they
+deliberately poured a volley into the grove where he and his little
+band stood under shelter, although discernible among the trees. No
+sooner had the music of the bullets ceased, and as a full view was had
+of the force of the enemy, than the Fenians dashed across the open
+space already mentioned, and charged in a spirited manner, although
+received by the foe with the utmost intrepidity, and an evident
+intention to work some mischief before they retired from the spot.
+Barry, however, instructed his little band not to fire until within a
+few yards of their antagonists, who were now coolly reloading; so,
+before the redcoats were again prepared to give another volley, one
+simultaneous crash of the Fenian rifles threw them into momentary
+confusion; and, the next instant, both parties were closely engaged in
+a life and death struggle.
+
+The fire of the Fenians had made sad havoc amongst the small force,
+which was now cut down to the proportions of that of their own; still
+those that remained never swerved an inch, but joined with their
+adversaries, hip and thigh. There was but one volley fired on either
+side; and, now that the shrubbery was so thick and withal so
+inconveniently high, both parties had recourse to their side arms to
+decide the day. Hand to hand, and desperately they fought, without
+much indication of the mortal strife, save the low groan of the dying
+and the thick breathing of those who struggled upon the green sward
+among the roots of the young pines that so thickly studded the place.
+Already had Barry silenced forever the pulses of more than one of his
+antagonists, when their leader, a powerful man of about thirty-five,
+made a sudden bound towards him, after having in turn brought his own
+assailant to the ground, and instantly both their swords were crossed,
+as they stood, alone, in an open space of a few feet square, while the
+deadly conflict still half silently raged around them among the three
+or four who now survived to battle for their respective flags.
+
+Barry, although but a private soldier when in the British service, was
+regarded as one of the best swordsmen in his regiment. In fact, he was
+that sort of person who took delight in excelling in every military
+exercise, so that his task-masters should have no grounds for wounding
+his feelings or his pride in any matter connected with the discipline
+of a soldier. So skillful was he in this connection, that the moment
+he caught sight of the manner in which his enemy grasped his weapon,
+he looked for but one issue touching the encounter, and that was, the
+probable destruction of both. He felt that he had an antagonist before
+him worthy the occasion, and braced himself for the work with all the
+energy of his being. Swift as lightning, both weapons flashed in the
+sunlight, and the next instant lay pressing uneasily against each
+other in mid-air; forming a shifting and glittering arch of death,
+beneath which either its crimson or emerald pillar was soon to fall in
+ensanguined ruins. Not a word was spoken on either side; each
+believing that his hour or that of the other had come! The conflict in
+the surrounding shrubbery had already almost ceased. Brief as the
+period was, the remaining few of the enemy were vanquished and soon
+had fled, pursued by a victorious two or three, being scarcely
+themselves more than that number, having suffered severely, although
+they fought with great bravery. It was the seven hundred years of hate
+and the red blood of Ireland, that decided the conquest for so far in
+favor of the green; and now, face to face, with lips compressed and
+glaring eye, stood the two representatives of the individual
+antagonisms, which had been pitted against each other for ages, and
+which never can breathe in peace the same vital air. As if
+understanding, thoroughly, the power, agility and skill of his
+antagonist, the opponent of Barry, who was an Englishman by birth, and
+had been in the British service, never sought for a moment to gain any
+advantage of the ground. In this relation, he seemed satisfied to
+fight his adversary on equal terms; being well aware that a single
+move might be fatal, inasmuch as it could not fail to distract his
+attention to some extent from his watchful enemy. The sward sloped
+down rapidly to the ravine; so that he who occupied the most elevated
+position would have his adversary at an advantage; but, although this
+conviction was impressed upon the minds of both, neither seemed
+anxious to avail himself of it; and thus they stood upon equal terms,
+in every way antagonists worthy of each other. In height, the
+Englishman had it somewhat in his favor; but, then, not above an inch
+or so; while Barry, in agility and compactness, seemed to be vastly
+his superior. And such they were, when the first thrust and parry told
+that the work had begun. This was immediately succeeded by a furious
+clashing, that evidenced a rising tempest of anger in the breast of
+either, or both, and which gave promise of being speedily followed by
+some fatal stroke that was sure to terminate the encounter. During
+this ominous flurry, Barry stood on the defensive, coolly eyeing his
+brave adversary, and watching for the unguarded moment when he could
+either kill or disarm him; but this was not so easily found, as the
+Englishman was every inch a soldier and a superb swordsman; and Barry
+knew it well.
+
+Notwithstanding the violence of the attack, so adroitly was it met,
+and so firmly was it withstood, that our hero never gave way a hair's
+breadth of ground, or suffered a single scratch; and now only, in
+reality, the murderous conflict commenced. The Englishman perceiving
+that our hero was not to be moved or thrown off his guard for an
+instant, became more fully satisfied that he had a dangerous
+antagonist to deal with, and so commenced to be himself more cautions
+and guarded. Seeing that mere personal strength availed him but
+little, he fell back on his admirable swordsmanship and fought with
+coolness the most undaunted. Barry now, in turn, became the assailant,
+and pressing his antagonist with great skill and courage, gave him a
+slight flesh wound, followed rapidly by another in the sword arm, from
+which the blood began to flow copiously. Perceiving that the conflict
+must be decided at once, as he should soon become faint from loss of
+blood, once more the red coat became the assailing party; but this
+time, as he was pressing our hero, but somewhat more feebly than
+before, his foot caught beneath the tough, fibrous roots of one of the
+pine shrubs by which they were surrounded, and the next instant he was
+thrown headlong towards Barry, while his sword flew out of his hand
+far beyond his reach.
+
+The fight was over; and fortunate it was for the prostrate soldier
+that it was brought to so singular a determination; for, from the
+manner in which he was bleeding, if from nothing else, the day was
+sure to be decided in Barry's favor. Regaining his feet, as soon as
+possible, he looked aghast for a moment, as if expecting his death
+blow; but found his antagonist not only presenting him his sword, but
+begging him not to continue the conflict, as from his wound he was in
+no situation to keep it up longer with any show of success.
+
+"By my faith," he replied in return, "I believe, under any
+circumstances, the fates were against me; so, understanding what is
+due to a brave man, keep my sword and find me some water, as I begin
+to feel a little shakey about the knees."
+
+Just at the foot of the slope, and but a few yards distant, there was
+a brook, to which our hero now led his prisoner, and where, after
+bathing his temples and bandaging his wound with a handkerchief, he
+left him for a moment to look after those who might need his aid more
+urgently, hard by. He found, after all, that but one of his party was
+killed, although two others, who managed to creep in amongst the
+shrubbery, were severely wounded. Not knowing how the contest was
+going, and seeing themselves completely _hors de combat_, they waited
+in silence the result, fearing to call out, lest the enemy might be
+upon them and despatch them. The red coats suffered most severely; six
+of their number having been killed outright. Strange to say, however,
+that there appeared to have been none of them simply wounded; for,
+although groans were heard to proceed from the point where they lay,
+they must have been uttered in their death agonies, so mortal was the
+damage dealt them.
+
+When this much was ascertained, Barry was deliberating as to what had
+become of the remaining three of his party, when they returned to the
+scene of conflict, weary with a fruitless chase. These men instantly
+took up their comrades and bore them down to the brook, where they
+were refreshed with a cooling draught. Barry, finding that it would be
+dangerous for them to remain to bury the dead, as the noise of their
+rifles might have attracted the attention of some other body of the
+enemy that might possibly be somewhere in the vicinity of the ravine,
+determined to retrace his steps at once. His two wounded companions,
+like his prisoner, were able to walk slowly towards the camp; so,
+collecting the enemy's dead into one place, and covering them with
+branches of evergreens, they took up the body of their fallen comrade
+and, placing it on a litter hastily formed of boughs gathered on the
+spot, slowly wended their way with it towards the point occupied by
+the main body of the army--Barry and his prisoner moving in the same
+direction, some distance in the rear.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+In the morning that Greaves visited the Fort in Canada, garrisoned by
+Barry's regiment, it will be remembered that he had a brief interview
+with the Colonel. Momentary as it was, however, it was sufficient to
+prevent Barry from getting his discharge; for the Colonel was then and
+there apprised that our hero sought to leave the army for the purpose
+only of joining the anticipated Fenian invasion, giving it the
+advantage of his military skill, and aiding it with his knowledge of
+the fortifications that the invaders might attempt to posses
+themselves of. On being persuaded, through a glance at a certain
+document placed in his hands, that Greaves was to be trusted, he at
+once decided as to the course that he himself ought to pursue, and the
+reader has already seen the result. Strange as it may appear for the
+present, it was Greaves' object to induce Barry to desert, and thereby
+shut himself out from ever revisiting the British dominions again. He
+felt that it would be better, too, that he should not be taken while
+in the act of deserting; as his punishment could be but light, owing
+to the circumstance, that he had endeavored, though in vain, to obtain
+his discharge honorably; so he determined to aid his escape from the
+Fort, and secure his outlawry beyond any possibility of mistake. Why
+he was prompted to an act so gratuitous and so apparently undeserved,
+remains for future explanation; but, at present, all we have to do
+with is the simple fact, that owing to his mysterious machinations,
+our young hero was driven to the step he had taken.
+
+It is, we perceive, a fact, that O'Brien was correct in his first
+estimate of Greaves; as that smooth-tongued traitor was the notorious
+spy in the pay of the English government, sent out to Canada with a
+view to learning the particulars of the power and intentions of
+Fenianism in the Provinces, as well as in the adjoining Republic. In
+this connection, he had such papers in his possession as recommended
+him to the Canadian Minister who gave him, on his arrival in the city
+where we first encountered him, such assistance and direction as his
+maudlin state of mind could afford. He recommended him to the
+confidence of many persons in the upper part of the Province, where he
+had been staying for some time previous to his appearance at The Harp.
+Among these was the Hon. J. R-----, of Toronto--a Patrick's Day Son of
+the Sod, who has often nailed Ireland to the cross for place and
+power; and who regards every body as his "dear friend" who can help
+him up the ladder--a man with no more human flesh about his bones or
+heart within him, than is possessed by the veriest skeleton that has
+ever served the purposes of a college of surgeons, after having
+reposed for a whole generation in the silence of the grave. Oh! how we
+long for the day when we shall meet such miserable Judases face to
+face, and spit upon them before the nations; and how willing we are to
+admit that we should rather tomorrow shake the manly hand of the
+English Joe Sheard of Toronto, open enemy and all as he is, than touch
+the vile, clammy paw of such repulsive creatures as compose the
+snake-like breed of which this same paltry and sordid trimmer is a
+true representative. Of course, Greaves and he understood each other
+at once--they were both traitors alike; only that the former was
+lavish of money in attaining his nefarious ends, while the latter
+would crawl to whatever goal he had in view, through any description
+of filth provided it would obviate the necessity of relaxing his gripe
+upon his ill-gotten gain. It is to such men as he, that Ireland owes
+all her misfortunes, and that the people of Canada owe the curse of
+the great embarrassments that now sorely beset them. For so far, not a
+single Irishman who has ever been prominently identified with the
+Government of Canada, if we are at all able to judge, has possessed a
+spark of honest or true patriotism. From first to last, every man Jack
+of them has fleeced the poor Canucks unmercifully, and played the
+toady to England in the most fulsome and sickening manner. Even the
+best of them were rotten to the core, and but mere adventurers. Look
+at the case of the "Hyena," as he was called in his prime. One day we
+find him out at the elbows peddling samples of wine around the
+Province, and the next, wallowing in wealth through his Point Levi and
+other gouges at the expense of the people; until, at last, he became
+sufficiently corrupt for England to send him to take charge of her
+interests in one of her dependencies: where, as it is asserted, he,
+from time to time, is carried from boating parties, etc., to his
+palatial residence dead drunk, in open daylight. But why spend a
+single breath in referring to such miserable specimens of humanity?
+The world knows what they are; and Canada ought to have some slight
+acquaintance with them: as they built her into the worthless Grand
+Trunk at a ruinous figure, and, like her present, leading, political
+juggler, Sir John A., fleeced her in every direction that a collop
+could be cut out of her.
+
+It was amongst such tricksters, English, Irish and Scotch, that
+Greaves, for the most part, moved secretly from the moment of his
+arrival in the Province up to the date at which we find him at Port
+Colborne. He was, however, surprised to learn that men so high in
+power, and that had been so high in power, really knew so little of
+the great impending movement which overshadowed the Provinces and bid
+fair to wrest them from the hands of England. But few papers in Upper
+Canada appeared to know anything of what was really going on in this
+relation, besides the _Globe_, of Toronto. Nearly all the others, like
+the leader of the government and his satellites, seemed to be at sea
+upon the subject. This fact Greaves took care to mention in the
+dispatches which he sent home to Ireland, from time to time; giving it
+as his opinion, that the Prime Minister of Canada was a dangerous man
+to entrust with any large interests, civil or military.
+
+How the spy had become possessed of the letter or paper which so
+staggered O'Brien, is easily accounted for. One of the Organization in
+Ireland, named Greaves, who had been purchased by the government while
+on a mission of trust, and who had sworn his way into the Brotherhood
+with a view to making merchandise of it, gave up his credentials for a
+certain sum; and thus it was that they had fallen into the hands of
+the Castle of Dublin and subsequently into those of the spy. Cunning
+as O'Brien was, the spy read his connection with the Organization
+through exhibiting this document to him on the morning succeeding the
+night of our first introduction to The Harp; for he perceived, at
+once, that were O'Brien not, is some way, identified with the
+Brotherhood, he would have been unable to recognize the meaning of
+certain expressions contained in the paper, which, as already
+observed, seemed to impress him so suddenly and so forcibly.
+
+Now, however, that the Provinces were actually invaded, Greaves, as we
+shall yet continue to call him, found that his mission had suddenly
+been brought to a close. As the cat was out of the bag, however, he
+instantly turned his undivided attention to some private matters of
+his own, and which, after all, was the only thing that induced him to
+move so rapidly west, after the escape of Barry and his comrades from
+the Fort. But with all his deeply laid schemes, he began to feel a
+strange presentiment that he had overreached himself, and that,
+notwithstanding the supposition that he had shut out our hero from
+Canada for all time to come, it was more than likely he was in the
+Province again, and that, too, as an invader, and but a very short
+distance from the village in which he now found himself. This surmise
+maddened him, for reasons to be disclosed in due course; and, as if
+urged by some unseen power, he was determined to make his way towards
+the camp of the invaders; well knowing that had Barry joined it, he
+would vouch for his friendliness; while, had he not re-entered the
+Province, he himself could make his way among the Brotherhood as a
+friend, by the same means that he had stepped into the good graces, or
+rather escaped the detection, of O'Brien.
+
+Early on the morning of the second of June, then, he set out from Port
+Colborne, with a force under the command of Lieut. Col. Booker,
+anxious to witness, and if necessary, take part in the first encounter
+between the invaders and the Provincial troops. How did he
+know--perhaps a chance bullet fired by himself might find its billet
+in the heart of Barry, had the latter joined the Fenians; and if it
+did, then all would be right, and his triumph secured. Still he had
+his misgivings as to the success of the Canadians, notwithstanding
+their reputed superior numbers, and the presence of the regulars to
+strengthen and inspirit the volunteers. He saw that all was
+uncertainty and confusion. Col. Peacock, of the 16th regulars, chief
+in command of the united forces, was at "sixes and sevens" with the
+commanding officer of the volunteers, while General Napier, commanding
+the regular troops in the whole of Upper Canada, was so perplexed with
+rumors of invasion at various points, as to be absolutely lost in a
+maze of bewilderment, and utterly incapable of meeting the crisis in a
+soldierly and intelligent manner.
+
+Thus the confusion ran amongst the Canadians, when Col. Booker, on the
+morning just alluded to, set out with his command from Port Colborne,
+to attack the Irish Republican forces, encamped at Newbiggin's Farm,
+and with the further intention of forming a junction with the regulars
+under Col. Peacock, coming from Chippewa--the invaders being
+absolutely hemmed in on all sides; as a steamer with a field battery
+occupied the river in their rear, with a view to cutting off their
+retreat, when they were, as it was expected they should be, defeated
+by the large number of forces that were being steadily brought down
+upon them.
+
+Arriving at the village of Ridgeway, the troops left the cars and
+proceeded cautiously in the direction of Stevensville, at or near
+which point they hoped to form the junction with Col. Peacock, who was
+on his way from Chippewa, where he had bivouacked the night before.
+The village of Ridgeway is on the line of the Grand Trunk Railway,
+which connects it with Port Colborne on Lake Erie on the one side, and
+Fort Erie on the same lake, at the mouth of the Niagara River, on the
+other. It is situated about eleven miles from the former place, and
+something like eight from the latter; leaving the extreme points
+distant from each other about nineteen miles. At this little place,
+then, Lieut. Col. Booker found himself, in command of a force which has
+been variously estimated at from twelve to eighteen hundred men,
+composed of the crack volunteers of the country, and, as a general
+thing, commanded by brave and experienced officers. It has, however,
+been asserted by some that there were not more than one thousand
+British engaged at Ridgeway; but we fear that this is under the mark,
+and are inclined to believe, that, at an honest computation, their
+force amounted to between thirteen and fourteen hundred. This we give
+on what we consider to be reliable authority, and can, at once,
+presume that the division under Col. Booker stood something more than
+three to one against the invaders, as the handful under the gallant
+O'Neill did not exceed four hundred on the actual field of Ridgeway.
+
+Stevensville lies in the direction of Chippewa, on a wagon road
+branching off at right angles from the Grand Trunk at Ridgeway
+village, and here it was that Col. Peacock ordered Col. Booker to meet
+him, with the men under his command, with the design of forming a
+junction and attacking O'Neill with a combined force of volunteers and
+regulars amounting to between two and three thousand men. This
+junction O'Neill was determined to defeat, and did defeat it;--but let
+us not anticipate.
+
+When Greaves stepped from the cars at Ridgeway, the first man he
+encountered was the Kid; and, strange as it may appear, a sign of
+recognition passed between them instantaneously. In a few moments they
+managed to extricate themselves from the crowds that thronged the
+place, and move off to an unfrequented spot, where they could converse
+unheard and unobserved. Here they were soon engaged on a subject which
+seemed to excite Greaves to the highest pitch, and elicit from him
+sundry ejaculations of surprise mixed with anger. Becoming cooler,
+however, he led his companion into a spot even more sequestered, and
+then fell into a low and earnest conversation with him, in which the
+name of Barry might be heard pronounced with a deadly, hissing
+vehemence, indicative of the most frightful passion and hate. All this
+time the Kid remained quite calm, answering the interrogatories of his
+employer, for such Greaves appeared to be, until, at last, the plot or
+contract, whatever it was, was completed, and the parties had again
+bent their steps to the railway station by different paths.
+
+Had the gallant O'Neill two thousand men at his command on the morning
+of the 2d of June, 1866, with the certainty of reinforcements, _Canada
+would, ere this, have been part and parcel of the United States, and
+Ireland an independent Republic_, modeled after that of the American
+Union. No officer was better calculated to accomplish the overthrow of
+British power in the Dominion, than he. A thorough and practiced
+soldier--a man of great personal courage and daring, and above all, a
+genuine Celt, fired with the hereditary hatred of England so
+characteristic of his name and race, he was in himself a host. With
+two thousand men, composed of such stuff as he commanded at Ridgeway,
+he could have swept the road before him to Toronto; for there can be
+no doubt that his numbers would have been largely augmented on the way
+by Irish Nationalists and American sympathisers, who then, as now,
+pine for annexation. In addition, when it became once known, that a
+victorious army of the Republic of Ireland was marching on Toronto, a
+demonstration favorable to the invaders would have been made in that
+city, or such indications of friendship evinced by the Irish portion
+of the inhabitants, as would paralyze the energies of all those within
+its borders who were determined to stand by the flag of the tyrant.
+This, we are certain, would have been the real result of a march upon
+that city; for, all that thousands upon thousands of the people of
+Canada, who are now muzzled by the government, require at any moment
+to range them on the side of Ireland, is the assurance of success on
+the part of any invader, whether Irish or American, who makes a
+descent upon their shores. What a dreadful calamity, then, it was,
+that the War Department of the Irish Republic had fallen into such
+careless or incompetent hands, and that some man was not at its head
+who could have managed to have thrown upon Canadian soil, at Fort Erie
+and one or two other points, a force to act separately or in
+conjunction with sufficient effect to completely paralyse all
+opposition in Western Canada, among an already excited and incongruous
+host, who could have been easily swept before a compact handful of
+troops fired by a spirit so lofty and a resolve so unconquerable as
+that which actuated the brave little band of patriots who have made
+the 2d day of June, 1866, famous in the annals of the Irish race on
+this continent and on the other side of the Atlantic.
+
+Let it be thoroughly understood, that although the fortress of Quebec
+is considered the Gibraltar of this continent, it is in the midst of
+an Irish and French population absolutely hostile to British rule. The
+French, like the children of Ireland, never were and never can be
+loyal to England; and there are but few men in Lower Canada to-day,
+who would not rather see the American flag floating over Cape Diamond
+at the present moment, than the blood-stained standard which proclaims
+it in the grasp of a tyrant. From this we infer, that had Toronto,
+Kingston and Montreal fallen into the hands of the invaders, Quebec
+could not fail to soon follow; and then for the fitting out of Irish
+Republican privateers that would requite all the depredations of the
+Alabama ten-fold, and cripple the commerce of England, as she had
+destroyed that of the United States during the last war. General
+O'Neill had all this in his eye, and was ready to push the case to the
+mouth of the St. Lawrence, and there commence active operations
+against the merchant service of the common enemy of both Ireland and
+America; sweeping it from the high seas, and striking the tyrant in
+her Counting House, as one of her most vulnerable points. There could
+have been no difficulty in managing all this, had a sufficient force
+been thrown into the Province at the time already mentioned; nor can
+it be attended with much difficulty at any moment, provided the right
+men are placed at the head of the Fenian War Department. Canada is
+doomed, whomsoever her conqueror may be; so the sooner her people
+experience the change which is sure to overtake her, the sooner shall
+she be restored to internal peace, prosperity and security; from all
+of which she is now excluded, and must remain so, as long as she
+continues part and parcel of the British Empire.
+
+As by this time, the invading army had been in the Province for a
+portion of two days and two nights, the country generally was pretty
+well excited; but particularly in and about the section where the
+invaders had taken up their position, as well as along the line of
+Col. Peacock's march. Still there did not appear any very marked
+disposition on the part of the actual settlers in these quarters to
+take a decided part in stemming the invasion. It appears to us, that
+it was simply the government that moved through agencies, in this
+connection, which could not well disregard or resist their commands,
+rather than any antagonistic, out-spoken sentiment of the people, that
+had developed itself into active hostility against the Fenian forces.
+Be this as it may, the numbers hastily brought against the invaders
+were large in comparison with their own rank and file; and had they
+been actuated by a spirit similar to that which made a host of each
+individual Fenian, the fortunes of the day could not have failed to
+have been otherwise than they subsequently turned out to be. Again,
+let it be understood, that the majority of the little band who
+withstood the tempest shock at Ridgeway, were fresh from the fields of
+the South and used to the song of the bullet and the roar of
+artillery, as the great bulk of the army of the Irish Republic in
+America is to-day; while even the British regulars who were marching
+on Ridgeway were, with all their pretensions, but feather-bed soldiers
+who were totally out of practice of the real field, and had for many a
+day exhibited their pluck and discipline at general reviews or sham
+battles only. This we hold to weigh heavily on the side of the Irish
+National forces, and to decide in their favor, in advance, in any
+fight with treble their number of such an enemy--that is, we are of
+the fixed impression, that any hundred picked men from the force now
+under the gallant O'Neill, will beat, in open fight, any three hundred
+of the British army brought against them, all things being equal, with
+the exception of numbers. And why?--simply because in one case the
+belligerents would be fighting for the traditions and independence of
+the land of their love, while in the other they would, as a general,
+thing, be fighting for about six-pence a day.
+
+As soon as Colonel Booker and his command took the road towards
+Stevensville, Greaves, who was as daring as a man could be, and who
+was besides well acquainted with military tactics, procured a rifle, a
+soldiers jacket, cap and accoutrements, and started forth in the wake
+of the volunteers, with the rear guard of which he soon came up. The
+accoutrements he wore belonged to one of the volunteers who, like many
+of the men under Colonel Peacock, took suddenly ill as they approached
+the Fenian lines, and fell out of the ranks. Fortunately for the spy,
+he found in this guard the very comrade of the man who was left behind
+at the village, and having received permission from the officer in
+charge, fell into the ranks with him and held on his way, as though he
+were an ordinary member of the force.
+
+On the other hand, the Kid, on parting with Greaves, took his way in
+the direction in which he knew the invaders were slowly and cautiously
+moving, in order to get between Booker and Peacock, and defeat one
+command before it could form a juncture with the other. On approaching
+their lines, the steady tramp of which he could hear, he fell rapidly
+in the rear, where, true to their instincts, he found Black Jack and
+Wilson following in the team of the latter at a respectable distance,
+and anxiously waiting for the first volley that should give intimation
+that an engagement had commenced.
+
+"By ----," exclaimed Wilson, as his acquaintance jumped into the
+wagon, "this is coming to rather close quarters."
+
+"If so be," replied Jack, "as there vos henny har tillery in the vay,
+it might urt the missuses jam pots, seein as 'ow we can't be much
+hover a mile from them, from this 'ere place."
+
+"Scarcely that," returned the Kid, "and what's more, from the course
+the Fenians are taking, they must soon be into it against three or
+four times their number, and serve them right; but what luck have you
+had during the night?" he continued, turning to Jack, "although I
+suspect there was not much chance in the direction in which you spent
+it."
+
+"Call this a hinvasion?" retorted Jack, "vy these coves 'av only a
+come hover to show their good breedin and spend their money amongst
+the Canadians, instead of doin the decent thing like as ow it vos done
+in Hindia and the Peninsoola, veh the real harmy cut, burned and
+plundered hall afore 'em, 'and carried hoff, from old and young, bags
+of the most precious svag. This is disgustin. Honly fancy the fellows
+a behavin as if they vos on knight herranty of the hancient times,
+instead of givin a cove a chance of to do a little business among the
+walluables of Fort Erie, or hany hother place in the wicinity. I tell
+'ee what, Kid, I'm sorry as vee hever comed hover--that I be; and I
+vish I vos veil back again behind my hown counter."
+
+"Don't be down-hearted," replied the Kid, "for there will be fun
+somewhere soon, when these invaders will have to fall back on Fort
+Erie, where there may be a muss, or else the Canadians will have to
+retreat towards the village I have but recently left, so that in
+either case there may yet be a chance to throw something into the
+bottom of the wagon, and then in our turn fall back on friend
+Wilson's, here."
+
+In this way the conversation was continued, while the horses moved
+slowly along the road taken by the invaders, and at such a distance
+from the rear of the force, as not to be visible to any of the
+soldiers; until, just as the three companions we're passing through a
+patch of woods about a quarter of a mile from the rear guard of the
+invaders, they were suddenly startled by the report of firearms in the
+direction of the troops, just ahead of them. This report was followed
+by another, and yet another, and now by one continuous volley. The
+famous battle of Ridgeway had commenced!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+Kate McCarthy, after having heard the disclosure of Martha, regarding
+the character of her uncle, and the dangerous and nefarious practices
+in which he and Smith, or the Kid, were engaged, arrived, by degrees,
+at the conclusion, that she was the victim of some horrible and
+mysterious plot, in which Nicholas, too, was involved unconsciously.
+This idea having taken full possession of her, she immediately
+communicated it to her friend, who also seemed to share her
+apprehension. Of course, she had no means of accounting for the
+existence of the talisman upon which, at the time she received it, she
+could have staked her life; but, now, it was too plain, that even
+about this there was something strange and unsatisfactory; because,
+from her frequent inspection of it, although it had evidently come
+from the hand of Nicholas, it appeared to have not been so clearly
+intended for her, as she could have desired. Yet for whom else could
+it have been designed? This was the question; and it necessarily
+remained unanswered, while the conviction still obtained, that,
+notwithstanding there was enough in the mysterious token to justify
+the course she had taken, she was nevertheless in most dangerous
+toils, with the existence of which her lover was totally unacquainted.
+
+This once settled in her mind, her first impulse was to flee the house
+immediately; but, on second consideration, she felt it were better to
+await results, as she was certain that Martha was her true friend, and
+believed that no actual violence would be offered to her while under
+Wilson's roof. Were she to effect her escape she had neither
+acquaintance nor guide to direct her steps, and was totally uninformed
+as to the character and people of the locality in which she found
+herself. Again, Wilson had no doubt, placed eyes upon her that would
+arrest her footsteps, or so embarrass her that she should again fall
+into the hands from which she sought to escape. The region around her,
+as she now learned, was addicted to smuggling, and so marked was this
+truth, that a house of entertainment in the neighborhood was called
+the Smuggler's Home; where, it was said, bold and reckless men were to
+be found constantly. There was one thing, however, she was determined
+upon, and that was to procure, if possible, some weapon of defence in
+case any attempt were made to further jeopardize her person or
+liberty; and in this she was promptly aided by her young friend.
+
+She had now been nearly a week from home, and yet not an additional
+word or line had arrived from her lover. It was fortunate, however,
+that in her present perilous condition she had one in whom she could
+confide, and whom she knew sympathised with her. This was a solace to
+her, as it enabled her from time to time, to ease her burdened heart
+of the heavy load that pressed upon it, and converse upon the probable
+designs of those into whose toils she hod been betrayed. Smith, she
+was well aware, knew all the circumstances of her case; but he was in
+the employment of her persecutor or persecutors, and nothing, she was
+certain, was to be gleaned from him. However, as he had some design on
+the hand of Martha, the thought struck her that if opportunity served,
+her young friend might be able to extract from him even a hint as to
+the real state of her case; and this idea she at once communicated to
+her. Martha, on her part, expressed herself willing to befriend her to
+the utmost of her power; but still evinced a repugnance to be under
+any obligation to Smith, or enter into relations with him that could
+aim at anything like confidence between them. Yet she confessed
+herself ready to sacrifice her feelings as far as she could properly
+do so, for the purpose of fathoming the plot that surrounded her
+companion; but, then, where was Smith to begin with; and when was it
+probable that he should again make his appearance in that locality?
+These were points more easily entertained than disposed of; and thus
+matters stood when circumstances threw in their way the very
+individual they both desired to see.
+
+When the Kid, Jack and Wilson were liberated on the evening of the day
+on which they had been captured with others, and sent into the
+headquarters of Gen. O'Neill, it was decided that the first named of
+these worthies should proceed at once to Wilson's, and apprise the
+family of the presence of a hostile army, and the necessity of keeping
+close and barricading the house in case the tide of war should roll in
+that direction. The habitation, as already mentioned, stood in an
+isolated spot surrounded with woods, and the proprietor was of the
+impression, that it would escape notice or molestation; from the fact
+that the Fenians seemed to eschew everything that savored, in even the
+slightest degree, of the destruction of private property or of
+gratuitous pillage. Besides, he perceived that for the purpose of
+meeting some of the necessities of the invaders, a few horses had been
+already impressed into their service, and felt, consequently, that
+were his discovered on the road leading to his home, they could not
+fail to share the same fate. He therefore, as just intimated, begged
+the Kid to make the best of his way to Limestone Ridge, beside which
+his domicile stood. To this request the Kid willingly acceded, as it
+would afford him another opportunity of seeing Martha; so, when
+evening was about to set in, he commenced his journey.
+
+Earlier in the day, the brave Captain O'Donohue, of the 18th, white
+out on a foraging party towards Chippewa, came up with some outposts
+of the enemy, who, noticing his dauntless bearing, and the steady,
+onward tramp of his handful of men, fled at his approach without
+firing a single shot.
+
+When passing out of the camp to the main road, the Kid learned that
+the whole force was to move off at about ten o'clock in the direction
+of Chippewa; it being the intention of the commander, as previously
+observed, to get between the body of regulars about proceeding from
+that point, and that of the volunteers, to move forward, and form a
+junction with them, from Port Colborne; intending to attack and defeat
+the one before the other came up. At this time O'Neill's troops did
+not, as is confidently asserted, number as many as five hundred men;
+while the force of the enemy surrounding him on every side, was
+estimated at an aggregate of some thousands. This he well knew, but he
+had invaded the territories of the ancient and implacable antagonist
+of his country and his name, and he was determined to make another
+Thermopylae of any pass in which he happened to meet the foe, no
+matter how overwhelming their numbers.
+
+This intelligence impressed the Kid with the idea that a battle might
+possibly take place somewhere in the vicinity of Stevensville or
+Ridgeway; as he knew that the leader of the Irish Republican Army, or
+forlorn hope, as so small a body of men might be termed, would attempt
+to intercept a junction of the enemy somewhere near one or the other
+of these points, as both lay on the line between Chippewa and Port
+Colborne, taking the Sodom Road and the Grand Trunk Railway as the
+surest and speediest route between both these latter places. So
+pushing forward, with speed that never slackened, just at the period
+that O'Neill was about to break camp, under the pretence of attacking
+Chippewa, Mr. Stephen Smith arrived at Wilson's door, and after a
+polite double knock was admitted by the mistress of that suspicious
+dwelling.
+
+Martha was soon apprised of his arrival, and while her companion
+trembled throughout every limb with anxiety for the fate of the
+important enquiries which she had kindly consented to make, she
+hastily left the apartment where both had been long seated, conversing
+upon their future and the chances of escape from such a den. On
+perceiving the Kid, although her very soul revolted against the touch
+of his cold, clammy hand, she seemed to welcome him with more than
+ordinary cordiality. She was, of course, both surprised and alarmed at
+the intelligence of the invasion, and the proximity of the two armies;
+for, as yet, not a whisper of it had reached her, so secluded the
+place. He spoke of the necessity of putting the house in a state of
+defence, so as to be ready to meet any contingency; although, as he
+himself averred, he did not apprehend the slightest danger so long as
+the inmates remained within their doors, in case the din of battle was
+heard in the vicinity. As it was, however, the windows were well
+secured, and the heavy, oaken front-door was capable of being rendered
+all but invulnerable by a huge iron bar that could be speedily thrown
+across it into two deep grooves in the posts.
+
+All this having been seen to, some trifling inquiry was made as to
+their lodger, when Mrs. Wilson, understanding previously the intention
+of Martha, and sympathizing with the case of poor Kate, left the
+apartment, as if on some ordinary household affair. Martha now set
+about gaining the information she sought; but with all her art, could
+only ascertain from her suitor, that Kate was in the power of an
+individual who, for some reason unknown to him, had betrayed her into
+Canada, and consigned her, for a time at least, to the place where she
+was now domiciled.
+
+"And were you a party to the abduction of this innocent creature?"
+exclaimed Martha, the blood mounting to her cheeks in real anger and
+disgust.
+
+"Oh! it was all in the way of business," replied the other, "and
+perceiving that it would result in the most pleasant companionship for
+one I so admire, I had the less scruples in furthering the design of a
+good employer."
+
+Let it be understood that this villain had not even the most remote
+idea of the pure nature and true character of Martha. Having seen her
+but a few times, he subjected her moral worth to the standard of that
+of her uncle, and thought, consequently, that the disclosure he now
+made would enhance him in her estimation. In this he was mistaken;
+for, no sooner had he made her thoroughly cognizant of the fact that
+he was not an innocent, but a willing, instrument in the abduction of
+poor Kate, than she sprang to her feet, and with a glance the most
+withering, and full of unconquerable hate and aversion, without a
+single other word, left the apartment and ascended to that of her
+friend.
+
+No sooner had she disappeared than an expression the most demoniacal
+stole over the countenance of Smith. The very devil sat on his brow,
+while his eyes turned absolutely green in their sockets. His thin,
+pale lips glistened again, as he drew them across his sharp, white
+teeth, in an attempt to smile. Looking stealthily about him, while a
+curious expression, still more horrible, replaced the one already
+described, he hastily drew a long knife from a sheath concealed
+beneath his vest, and regarded it for a moment in the light of the
+lamp before him. He knew that every hope of obtaining the hand of
+Martha was lost, and forever; and now for a terrible revenge.
+
+"They are helpless and alone," he muttered, slowly rising to his feet.
+"There is wealth, too, somewhere here; and should I silence them all,
+it will be mine, and their death will be laid at the door of the
+invaders. Besides," he growled, "no suspicion can rest upon me, as I
+am the known friend of Wilson and the family. Nobody saw me come--no
+person shall see me leave. I shall fire the house after having rifled
+it; and conceal whatever I may obtain, in some convenient spot until
+the affair has blown over. Jack and Wilson know too much of me: I am
+tired of them. If needs be, I shall silence them also. I have rare
+work before me. Barry must die; but what shall I profit by killing him
+if I kill this woman also? Who cares! The devil is working with me;
+and now for it! To the foot of the stairs, then; where, as they
+descend, they shall fall one by one without a groan until the rare
+bird of a prisoner is left alone in her room. Then for some wild sport
+and the final blow!"
+
+Having muttered all this to himself, the demon in human shape,
+extinguishing the lamp, sprang forward in the direction of the stairs,
+to await the first who happened to descend: but scarcely had he
+assumed his post of death, before the large oaken door was thrust
+rudely open and two strapping young fellows, armed with a revolver and
+a dirk each, rushed into the apartment, and alarmed all the party up
+stairs by calling aloud for a light, the gleam from the hearth being
+feeble and uncertain.
+
+Instantly the knife of Smith was returned to its sheath, while he
+stepped forward, saying that he had just accidently extinguished the
+lamp in the absence of Mrs. Wilson and Martha, who had run up stairs
+to acquaint a lady friend with the intelligence that he had but that
+moment brought her from Mr. Wilson, regarding the invasion of the
+Province and the proximity, as he had no doubt, of the Fenian and
+Canadian forces.
+
+"That is just the mission we have come on ourselves," returned one of
+the new comers, "as we were apprised that Mr. Wilson was from home,
+and thought that his family would like to know of the dangers that
+possibly surrounded them."
+
+The manly voice of the speaker soon brought Martha and her aunt down
+stairs; and the lamp being speedily relighted, the former advanced
+towards the speaker and taking his extended hand, with a bright eye
+and a flushed cheek, heard all he had to say on the subject which
+occasioned his unceremonious visit.
+
+"One of us will stay with you," he continued, while she thanked him
+for his goodness, "until Mr. Wilson arrives; and although he is not
+over social in his habits, I am sure he will not misconstrue the
+anxiety we feel for the safety of his family."
+
+"Thank you! thank you, Mr. Evans," returned Martha; "we shall feel so
+grateful for your protection; and as to my uncle, I am satisfied he
+cannot be otherwise than obliged to you for this great kindness."
+
+"You stay then, Harry," observed the other stranger, "for I shall move
+on to Ridgeway, as I want to hear what's afloat there. There are
+troops, I know, at Port Colborne, and they ought to be apprised of the
+whereabouts of the enemy, and so should the inhabitants of this
+neighborhood. Mr. Graham, the Collector of Fort Erie, has, I am
+informed, proceeded with information of the enemy to Port Colborne; but
+still there is not yet anything known of their precise location, so
+contradictory are the rumors, not only as to where they are encamped,
+but in relation to their numbers."
+
+"I can satisfy you as to both these circumstances," broke in the Kid,
+with a voice as bland as if murder had not visited his heart for an
+age, "for I heard this evening that they were encamped about four
+hundred strong at Newbiggin's farm, four or five miles down the river
+from Fort Erie; and that they intended to move on towards Chippewa
+about ten o'clock; branching off in the direction of Ridgeway, in the
+hope of meeting the troops coming from Port Colborne, and defeating
+them before they formed a junction with those expected from Chippewa."
+
+"As my cousin Harry will sit up with the family for the remainder of
+the night, then, perhaps you would not mind walking as far as
+Ridgeway," replied the young fellow who had last spoken, "as we are
+sure to have news there; from the fact of the village being on the
+line of the Grand Trunk."
+
+Seeing that his murderous plot was for the time defeated, the Kid made
+no objection to this request; feeling that the darkness and the night,
+as well as any whirl of excitement or debauch, were more in accordance
+with the infernal tone of his spirit, than the conversation of two
+beings, Martha and Evans, whom his keen eye at once discovered to be
+lovers. So bidding the family good night, and not waiting to partake
+of the refreshments offered him after his journey from the Fenian
+camp, he sallied forth with his new acquaintance on the road leading
+to the village.
+
+"Henry," said Martha, when the sound of their receding footsteps had
+died in the distance, "do you know anything of the man Smith who has
+just left us, for you seemed to eye him very intently from the moment
+the lamp was relighted until the door closed behind him this moment?
+We know now, and have often suspected, him to be a villain; but
+circumstances over which we had no control--that is, my aunt and
+myself--have thrown us occasionally into the society of the wretch,
+whom we both loathe and detest."
+
+This interrogatory was put in the absence of Mrs. Wilson, who had
+again sought the apartment of Kate to tell her all that had just
+transpired. It seemed to embarrass the young man for a moment; but
+recovering himself, he frankly replied--
+
+"I have seen that man frequently in Buffalo. Not long since, he was
+pointed out to me as a most dangerous character who was under the
+surveillance of the police; and, as you may be well assured, I was
+astounded to find him here and at such an hour."
+
+"Oh!" returned Martha, "he has been here often, Henry, and what I now
+fear is, that my uncle is leagued with him, not only in the most
+frightfully dishonest practices, but in the abduction, at the instance
+of some other villain, of a good and pure young creature who, a few
+nights ago, was brought here by them under the pretense that it was
+the wish of her lover that she should accompany them where this wretch
+would--a pretense that disguised itself under a veritable token
+procured in some way from her betrothed, and evidently used without
+his sanction or knowledge."
+
+"I believe your uncle to be a bad man, Martha," returned Evans, "but
+the fault is not yours; and besides, there is not a single drop of his
+blood in your veins. I am convinced, also, that your aunt knows it,
+and that it is that which so wastes her away and destroys the whole
+sunshine of her life. I have long felt it; and were it not for the
+dread of paining you through exposure, I should ere this have directed
+the attention of the authorities to some circumstances affecting his
+character and honesty, that came under my own notice; for, Martha,
+dear, but a few hours since, as I may say, I was an accidental witness
+of an incident which more than confirms all the suspicions that have
+so long rested on him."
+
+"I know! I know?" interrupted Martha, while she hid her face in her
+hands and wept in bitter agony, "but go on!"
+
+"When," resumed Evans, "two or three nights ago, believing Wilson to
+be from home--for I shall no longer call him your uncle, he being, in
+truth, no relation whatever of yours,--I stole up from our place to
+say a few words to you and urge you to quit this house and become my
+wife. I was astonished to see a light in the stable as I crept by it;
+and looking into one of the windows. I perceived this man leaning over
+a large case filled with valuables that had evidently been stolen by
+him, or by some of his accomplices, who had entrusted them to his safe
+keeping until the noise of the robbery had blown over. I saw this, I
+saw with my own eyes; and now that you are aware of it, can you
+longer remain beneath this roof?"
+
+"It is true! alas! too true," sobbed Martha, "for I myself saw the
+very same case; and then it was, that for the first time, a full sense
+of his horrible vocation fell upon me and the poor woman that he calls
+his wife. Of course, Henry, I shall quit this place, and forever; but
+until this horrible din is over, and the poor creature up stairs
+placed in some safe hands, I shall bear my terrible lot as best I
+can."
+
+"Rightly spoken, dear Martha," returned Henry, kissing off her tears,
+"and I trust that this lady of whom you speak, will prove herself
+worthy your kindness and esteem."
+
+"No fear of that, dear Henry," returned the maiden, "my heart tells me
+that she is as good as she is beautiful, and I know, not only from her
+own lips, but from what has transpired this very night, that she is
+the victim of some foul plot yet to be punished and explained."
+
+"And where has she come from, and what is her name?" rejoined Henry,
+evidently becoming interested in the fate of our heroine.
+
+"Her home is in Buffalo," replied Martha, "and her name is Kate
+M'Carthy."
+
+"By heaven!" exclaimed Evans, leaping to his feet as if the house were
+falling, "where is she? where is she? Lead me to her at once!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+Had General O'Neill not entertained strong hopes he should be
+re-inforced, knowing, as he did, that a large body of Fenian troops
+were scattered along the American frontier, under the command of brave
+and true men, he would have broken camp with a sad heart on the night
+of the first. No man in existence was more thoroughly aware than he,
+that, 'though brave as lions, the force at his command was altogether
+too small to effect anything permanent upon the soil of the enemy. The
+most he hoped to achieve, was a footing, until his command had
+acquired sufficient strength to enable him to move upon some of the
+important towns of the Upper Province. Of the dangers and perils that
+surrounded him he was fully aware; but he knew, also, that, now that
+he had crossed the Rubicon, how fatal it would be to the prestige of
+the cause of Ireland, to retreat again to the American shore without
+measuring swords with the foe, no matter what their numbers, and, if
+needs be, illustrating, with a handful of men, the spirit resolve and
+bravery which, long previously, fostered by the noble Roberts and
+Gibbons, etc., fired the whole Organization on this great continent,
+and placed the ultimate independence of Ireland beyond any possible
+contingency. O'Neill was just the man to make this impression, and to
+seize upon every circumstance calculated to aid him in the attempt.
+Fresh from the fields of the South, where his sword and name were a
+watchword and a tower of strength when danger was to be met in the
+gap, he was used to war in all its phases; while the fierce leaven of
+his patriotism and the mighty promptings of his ancient name, now that
+he had made a descent upon the enemy of his country and his race,
+rendered him almost invincible. Though small his band, he knew that
+each man who had accompanied him thus far was a host in himself, and
+ennobled by a spirit identical with that which prompted him in the
+main. And now the hour had arrived when he should show the enemy and
+the world that numbers were as nothing in the sight of the God of
+battles. Besides, he felt it, as a mere matter of generalship,
+incumbent upon him to maintain, if possible, a foothold or rallying
+point for whatever reinforcements might follow him, as well as keep
+open the line of communication with the shores he had but just left.
+In short, critically as he was placed, and regarding his little host
+as the vanguard of freedom, he determined to sacrifice himself and
+them to a man, if necessary, in maintaining his ground until
+thoroughly satisfied of the truth of his fears that President Roberts,
+deceived, like the Organization generally, in the capacity of the
+Secretary of War, was no longer able to send reinforcements or further
+a movement calculated to sweep the Province from Sandwich to Quebec.
+In this way matters stood with him on the night that he left his camp
+at Newbiggin's Farm. He was aware that two large bodies of the enemy's
+troops were marching upon him from two opposite points, and that to
+permit them to form a junction would be to court utter annihilation.
+As before observed, then, he set out at the hour already named, with a
+view to getting between them and defeating the one before the other
+came up. In his sublime enthusiasm he invested each individual of his
+command with the purposes and attributes of a hero, and felt that a
+body so constituted, so compact and so easily handled, could be slung
+with fearful effect against almost any number of men who had no heart
+in the fight, save that which was engendered by an uneasy and
+uncomfortable sentiment of badly founded loyalty to the flag of a
+tyrant, or that degrading spirit of hireling hostility, which changed
+its force and direction, in accordance with the amount of gold offered
+by the subsidizing party.
+
+Moved by impulses so noble and disinterested, the whole camp now
+marched away in the direction of Chippewa, burning the bridges behind
+them, to a point some five or six miles distant, where the
+reconnoitering party, under the command of Col. Hoy, had been ordered
+to wait until the main body of the troops came up, and to the left of
+which Gen. O'Neill hoped to intercept some one of the two hostile
+forces that were, as he was perfectly convinced, moving against him
+from opposite points of the compass.
+
+In the rear of the moving camp followed Black Jack and Wilson, at a
+very respectful distance; they being comfortably seated in the wagon
+of the latter, that had been brought cautiously from its hiding place,
+when the steady tramp of the rear guard of the army had died away.
+
+"What a pity it is," said Wilson, as the team crawled slowly along,
+"that we have no chance to take the number of a few of those self-same
+invaders from behind a tree or log; for I find the English blood
+beginning to stir within me."
+
+"Vot's to be gained by it," returned Black Jack, "seein as 'ow there's
+no use in cuttin a vizzen or scuttlin a nob, unless there's some svag
+at the end on it? For my own part," he continued, "I'd rather that ve
+should try our luck among some of the farmers or gentry about here;
+although I'm certain they're purty vide avake seem as vot's afoot just
+now."
+
+"Yes! yes!" returned the other, "that's all well enough in its way;
+but as we can't hope to accomplish much until there's a fight between
+the invaders and the invaded, I should like, if an opportunity turned
+up, to thin out a few of those green jackets while we hid the horses
+hard by and waited the result of the conflict."
+
+"Vell! vell!" replied Jack, "there vouldn't be much 'arm in tryin our
+'and in that vay, as ven ve got a chance ve might step into the ranks
+of the Hinglish and give them a lift; ven, if needs be, ve could slip
+out again and take our luck in the trail of the fight, pickin hup
+votever might drop in the vay."
+
+About midnight the troops came up with Col. Hoy's party, and after
+marching a considerable distance and then taking a couple of hours
+rest, the whole force made a cautious detour towards the direct line
+leading from Ridgeway to Chippewa; O'Neill being satisfied that he had
+already intercepted the junction of the British, and should be able to
+engage and defeat either one party or the other before they could both
+unite.
+
+In this way the night was passed; every precaution being taken to
+guard against ambush or surprise, until morning became well advanced,
+and the invaders, after having emerged from a swamp through which they
+had marched, found themselves within three or four miles of Ridgeway.
+
+It was at this point and period that the Kid, after leaving Greaves,
+had come up with, or rather encountered, the wagon with Black Jack and
+Wilson, who, as usual, kept moving slowly in the rear of the troops
+and sniffing, like blood-hounds or vultures, their prey in the
+distance.
+
+As observed in a previous chapter, the two worthies had scarcely
+welcomed their companion or seen him comfortably seated beside them,
+before they were all aroused by the report of fire-arms, apparently
+ahead of the main body of the troops, which, as near as they could
+calculate, was about half a mile in advance. It was at this moment
+that the brave Col. Starr, who commanded the advance, got the first
+glimpse of the outposts of the enemy, which he at once charged and
+drove in like so many sheep; and this was the music heard by Wilson
+and his companions. Shortly afterwards, the main body of the enemy,
+commanded by Lieut. Col. Booker, from Port Colborne, were discovered,
+and the battle was opened by a speedy and judicious disposition of the
+Fenian forces, and the hasty throwing up of a rail barricade from
+behind which some of the Boys in Green commenced their work of
+destruction; while others of them kept the British skirmishers in hand
+in the woods hard by, and in a manner the most cool and artistic.
+
+Any person who gets a view of Major Dennison's map, in the work
+already mentioned, representing the disposition of the two
+antagonistic forces at Ridgeway, will at once be struck with the
+overwhelming numbers of that under the command of Col. Booker,
+compared with the compactness and fewness of the troops commanded by
+General O'Neill. In this chart we have the whole field studded, on the
+British side, with Highlanders, York Rifles, Trinity College
+Companies, University Rifles, the Queen's Own and the 13th Field
+Battery, etc.; while on the side of the Army of the Irish Republic, as
+the diagram shows, we have but a handful of men, without artillery,
+and with but very few mounted officers. The circumstances under which
+the forces met, were favorable to Col. Booker, also; for not only had
+the British the advantage of a great superiority in numbers, stores
+and equipments, but they were engaged at their own doors, in the midst
+of a passive or friendly element, and with unlimited supplies and
+resources at their command; while, on the contrary, the men under
+General O'Neill were but poorly equipped, without supplies or proper
+ammunition--their bullets having, in some instances, to be pared on
+the field with a knife before they fitted the bore of their
+rifles--and were in the midst of an enemy's country, surrounded on all
+sides by hostile battalions, and with but a slight hope of being
+reinforced before the enemy came down in overwhelming numbers upon
+them. This was a critical position, and well calculated to dismay any
+man less bold and courageous than O'Neill; but frightful as it was, he
+saw the necessity of accepting the situation. He remembered having, on
+the battle fields of the South, with but twenty men, defeated two
+hundred of a force under Hamilton, and run them in helpless disorder
+for a distance of thirteen miles; killing five of them with his own
+hand. He remembered, in addition, having, with a command of but fifty,
+charged, on the same fields, in defence of the American Union, two
+different regiments of the enemy, routed them, and recaptured the
+officers and guns of the Republic that had been previously taken by
+them; and remembering all this, his heart rose within him, and he felt
+that with his little band of Spartans, few as they were in number, he
+could work a double miracle when he met the tyrant of his name, his
+country and his race face to face. And so he did not stoop to measure
+the forces that were surrounding him; well knowing that, if all came
+to all, and that, if it were necessary for him to fall back upon the
+American shore, he could cut his way through them; as he was inclined
+to regard their numbers as but simple encumbrances to themselves;
+feeling, as he did, that they could be neither disciplined nor
+actuated by any proud impulses such as fired his own troops and his
+own bosom.
+
+Buoyed with this spirit, and moved by the conviction that the eyes of
+the world were upon him, the first glimpse of the enemy was as one of
+sunshine to him; and as he looked around him and saw his brave
+officers and men towering and immoveable as cliffs in the presence of
+the angry deep, the strange fire so noticeable sometimes in his eye,
+blazed forth as though his soul went out in flame through each glaring
+orb; and the work of death had begun.
+
+The battle of Ridgeway was commenced by skirmishers who were posted on
+both sides, among the woods and orchards with which that locality
+abounds; and although for some short period but little life was lost
+on the part of either the British or the Fenians, the daring of the
+latter had evidently confused and, in a degree, paralyzed the former
+from the first. In the woods, they gave the Highlanders a dreadful
+overhauling, and when pressed by numbers they steadily fell back upon
+the main body, with advantage to themselves and with loss to their
+opponents. When once aware of their position, and the great odds
+against them, in the incredible space of ten minutes, they threw up a
+breastwork of rails, from behind which they now began to deal the most
+deadly havoc amongst the enemy. The men engaged in more exposed
+positions, performed absolute miracles of valor, and charged the foe
+in the face of the most galling fire, until they actually touched
+their bayonets, and then poured in the murderous volley that shattered
+their ranks and strewed the field with their wounded and dying. As we
+learn from Major Denison, of the British forces, the Fenian officers
+were ever in front of their men, cheering them on to death or victory,
+and evincing such instances of true bravery as commanded the
+admiration of even those against whom they fought. Individual acts of
+the most terrible daring were performed by them, and so generally did
+the whole of O'Neil's staff, including his gallant Aid-de-Camp, Lieut.
+Rudolph Fitzpatrick, as well as all the officers of the various
+companies, participate in the dreadful struggle, that even to this
+hour no writer has attempted to give any one of them pre-eminence over
+the other. And so of the rank and file, also. Scarce a single man of
+them, at one period, but was spattered with the blood of the enemy;
+and never did a solitary knot of them give way, for an instant, before
+any force that they were ordered to withstand. Wherever they moved the
+dead and wounded tumbled before them, until, fatigued by the frightful
+heat of the weather, they were, from time to time, constrained to
+pause in their dreadful work.
+
+The engagement had continued for about an hour, when the brave Lieut.
+Lonergan bit the dust, while a cheer for Ireland struggled through the
+death rattle in his throat. He fell, a true hero and patriot, and well
+was his death avenged; for no sooner had its intelligence spread
+through his company, than its members became absolute tigers, and
+literally glutted themselves with blood. Then it was, that the
+Sun-burst carried through that hot field, from beginning to end, by
+Sergeant John Smith, of the 7th I.R.A., company G, might be seen
+flying where the enemy was thickest, surrounded by a struggling band,
+each of which was a host himself. Then it was, that the wild cry of
+"Erin go bragh!" smote on the ear of the foe like a death knell,
+paralyzed all their energies, and froze the warm current in their
+heart. At that moment a dozen men in green were worth a regiment of
+the material he fought against; and thus it was, that the enemy
+determined to mass all their forces against the gallant O'Neill, who
+stood like a rock amid the dreadful conflict, giving his orders with
+as much coolness as if he were dictating a letter; and, while the
+bullets whistled about him like hail, applauding the noble deeds of
+his men and officers, the next moment to be whirled into the dreadful
+_melee_ himself.
+
+With the keen, quick eye of a soldier, O'Neill perceived the intention
+of his adversary, who had, now, as he saw clearly, made up his mind to
+mass all his force against the Fenian troops and flank them. At this
+point the Boys in Green were ordered to fall steadily back and take up
+a new position, some distance in the rear of their rail barricade. The
+movement was performed in the most masterly manner; while the enemy
+continued to extend his wings--both right and left. On perceiving it,
+however, he construed it, as it was intended he should, into a
+retreat, and paused for a moment to consider what was best to be done.
+While deliberating, however, O'Neill, who had in vain been for some
+time endeavoring to draw out his centre, perceiving that the moment
+had arrived, sounded the charge, and, the next instant, the whole
+compact body of the invaders, with himself and his officers at their
+head, were thundering down, with the sweep of the Cyclone, upon the
+weak and startled centre of the foe, crashing through it like a
+cavalcade of thunder bolts, and scattering the whole of the English
+forces like chaff before the wind!
+
+In the twinkling of an eye the enemy was flying in every direction
+before the victorious army of the Irish Republic! In their ignoble
+flight they divested themselves of all the clothing they could
+decently spare, and of everything that could tend to impede their
+progress! The field was strown with their great coats, knapsacks,
+rifles, and musical instruments belonging to their bands. Their dead
+and dying were left unheeded, and in every direction lay the
+unmistakable evidences of their sudden disaster and hopeless defeat.
+The compactness and dreadful resolve of the force slung against them
+by O'Neill, and the masterly way in which the bolt was hurled, at once
+bid defiance to all their pre-conceived ideas of fighting, or of the
+wonders that could be attained by a handful of brave men, commanded by
+a dauntless and experienced soldier; so, that their rumored attempt at
+rallying is supposed to have originated in a desire on the part of
+their historian, to lessen the disgrace of their defeat in the eyes of
+the people of Canada; for it is well known, that so hot and heavy was
+the pursuit, that they not only had no time to rally, but so intent
+was each one of them on effecting his own personal safety, that all
+discipline was at an end; until the Fenians, on perceiving that they
+were not yet reinforced, felt it advisable, notwithstanding their
+success, to fall back on Fort Erie, for the purpose of keeping their
+line of communication open with the American shore.
+
+And yet until this disaster had overtaken them, the British troops
+fought well, considering the incentives they had to stake their lives
+on the field of battle. Nor were the Queen's Own, who suffered so
+severely in this tremendous charge, and who fled so panic-stricken
+before it, a whit behind, in courage, some of the companies who appear
+to have escaped with less censure from the Canadian public, in
+relation to the loss of this important field. The Queen's Own, as we
+are creditably informed, came up well to the mark on more than one
+occasion; and only gave way before such a charge as that which carried
+the day at Fontenoy, and which was, at the period, absolutely
+irresistible.
+
+Barry and his comrades of the Canadian Fort fought throughout the
+whole morning with the most heroic courage. In several hand to hand
+encounters he performed prodigies of valor, and once thought he
+perceived the Kid and Black Jack, together with Wilson whom he saw in
+their company at Newbiggin's farm, fighting on the English side. In
+this he was not mistaken; for these three worthies, on discovering the
+superior force of the British, at once concealed their horses and
+wagon in a sheltered hollow hard by the field, and making a detour
+through the woods on the verge of which they were passing, joined in
+the engagement, against the men who had treated them so well but a few
+hours previously. This they accomplished immediately after Col. Starr
+had driven in the outposts of the enemy, and when they had ascertained
+that the English forces outnumbered the invaders to an extent which,
+as they supposed, rendered the success of the latter totally out of
+the question.
+
+While on one occasion, Nicholas was engaged with a Highlander whom he
+was pressing hard, a ball grazed his shoulder, evidently fired
+stealthily from behind a neighboring tree. A glance in the direction
+revealed the form of the Kid retreating from the spot and seeking
+shelter behind another, around which were gathered a few of the enemy
+who were paying some attention to a wounded officer. This struck him
+as strange; but as he had other work in hand, he permitted his
+cowardly assailant to escape for the moment. Later in the day,
+however, he caught yet another sight of him, and was satisfied that he
+had made a second deadly attempt upon his life. In this way the matter
+stood touching this peculiar case, until the total rout of the forces
+and their retreat towards Ridgeway village; when Barry, left with a
+few men to look after the dead and wounded while the main body pursued
+the fugitives, had yet another opportunity of testing the kindly
+intentions of Smith; for while he and four or five others were
+collecting the dead into one particular spot beneath a huge elm, in
+the vicinity of a house near which the greatest carnage had taken
+place, another ball whizzed by his ear; and the next moment the door
+of the building opened and out rushed half a dozen men, armed to the
+teeth, and laying one of his party dead at his feet with the only
+bullet that had taken effect out of a volley that had been fired as
+they rushed forward to overwhelm him in a hand to hand struggle.
+
+The assailants were now six to five, but Barry soon made the numbers
+more equal, and the fight becoming desperate, two of his antagonists
+closed with him, who appeared to be men of tremendous activity and
+great personal courage. What seemed strangest, however, in the whole
+of this sudden attack, was, all the party that rushed from the house
+were masked, although he was satisfied that one of them, at least, was
+the Kid. The contest had continued for about eight or ten minutes when
+one of his assailants was stretched at his feet by an unseen hand; the
+other taking immediate flight. He looked around,--a stranger stood by
+his side. He was a handsome young man dressed in the plain garb of a
+farmer. Anxious to learn how the rest of his comrades fared, while
+thanking his new ally for his timely assistance, he glanced in the
+direction in which they fought; all save one was wounded but their
+antagonists lay beside them dead or dying. Begging the stranger to
+render him some assistance in staunching the blood of those who still
+survived, and removing them to a shed belonging to the house hard by,
+he discovered that his fallen adversary, who lay quite senseless from
+the blow he had received, now seemed to be bleeding profusely from
+some wound inflicted by himself; although until that moment he had not
+noticed it. His enemy had fought with a long, keen dagger after he had
+discharged his rifle and thrown it away, while the fugitive used one
+of the ordinary rifle-bayonets in his attack. The superb swordsmanship
+of their intended victim, however, was more than a match for them, and
+would, in all probability have triumphed of itself had not the contest
+been broken in upon in the manner already described.
+
+In the course of a very few moments, the sufferers were removed from
+out the broiling sun to the shed just mentioned, where they were cared
+for as well as circumstances would permit--the stranger passing to and
+from the adjoining house with the necessary bandages, water, etc.
+
+While removing the masks of two of the assailing party, who appeared
+to be mortally wounded, for the purpose of giving them the draft of
+water they had so earnestly though feebly implored, as Barry
+suspected, one of them was the Kid. The other was Wilson, whose last
+midnight journey had evidently been performed, as he was sinking fast,
+and that, too, without having gratified his love of plunder in a
+single instance connected with the invasion from which he and his two
+companions had anticipated so much. Outside, beneath a huge elm, lay
+Black Jack stone dead, from a frightful bayonet wound in his throat.
+His mask had fallen off in his death struggles, which must have been
+frightful, judging from the manner in which his clothes were covered
+with dust and the way in which the earth was kicked up all around him.
+Never was a more horrible face turned in such hideous blindness on the
+sun. His eyes were staring wide open, and his huge mouth, fringed with
+blood-stained froth, seemed stretched in demoniacal laughter at some
+horrid and unearthly orgy in which he was about to join. The sight was
+actually appalling; and Barry turned away from it in utter loathing to
+minister to those who were yet within the reach of human aid.
+
+Although, dangerously wounded, he found that, unlike the same number
+of their comrades who lay stretched on the green sward without, his
+two companions who had been brought to the earth without being killed,
+were not beyond the reach of hope. With their antagonists, however, it
+was different; and now that Barry perceived the Kid; or Smith as we
+shall now call him, was fast approaching his end, in the great anxiety
+that he felt concerning the fate of his beloved, he knelt beside him
+and implored him to give him any information that he might possess
+regarding her, and so atone, before he crossed the threshold of the
+grave, for any wrong that he might have been instrumental in doing her
+through the machinations of others.
+
+The dying man raised his heavy eyelids for a moment and ere they
+dropped again, managed, as if by one last effort, to point towards the
+prostrate form of the principal antagonist of our hero, who still lay
+insensible a short distance from him. His chest labored wildly for a
+few seconds, but before he could ejaculate a single word, a sudden
+spirt of blood leaped from his mouth and he was dead. Wilson had
+passed away more slowly and less perceptibly. From the moment he had
+been removed to the shed he spoke but once; and that was when he
+uttered a feeble cry for water. On beholding the latter dead, the
+stranger, who had lent such timely aid to our hero, regarded the
+silent form with a curious expression of countenance, and then turned
+away towards the house. In the meantime, the man who had for so far
+lain insensible, began to recover slowly. Hitherto, his mask which hid
+but half his face, leaving his mouth and chin uncovered, had not been
+removed; but now, as if in some uneasy dream, his trembling hand tore
+it mechanically away, revealing, to the utter astonishment of Barry,
+the hooked nose and ghastly countenance of Greaves!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+Had O'Neill a single troop of cavalry when he broke the British lines
+at Ridgeway, the 2d day of June, 1866, would have been the darkest
+that had ever occurred in the annals of Canada. He would have
+literally annihilated all the forces that were brought against him on
+that field, and struck such terror to the heart of the enemy, as to
+have still farther paralysed their volunteer service and destroyed the
+confidence of the Canadian people in the vaunted invincibility of the
+arms of England for many a long day, if not for all time to come. But
+owing to circumstances already referred to, he fought under every
+disadvantage possible to an invading army. Still, as the case stood,
+his triumph was not the less brilliant or decisive. He routed the
+enemy, horse and foot; and had he been in a position to dispose of
+prisoners, he could have taken a very large number with scarcely any
+effort; from the fact, that after the fearful charge that had broken
+through their lines, they became completely panic stricken and
+demoralized. As he pursued the flying forces towards Ridgeway, what he
+would have given for a few mounted riflemen or dragoons; but as a
+signal and glorious defeat was more his object than the spilling of
+blood, he now felt, unsustained as he was, it would be wise to fall
+back upon Fort Erie, in the hope that reinforcements had arrived
+there, although he was unable to leave even the smallest handful of a
+garrison to maintain the foothold he had so far achieved. Seeing there
+was nothing further to gain but everything to lose by remaining longer
+in a position he could not by any possibility maintain, in view of the
+hostile forces that he knew would soon be pouring down upon him from
+other quarters, he paused on the verge of the carnage that he might
+have wrought still further, and addressed himself to securing the
+safety of his little band of heroes and occupying some position on the
+frontier from whence he could, if hard set, effect his transit across
+the river, or take up a final stand, fighting until the last man fell
+in his ranks, if necessary to the success of any landings that he
+might learn of as having taken place on the Canadian shore at other
+points, or in view of the intention of the authorities at Buffalo to
+reinforce him, and enable him to pursue the campaign, so gloriously
+opened, with renewed hope and vigor.
+
+The news of the disastrous defeat of the British arms spread like
+wild-fire; throwing the inhabitants in the immediate vicinity of
+Ridgeway, as well as those of the village itself, into a state of the
+most fearful consternation. Houses were barricaded and property
+concealed in the full anticipation that the conquerors would act upon
+the world-wide maxim, "to the victors belong the spoils." But, as we
+have already seen, it was the government and not the peasantry or
+people of the country that O'Neill had come to overthrow. No better
+evidence of this could be afforded than that shown by the
+circumstance, that, although two infamous and relentless robbers, and
+their scarcely less culpable acquaintance and friend, Wilson, had, for
+two days and two nights, followed in the wake of his army, not a
+single opportunity was afforded them of joining any portion of his
+command in a stealthy raid upon the habitations or any of the people,
+or of taking an advantage of the confusion and lawlessness which
+almost invariably surround the camp of an invader. From first to last,
+his troops observed with singular fidelity, his order that the lives
+and property of the Canadians not found in arms against him, should be
+held as most sacred. And in no instance, although the temptations were
+various and marked, was this injunction violated. On this head, Major
+Denison himself is most explicit; and when we have the testimony of an
+enemy upon the subject, the most exacting incredulity cannot look for
+more conclusive evidence in the premises.
+
+As already observed, when the rout and confusion of the English
+commenced, they fled in all directions; but their main body set off,
+at full speed, for Ridgeway, through which village, and for a mile
+beyond it, they were pursued by the Irish forces. As was to be
+expected, their wounded and dying strewed the way; while those who
+were thoroughly acquainted with the locality made their escape to the
+shelter of whatever woods or dwellings were to be found along the line
+of retreat, without actually bordering upon it. Amongst these latter
+were Greaves and the persons who made such a sudden and deadly attack
+upon Barry while engaged in looking after the dead and wounded that
+were found convenient to the house already referred to. This
+habitation ought to have been well known to one of the party at least;
+for it was neither more nor less than the residence of Wilson, in
+which Kate M'Carthy and Martha and her aunt had barricaded themselves,
+in the apartment of the former, after having secured the outer doors,
+when they heard the tide of war rolling towards them. Wilson,
+understanding how the case stood with them, when he found he could not
+gain admission, and being sensible that they could not hear his voice,
+hastily effected an entrance by a window in a sort of out kitchen,
+attached to the rear of the building, and soon admitted his
+companions; re-bolting the door, and running up stairs to warn the
+other inmates of the house not to speak or stir, but remain barricaded
+as they were, until they heard from him again. This done, he descended
+to where his comrades were, and was about to make some observation,
+when the Kid instantly drew the attention of Greaves to the party who
+were collecting the dead and wounded hard by, among whom he at once
+recognized Barry. In the twinkling of an eye, the countenance of
+Greaves was lit with an expression the most revolting; and turning to
+his companions he exclaimed in a low, hissing voice--
+
+"Now, my countrymen, we can avenge ourselves in part, at least, for
+the disasters of the morning. There stand some of the most active and
+dangerous of the army of the invader, and it is for us to take signal
+vengeance on them, and not permit a single one of them to escape out
+of our hands. We must not risk firing upon them at a distance so
+great; as should we chance to miss a single shot, they would be sure
+to slip beyond our reach. Let us rush out upon them then, with such
+arms as we have at our command; and after giving them a volley pounce
+upon them knife in hand, for they appear quite unconscious of any
+impending danger. Above all things, do not let that officer escape. He
+is the most deadly enemy we have had to encounter to-day. Let him, at
+least, be despatched without fail, and one thousand dollars shall be
+distributed amongst you the moment I find him a corpse before my
+eyes."
+
+The Kid, Jack and Wilson understood all this; for the first of the
+villains had explained previously to the latter two, that Greaves was
+interested to an unaccountable extent, in the death of Barry; and had,
+on that very morning, before he left Ridgeway, promised him a round
+sum if he managed to despatch him in any way; whether by stealth, or
+otherwise. This he attempted, as we have already seen; but hitherto
+without the desired effect; so that, now, when his game was within his
+reach, and where he felt that he should be the gainer, no matter by
+whom our hero was laid low, he immediately fell into this second
+proposition, as did all the others who stood around him.
+
+In a few moments, then, Wilson procured the masks already noticed;
+they being a portion of his stock in trade, and loading the three
+rifles they had at their command, the door was stealthily opened and
+the assault made, which had resulted in such disaster to themselves.
+
+When Barry had recovered from the utter surprise occasioned by the
+presence of Greaves, and overcome the speechless astonishment into
+which it had thrown him, he knelt down beside the wounded man, and
+began to examine into the extent of his injuries. At first a few flesh
+wounds about the shoulders and arms were all that he could discover;
+and as these had bled freely, he fancied that the feeble condition of
+the wretch, was attributable simply to a loss of blood; and, now, that
+his wounds had been staunched, he believed he should gradually recover
+strength, so as to be able to offer some explanation of his presence
+in that part of the Province, as well as of the circumstances in which
+he now found himself. On a closer examination, however, and just about
+half an inch below the nipple of his left breast, the young soldier
+perceived a small discolored wound, evidently made with the point of
+his own sword during the struggle that had just terminated, and from
+which not a single drop of blood had flowed, outwardly at least. Here,
+without a doubt, all the danger lay; and as our hero was not versed in
+injuries, beyond the reach of external applications, all he could do
+was to bathe the bitter, little, blue or discolored orifice--the lips
+of which seemed to be pressed together in a vicious sort of manner--in
+some of the water that had been previously procured at the adjoining
+house, when the wounded men were removed from the open field. During
+this operation the eyes of Greaves were steadily fixed upon him, and
+when he had again bathed the wound and adjusted the head of the
+unfortunate sufferer on a pillow made of some hay found in one corner
+of the shed, the lips of the patient became as it were suddenly
+unsealed, while the light of a larger intelligence, rushed full into
+his eyes. At this period the wounded companions of our hero were
+comparatively easy, on the temporary couch made for them by the
+stranger, just before he disappeared and entered the dwelling a second
+time; so that, for the moment, there was not much to distract his
+attention from anything that Greaves might vouchsafe to say, some
+terrible foreboding having just rushed into his mind, based upon the
+dying intimation of Smith, that the man who lay thus helpless and for
+aught he knew dying before him, was in some way connected with the
+fate of his betrothed.
+
+Scarcely had the conviction seized upon him, when Greaves motioned him
+to draw nearer. On eagerly complying with the request, he bent his ear
+almost to the lips of the sufferer, who breathed with great
+difficulty, and whose voice was scarcely audible, so weak had he
+become. As though by some effort of his indomitable will, however, he
+managed to collect all his energies into his tongue and throat; and
+after whispering through his compressed and pallid lips the single
+word "listen!" began slowly as follows:
+
+"I am Edward Philip Darcy. I have lost, for I know that my hour has
+come!"
+
+At the mention of the name "Darcy," Barry sprang to his feet! Before
+him lay the son of the man to whose machinations all Kate's poverty
+and hardships were clearly traceable. He it was that was now concerned
+in the Chancery suit, the decision of which was to be replete with
+such serious results, as he presumed, to Kate. His father had been
+dead for some time, and had bequeathed his interest in the case to
+him! He was the only person living who could stand in the way of the
+property it involved being placed in the hands of its lawful heir; for
+the claims of Darcy, whatever they might be, expired with this, his
+only son, and the last of his name and race. The consideration was
+startling in the extreme; but as our hero saw how necessary it was to
+command his feelings, and listen to whatever Greaves, or Darcy, as we
+shall now call him, intended to say, he resumed his position and
+listened, as the wounded man continued:--
+
+"I worshipped gold and power; and as there was some fear of the suit,
+of which you have often heard, being decided against as, on the death
+of my father, I stepped into his shoes, as a man who could make
+himself useful to the Government, and as one, in these troublous
+times, pre-eminently calculated to dip into the secrets of Fenianism
+at home and abroad, and apprise the British authorities of its power,
+aims and objects, as well as make them acquainted with all its plans
+and prospects. Although I now surmise I had really to do with the
+Privy Council itself, I was ostensibly employed by an important
+official connected with the Castle of Dublin, who, besides paying me
+liberally for my services, promised to influence the Court of Chancery
+in my favor, touching the decision now pending; provided that, after
+doing all I could to unearth the leaders and plans of Fenianism in
+Ireland, I crossed the Atlantic and commenced operations upon the
+Brotherhood in America, of which the Canadian government seemed unable
+to say much that was definite, however they might have apprehended
+mischief from this quarter. It was known at home, that but little
+confidence could be placed in the efficiency and honesty of a Cabinet
+that tolerated a shuffling inebriate at its head; so that from the
+contradictory official documents reaching the Castle from Canada,
+through the Imperial authorities, it was, I suppose, deemed advisable
+to send me out to learn something of the true state of the case.
+Influenced thus, I set about my work with right good will; and after
+doing what I could in Ireland, started for this country, with Fenian
+credentials that, I need not inform you, were obtained through the
+treason of one of the Organization who had gained admission into the
+Brotherhood for the simple purpose of betraying it; but who was not
+sufficiently deep in its plans and confidence to damage it mortally.
+
+"But the strongest inducement I had to visit America was the
+circumstance of Kate McCarthy's having emigrated to that country, and
+a desire which I had long felt of gaining her affections and, if
+possible, making her my wife; for notwithstanding all the promises of
+the Castle, I was fearful that the Chancery suit would go against
+me--a suspicion heightened by the conviction of my lawyer. I knew, of
+course, all about your engagement to her, but being aware of your
+having entered the army, and of your having, through an adverse fate,
+been separated from her by two seas, I thought that I should be able
+to estrange her feelings and love from you, and make her mine before
+you again saw her face. But here I had deceived myself. She was not to
+be moved, and I was repulsed at every point, until, maddened by
+repeated failures, I determined to make her mine by force. Under the
+name of Edward Lauder, I first was introduced to her, having managed
+to trace her from Quebec to Toronto, after rendering good service to
+the home government in the former city. From the first moment she
+beheld me, she seemed to entertain an aversion towards me; and when
+she became aware of my intentions regarding herself, and heard my
+repeated insinuations touching the general faithlessness and bad
+character of private soldiers on foreign service, all semblance of
+cordiality was at an end between us; and soon, perceiving that her
+friends favored my suit, she left Toronto and took up her abode with
+some relatives in Buffalo."
+
+Here the wounded man became faint and silent; but Nicholas, anxious to
+hear all he had to say, bathed his brow and moistened his lips with
+the water which still stood in a large wooden vessel by his side. This
+seemed to refresh and revive his spirits; so that he soon continued,
+although with increasing difficulty.
+
+"I knew that your regiment was stationed in the city where I first met
+you; and the thought struck me, that if I could separate you both
+forever, by betraying you into some act that would consign you to a
+dungeon or penal servitude for life, or else make away with you
+secretly, I should have some hope of accomplishing my designs
+regarding her; and, in case the Chancery suit was decided against me,
+reap the full advantages of it after all.
+
+"With this scheme deep within me, I followed her to Buffalo, and there
+became acquainted with the two men that I saw fall a short time since,
+who had engaged with me, for a certain sum, to keep their eyes upon
+all her movements whenever I was absent from that city, and obey me in
+everything, even to her forcible abduction into Canada, if necessary.
+These men I knew to be desperate characters; so when I made this
+arrangement with them, and was well assured that they would carry it
+out if needs be, I started at once in your direction to see what
+opportunities might there present themselves in furtherance of the
+design that now seemed to absorb my whole being.
+
+"A man like me, easily found out your city-whereabouts; and, as you
+are already aware, shortly after my arrival I formed your acquaintance
+and that of O'Brien, whom I previously learned to be a relative of
+Miss McCarthy, to whom, since you had been quartered in the Fort, she
+had already paid a couple of visits. Soon learning your Fenian
+tendencies, and hearing that you had applied for your discharge and
+expected to receive it immediately, I determined if possible, to
+prevent your becoming a freeman on British soil, and to goad you into
+desertion; as it was rumored, that your regiment was soon to be called
+home, and knowing that you would never accompany it, even though your
+discharge were denied you. My object then was, to do, what I actually
+did do the morning I accompanied you to the Fort. While you were
+getting ready for parade I managed to exchange a few words with your
+commanding officer, showed him my credentials from the Castle, and
+told him that you sought your discharge only for the purpose of
+joining a Fenian army now about to invade the province; with the
+further view of placing them in possession of all you knew of the weak
+points of the Fort. The theory worked like a charm,--you were denied
+your discharge; and now I knew you would desert. In this, however, I
+was determined to help you; and, at the same time, cause your
+betrothed to be lured in some way into Canada, and consigned to some
+safe, out-of-the-way keeping, where no one should know of her, until I
+made my appearance as if by accident before her; and where I knew you
+would not be likely to seek her, from the fact, that once you were a
+deserter you would be out-lawed forever from British soil.
+
+"You yourself furnished the means of this abduction in a manner the
+most innocent. You will recollect the note sealed with a peculiar
+device, that you gave me to the deserter concealed in the city in
+which you were stationed, telling him to entrust himself wholly, and
+without question to whomsoever presented it. This note, after
+exhibiting it to your friend, I retained and perceiving that it would
+answer my purpose, as it mentioned no names, I enclosed it at once to
+my agents in Buffalo, instructing them to present it to Miss McCarthy,
+and without a moment's delay, convey her across the river to some
+secluded spot, where she was to be held at all hazards, until further
+orders from me, or until I was able to visit her myself. My
+injunctions were obeyed, and all was well--you had deserted and Kate
+McCarthy was in my power!"
+
+At this point of the infamous revelation, Barry writhed in the most
+fearful agony, and was on the eve of strangling the villain that lay
+helpless before him; but his good angel, rushing to the rescue,
+restored him to reason once more; and while great beads of
+perspiration stood on his brow, he endeavored to compose himself to
+hear the terrible recital to its close.
+
+"But," continued Darcy, "after all my generalship you are master of
+the field, and she cannot fail to become the possessor of the property
+justly or otherwise so long estranged from her, although I fear it is
+already embarrassed with heavy costs."
+
+"But where is she now?" exclaimed Barry, as the gasping man finished
+his terrible narrative.
+
+"I know not," whispered the other with an effort. "As I had not an
+opportunity of paying the stipulated sum to the men who undertook her
+abduction, they kept the place of her concealment secret from me until
+I should perform my part of the contract, which I could have done this
+day, only for the fate that has overtaken us. There is, however, no
+doubt of her being in the Province, and, likely, somewhere in the very
+region where we now are."
+
+"But," he whispered, with increasing difficulty and spasmodic
+interruptions, "I feel as if I were suffocating! Water! Water! Oh!
+God!" And with a bound that almost brought him to his feet, he sprang
+clean from the ground on which he lay; and the next moment fell back
+heavily, a corpse!
+
+And so perished the four men, who scarce an hour previously were as
+full of life and vigor as their hearts were of evil thoughts and
+designs. There can be no doubt, that they fell through the
+instrumentality, unconscious as it was, of the very individuals whom
+they had injured; differing only in their shades of criminality. In
+other relations, besides the one to which their fate may be mainly
+attributed, they were doubtless guilty to an enormous extent. Black
+Jack, Smith and Wilson were unquestionably old offenders; the two
+former having the heavy scent of blood about them; while Darcy or the
+pretended Lauder or Greaves, whatever his antecedents may have been,
+showed himself capable of any atrocity known to the history of crime.
+The cup of their iniquity was full; or they had not fallen so
+signally, thus. How steadily the avenging angel follows in the
+footsteps of the wretch who makes war upon humanity or does continual
+violence to the divine spark which, in a greater or less degree,
+illumes the breast of every human being born into the world.
+Throughout the whole of their infamous career, these men were well
+apprised of the fact, that they were engaged in open rebellion against
+God and Nature, and thus it was, that they were cut off in their
+prime, without one sympathetic tear, to soothe their last moments or
+hallow their graves.
+
+Such were the meditations of Barry, as he stood over the inanimate
+frame of his implacable foe; but soon awaking from his revery, he felt
+how dreadful to know that his beloved was, perhaps at that very
+moment, suffering in captivity or exposed to dangers consequent upon
+the disturbed state of the country at some point, where, now that her
+persecutors, who had at least provided for her daily sustenance, were
+dead, she might, on this fact becoming known, be subjected to further
+injuries, or wrongs that might be irreparable. The thought maddened
+him; and he was groaning aloud, in the agony of his spirit, when his
+ears were arrested with the returning tumult of O'Neill's forces,
+after their having made the second of June, 1866, memorable in the
+annals of Canada, and those of Irish Independence. Gazing steadily for
+a moment on the terribly distorted features of his fallen enemy, he
+turned towards the wide shed-door to make some arrangements regarding
+the removal of his wounded comrades, when his opportune friend again
+emerged from the house, and rejoined him as he was stepping across the
+threshold.
+
+"How fares it with your antagonist, now?" enquired the stranger as he
+cast a hurried glance towards the body of Darcy, not knowing that its
+spirit had already taken its flight forever.
+
+"Dead!" returned Barry. "They who assailed us but a short time ago are
+all gone to their last home, save the man who made his escape on your
+arrival and interference, whoever he may be."
+
+"That's sharp practice," rejoined the other; "but in my opinion they
+richly deserved what they got, for they fought as murderers and not as
+men."
+
+"Would to heaven," returned Nicholas, "that one of them at least had
+escaped the fearful chastisement inflicted upon him; for his death has
+enshrouded in darkness a question which presses heavily upon my heart,
+and one that I have no means of solving. But pray, sir," he continued,
+"do you reside in this vicinity, and if you do, perhaps you would be
+kind enough to say, whether you have heard, recently, of the arrival
+of a strange lady in this locality, who had been lured from her home
+and friends under false pretenses; and who is, as I now have every
+reason to believe, in questionable hands?"
+
+"May I ask your name?" returned the stranger, without replying to the
+question, and eyeing Barry from head to foot, "and may I, in addition,
+inquire what is the name of the lady to whom you allude?"
+
+"My name," replied our hero, "is Nicholas Barry, and the name of the
+lady is Miss Kate M'Carthy."
+
+"Mr. Barry," hastily observed the stranger, extending his hand, "my
+name is Henry Evans, and my kinswoman, Kate M'Carthy, is well and now
+in safe keeping."
+
+At the mention of the name, Evans, and the assurance that his
+betrothed was safe and well, the heart of Berry so bounded within him,
+that after the blood had poured itself in one mighty torrent through
+his whole frame and blazed over his face and brow for a moment, he
+became as pale as death, and had not his newly found friend leaped
+forward and caught him in his arms, he should have fallen fainting to
+the ground. Recovering himself speedily, however, he leaned against
+the huge door-post at his side, and, breathing with more regularity,
+soon became cool and collected.
+
+Evans could well understand this sudden emotion. His own heart was
+just in the vein to sympathize with it; so, in a moment the subtle
+freemasonry of kindred spirits was established between them.
+
+Who can explain it? Here was a brave, young fellow, with the heart of
+a lion, who had faced death in various shapes but an hour or so
+previously--who had within the brief space of two days engaged hand to
+hand in the most dreadful encounters with the enemy, without
+experiencing the slightest sense of fear, or condescending to yield a
+single inch of ground where he had set down his foot--here, we say, we
+see him succumb at once, and rendered as helpless as a child at the
+mere mention of a woman, and the assurance of her safety, although not
+by any means thoroughly satisfied of her being in anything like
+imminent danger. We shall not attempt to analyse the subtle and
+powerful influences at work in such mysterious cases; but simply
+content ourselves with the observation, that men who are susceptible
+of such influences, and who strike at once to the first tap of their
+drum, are not notorious for any great deficiency when brought face to
+face with a more tangible and terrible enemy. And so thought Henry
+Evans as both he and Nicholas sallied forth; the former to report to
+the gallant O'Neill, and the latter to re-enter the house already so
+often referred to, where Barry agreed to join him when he had seen the
+hero of Ridgeway.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+As remarked in a preceding chapter, Kate M'Carthy had some distant
+relatives in the vicinity of Fort Erie; and, as fortune would have it,
+the two strangers who, on the night before the battle of Ridgeway,
+interrupted the murderous designs of Smith, belonged to the family
+with whom she claimed kindred. One of these, Henry Evans, who had once
+met her in Toronto, on hearing from Martha of her presence in Wilson's
+house and the circumstances that surrounded her, instantly requested
+to be conducted to her, with a view to reassuring her and offering her
+the protection of which he was satisfied she stood so much in need.
+The recognition was mutually exciting, and on the part of Kate
+appreciated with heartfelt gratitude. Explanations ensued which placed
+her friend in possession of all that was, for the present, necessary
+for him to know; and it was at once agreed upon, that she should
+accompany him on the ensuing morning to the residence of his widowed
+mother, not far distant, where she was to remain until Barry or her
+friends in Buffalo could be communicated with; as her return to the
+United States, at a period so disturbed and critical, was, of course,
+out of the question. New life and hope welled up through this
+arrangement; and the poor girl, who but a few moments previously
+believed herself in a position the most dangerous and difficult, now
+found herself under the protection of her own stalwart kinsman.
+
+Martha, also, was delighted that the being she herself so loved had
+made a discovery that not only quieted the painful anticipations and
+reflections of her new friend, but gave herself an opportunity of
+speedily abandoning forever a roof that had now become loathsome to
+her, as she had already made up her mind to accompany Kate to the
+house of old Mrs. Evans, who, notwithstanding her suspicious
+associations, loved her for her own sake, and desired that she should
+forgo all further intimacy with her uncle, and become the wife of
+young Henry. In this way matters stood until the morning of the second
+of June--Henry remaining throughout the night with the alarmed family;
+there being nothing to fear in the direction of his own residence,
+which lay quite out of the line of the two armies that were now about
+to close in mortal strife.
+
+The Kid and the cousin of Henry had, as already shown, gone in the
+direction of the village, where, on arriving in due course, they found
+the inhabitants in a state of the greatest consternation. As in Port
+Colborne, here, also, was to be observed that spirit of disaffection
+towards the British Crown which led to the hoisting of the American
+flag over a public building at the former place, when it was
+ascertained that the Province had actually been invaded. As yet, the
+troops under Lieutenant Colonel Booker had not arrived, and as there
+was no opportunity for Smith to ply his vocation, that worthy,
+emulating the course pursued by his companion, rested quietly on his
+oars, until the cars arrived with the army that was to contest the
+field of Ridgeway with the soldiers of O'Neill.
+
+On the arrival of this train, Smith, as we have already perceived,
+encountered Darcy, and had a conversation with him, the substance of
+which is already known to the reader, as well as his subsequent
+falling in with Wilson and Black Jack in the immediate rear of the
+Fenian forces. Before the British had proceeded from Ridgeway towards
+Chippewa, for the purpose of forming the junction with Colonel
+Peacock, the cousin of Evans had returned to Wilson's with the
+intelligence that the command of Booker was about to move along the
+Sodom Road; upon which he was begged, by Henry, to start off and
+inform the widow, his mother, of the approaching storm, and assure her
+that he should not take up arms against the invaders, nor approach the
+scene of conflict, if the contending armies joined issue at any point
+in the neighborhood. These two young men, although born in Canada,
+were, yet, the sons of Irishmen, and felt that it would be criminal in
+them to raise their hand against the freedom of the land of their
+fathers, or in behalf of a government that had for centuries subjected
+it to every wrong and insult that could be heaped upon it. This they
+felt; and entered into a mutual compact to remain passive at least,
+should the tide of the conflict surge their way--hoping only for the
+success of the cause of poor, down-trodden Erin, without feeling
+themselves impelled to raise an arm in her defense against a body of
+men made up in part of their friends and acquaintances.
+
+This was not genuine patriotism, we know; but, still, under the
+circumstances, it had its merits. In addition, it had enough of the
+real stuff about it to be capable of being shaped readily, under
+certain not unreasonable conditions, into a most useful and active
+element in the cause. Where a sentiment is not absolutely hostile, but
+on the contrary even imbued with some slight degree of friendliness,
+it is easily brought into line with the cause towards which it leans.
+And thus it is with a vast body of the people of Canada, who do not
+take any active part in the great question that now so agitates the
+Empire and shakes the tyrant England to her very foundations. They
+would like to see Ireland free; but they do not care to come into
+collision with the British authorities on the subject. Could they lend
+her a helping hand in secret and without detection, they would extend
+it cheerfully; but they have not the nerve or moral courage to give
+her three cheers in the market place. To this numerous class, these
+two young men belonged; and, singular as it may appear, we count on it
+for real support in the final struggle that must take place between us
+and England upon this continent, one day or other. We think, also,
+that in the hands and under the fostering care of the out-and-out
+Irish Nationalists of Canada, who are ready to mount the scaffold at
+any moment, this friendly element could be fostered into a great and
+irresistible power; for we have been always of the opinion, that
+nine-tenths of those who have even one, single drop of Irish blood in
+their veins, can, by judicious treatment, be developed into the
+deadliest enemies of our ancient and implacable foe. Let these people
+be educated in the history and the wrongs of Ireland, as well as the
+extent to which England is indebted to that unfortunate country for an
+that she now is. Let them take the Penal Laws for a text-book, and the
+murders and confiscations of Elizabeth, Cromwell and the Georges, for
+their "Reading Made Easy," and no fear but they will soon fall into
+the ranks from which they now, alas! keep aloof. Let them dwell upon
+the ages of famine, fire and sword to which we have been subjected by
+a wretch who in the days of her gross darkness came begging to our
+door in her breeches of blue paint and asked us for an alphabet, while
+we were yet the day star of European civilization and Christianity,
+and then they will be enabled to justify in their own bosoms any act
+that would tend to her humiliation, and comprehend fully how bitter
+and eternal the enmity between us, and how just, whatever stroke
+should seal her doom at our hands.
+
+  Seek music in the wolf's fierce howl,
+    Or pity In his Wood-shot eye,
+  When hanger drives him out to prowl
+    Beneath a rayless northern sky.
+
+  But seek not that we shall forgive
+    The hand that strikes as to the heart,
+  And yet in mock'ry bids us live
+    To count our stars as they depart.
+
+  We've fed the tyrant with our blood,--
+    Won all her battles!--built her throne!--
+  Established her on land and flood,
+    And sought her glory, next our own.
+
+  We raised her from her low estate
+    And plucked her pagan soul from hell.
+  And led her up to heaven's own gate,
+    Till she for gold, like Judas, fell.
+
+  And when in one long soulless night
+    She lay unknown to wealth or fame.
+  We gave her empire---riches--light,
+    And taught her how to spell her name.
+
+  But, now, ungenerous and unjust,
+    Forgetful of our old renown,
+  She bows us to the very dust,
+    But wears our jewels in her Crown!
+
+This is the sentiment that fires the heart of every true son and
+daughter of Ireland; and all that is necessary to its general adoption
+on the part of those related to us by even the most distant ties of
+country, is the constant promulgation throughout the length and
+breadth of the New Dominion, etc., of sound information regarding the
+past and present of our native land, and the true history of English
+legislation affecting us.
+
+Scarcely had the cousin of Evans disappeared from Wilson's on his
+mission to the house of the widow, when the echoing woods in the
+vicinity of the place gave evidence of the meeting of the two hostile
+forces. The first discharge of the Fenian rifles, after Col. Starr
+had driven in the advance posts of the enemy, brought Kate to her
+feet, and kindled in her eye a flame so intense, while her white
+teeth glistened through her parted lips, that she seemed the very
+personification of female courage and patriotism. As she listened
+through her open casement, and caught the distant cheer of her
+countrymen, the wild music of which she thoroughly recognized, her
+bosom rose and fell with terrible emotion, while her delicate nostrils
+were distended in a sort of passionate ecstasy that might be termed
+the climax of the most sublime enthusiasm. Once more the Saxon and the
+Celt had joined in the death struggle; and she felt as though she
+herself ought to be in some way identified then and there with the
+conflict. Thoroughly appreciating the mighty issues at stake, she
+implored heaven, in language the most fervent, to crown with victory
+the standard of Ireland, and nerve the arm of O'Neill in this the hour
+of his need. And as the moments rolled by, and the tide of the contest
+ebbed and flowed upon her ear, her excitement became so intense, that
+she begged of Henry to venture out to some point where, without
+personal danger to himself, he might learn something of the actual
+state of the battle and the prospects of her gallant countrymen.
+
+More than an hour had elapsed since the action began, when Evans
+sallied forth to gratify not only the wishes of his kinswoman, but to
+satisfy his own mind as to how affairs stood. He was armed with his
+revolver and dirk only; and felt, notwithstanding his former resolve,
+a strange inclination to use them on the side of Ireland. A cowardly
+shot, however, he could not fire; and as he knew nothing whatever of
+military tactics, he at once dismissed from his mind the idea of
+participating in the contest. Perceiving that the conflict did not
+verge towards his own dwelling, he was determined to keep his eye upon
+that which he had just left, and yet venture as near the field where
+the battle was raging as a brave man might. Once he retraced his steps
+to inform Kate that so far as he could perceive, both armies were
+holding their own; returning again to the edge of a patch of wood
+close by. Here he had remained for some time endeavoring to form an
+idea as to the probable issue of the struggle, and occasionally warned
+of the perilousness of his position by the rifle bullets that now and
+then sang around him, when suddenly the red cross of St. George was
+seen to waver, and the next moment the British lines were broken and
+scattered like chaff before the gallant O'Neill and the victorious
+charge of his brave handful of heroes.
+
+The pulses of Evans beat quick with a sort of strange, wild joy, when
+he heard the shout of triumph which burst from the ranks of the Irish,
+as they swept like a whirlwind in the wake of their retreating foes,
+some of whom stood at bay but to be instantly overthrown by their
+pursuers. A desperate encounter between a knot of both forces took
+place quite near to where he stood concealed: and here, also, the
+enemy bit the dust; although at this precise point, they were not
+outnumbered. It was here that Barry and his comrades were ordered to
+look after the dead and wounded; the point being convenient to
+Wilson's, and discernible from it, although a clump of trees shut out
+the house from Evans.
+
+When Wilson saw that the day was lost, as quickly as possible, both he
+and his comrades, including Darcy and two or three others of a similar
+stamp, who joined them in the field, fled and took shelter in his
+house, unperceived by Evans or the victorious Irish. From this
+dwelling, as already described, they sallied forth in a murderous
+assault upon Nicholas and his party; with what success has been
+already seen. To account for Evan's opportune appearance at the time
+of Barry's being sorely pressed, we have only to observe, that he
+witnessed the attack without knowing the point from whence it
+proceeded, or recognizing the persons who made it; and only hastened
+to the scene of action when he perceived that the assailing party was
+masked and that Barry was being overwhelmed by unequal numbers. Having
+gained the point where the struggle was being carried on, the butt-end
+of his revolver placed Barry on an equal footing with his antagonists;
+although as already observed, the young soldier had previously
+inflicted a mortal wound upon the most important of his assailants.
+
+Kate and Martha were eye-witnesses from their chamber window of the
+whole of this supplementary fight; the former little dreaming, that
+the officer attacked by the two ruffianly masks, was the man that was
+all the world to her. She perceived, however, that he belonged to the
+invading army, and such being the case, she viewed the contest with
+breathless anxiety; looking every moment for the fatal stroke that was
+to lay him low in the dust forever, until the sudden appearance of
+Henry on the spot, decided the day in his favor. The relief that she
+experienced was so unutterable that she burst into tears; and when a
+few moments subsequently, she learned from the lips of her kinsman
+himself that the Irish were every where victorious and the British
+forces totally routed and in full retreat upon Ridgeway, the
+intelligence was too much for her, and she swooned away into the arms
+of Martha, while an expression of ineffable joy overspread her
+beautiful face.
+
+The death of Wilson was broken to his wife as feelingly as might be by
+Henry. For a moment the poor woman was paralysed, and then gave vent
+to a flood of tears of a character so strange, that we shall not pause
+to analyse it here. Her life had, indeed, been, for so far, a hard
+one, with him; and now that she had discovered his real character, she
+almost felt grateful to heaven for removing him from the world he was
+so dishonoring and the heart that he had already broken. Yet he had
+been her husband, and she remembered that she had loved him once; and
+here the woman was touched within her. The die was cast, however; and
+now it only devolved upon her to see his remains quietly consigned to
+their last resting place. She saw him where he lay, kissed his cold
+lips and wept afresh for all his long years of cruelty towards her;
+and then turned away to her lonely chamber to which the body was
+removed subsequently. Martha was horrified only at the slaughter that
+surrounded her; and had no place for grief in a bosom where affection
+for the husband of her aunt had never existed. All she saw before her
+was her beloved Henry, alive and safe after the conflict had ceased
+between the contending armies; while her heart thrilled with the
+purest delight on learning from her lover, that which she was as yet
+to keep secret, namely, that the officer who had been attacked by the
+two masks opposite the house, was the betrothed of Kate who had joined
+the invaders with the two-fold purpose of striking for the freedom of
+his native land, and unraveling, if possible, the mystery of her
+sudden disappearance from Buffalo.
+
+When our hero presented himself before the gallant O'Neill, that
+distinguished soldier, who was already aware of the services rendered
+by Nicholas, complimented him on his bravery and informed him, that he
+should now fall back on Fort Erie with his remaining forces; fearing
+momently the approach not only of Peacock's army but that of the
+numerous other bodies of men that were being concentrated against him
+from more than one quarter. Orders were therefore given to dispose as
+hastily as possible of the dead and wounded: some prisoners that were
+taken having been already paroled; among whom was the officer taken by
+Barry on the preceeding day.
+
+When Kate opened her eyes to consciousness again, she found herself in
+arms other than those of Martha; and looking up in a state of startled
+amazement encountered the radiant face of Nicholas as he pressed her
+in ecstasy to his bosom. A cry of joy escaped her lips, as she clung
+to him with an embrace as wild as though she feared some adverse fate
+should again separate them; and a second time became unconscious.
+Soon, nevertheless, she was revived through restoratives used by
+Martha; but yet in a state so confused that she could scarcely bring
+herself to believe that all was real that was transpiring around her.
+By degrees, however, she became convinced that it was in reality her
+lover who enfolded her to his heart; and all was well. In due time,
+explanations were given, when it was determined that she should at
+once return with him to her friends in Buffalo, under the protection
+of the victorious army and in a vehicle that Henry volunteered to
+furnish for the occasion, and drive in person. The distance to the
+frontier was but short; and as Henry's cousin had come up from the
+widow's to learn the result of the battle, it was agreed that the one
+should remain in the house of death with Martha and her aunt until the
+return of the other from Fort Erie; and that, in the interim, he
+should collect such of the neighbors as were within reach, and have
+the body of Wilson and that of Darcy and the others interred as
+speedily as possible.
+
+This once decided upon, Barry possessed himself of such papers and
+documents as were on the body of Darcy, hoping thereby, to gain some
+insight not only into the Chancery case, but into the intentions of
+the Government or their plans in relation to Fenianism. To him
+belonged of right any information of this character that could be
+realized from a dastardly foe who had been vanquished by his sword.
+But little, however, was gleaned from this source, beyond the fact
+gathered from a letter received by Darcy from his lawyer a short time
+previously, announcing that there was no hope of his winning the suit,
+as some private opinions expressed by those who composed the Court,
+went to convey the idea that the claims of Kate McCarthy were of a
+character not to be set aside or ignored even under the pressure of
+the Castle; and further, that the opposing counsel, who was a sterling
+lawyer and a man of influence, was pressing the matter so, that a
+decision favorable to his client could not fail to be given at no
+distant day.
+
+This was, of course, cheering to our hero, although Darcy, just before
+his death, had placed him in possession of the contents of the
+epistle, and prepared him for the intelligence it contained. Kate
+received the information without evincing any great degree of
+excitement Her mind had been so perplexed and agitated for the last
+few days, that her sudden good fortune, in a pecuniary sense, seemed
+lost sight of in the other events that had already transpired, and her
+unexpected restoration to her lover. She was certainly surprised at
+the fate and the machinations of the pretended Lauder; and felt
+relieved by the conviction that the murderous and unprincipled wretch
+who had wrought her and Nicholas so much wrong and hardship, and who
+had attempted the assassination of her betrothed, and her own ruin,
+was no more. This was a great relief to her overburdened heart; as she
+now knew, that a man so desperate as he, were he still alive, might
+manage, even yet, to work them some further mischief.
+
+Among the papers belonging to Darcy there was found a small memorandum
+book or diary, which, although a riddle to Barry, is worth noting
+here, as it contained some entries that may possibly find elucidation
+outside the recognition of our hero. One of them was as follows:
+"Toronto, April 20th, 1866--Paid to J.G. M---- $20, for information
+regarding Hib. Benev. Society." And again: "April 23d--saw Hon. J.
+R----; willing to do all he can, but wants to be paid for it. Mean
+fellow, whose tenderest passion is absolutely scrofulous, they say."
+The other entries related to mere travelling expenses, etc., and to
+some transactions which took place in Kingston and other points where
+Darcy had been conducting his operations in the interest of the
+English, as well as the Canadian government In addition to this, there
+was a draft for a considerable amount; but as it needed the signature
+of the deceased, it was regarded as valueless and permitted to remain
+in the pocket of the dead man--our hero, however it fared afterwards,
+feeling a singular repugnance to possessing himself of any property of
+this kind, or retaining a single shilling of the current funds found
+upon the corpse. These latter were subsequently devoted to defraying
+the burial expenses of the deceased, as well as those of his
+companions.
+
+When matters were so far arranged as to permit of the departure of our
+hero and heroine, Henry was about to leave the premises with a view to
+procuring the vehicle that was to carry them to the frontier, when
+Wilson's team, that was discovered by a neighbor in the place where it
+had been concealed, was driven up to the door. This was opportune, as
+Evans, on perceiving the horses and knowing that there was a light
+carriage under the shed, determined to put them into requisition at
+once. Soon, therefore, the three friends were bringing up the rear of
+O'Neill's troops as the latter fell steadily back upon Fort Erie, with
+the intention, as before stated, of learning whether landings had been
+made at any other point, or whether there were the slightest hopes of
+reinforcements crossing the river from Buffalo.
+
+Kate parted from Martha with a warm embrace, and an assurance of
+lasting friendship; while on her part, the betrothed of Evans promised
+to visit our hero and heroine in Buffalo at no distant day, and there
+renew the intimacy that had begun amid such clouds, although now
+surrounded with sunshine. On the departure of our little party, then,
+Barry's wounded comrades being previously cared for under the
+instructions of O'Neill, the bodies of the four accomplices--Wilson,
+Darcy, Black Jack and the Kid--were interred with infinitely more
+decent observances than their career in life seemed to warrant. The
+scruples of Nicholas, however, regarding Darcy's draft, were not
+shared by some of those who disposed of his remains; as it was taken
+charge of by an individual who fancied it might, one day, be turned to
+account by some person authorised to receive it. Of the mask who had
+escaped from the conflict opposite Wilson's, we may have occasion to
+speak in some future volume; although Evans surmised him simply some
+villain who had joined Darcy or the Kid for the purposes of murder or
+plunder. Be this as it may, the fugitive had made good his escape,
+while those with whom he had acted for the time being, suffered to the
+extent of their crimes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+It will be remembered that when the brave O'Neill and his handful of
+troops fell down the river from Fort Erie on the night of the first of
+June, to go into camp at Newbiggin's Farm, preparations were being
+made by the British not only to overpower him with superior numbers
+but to cut off his retreat upon the American shore and capture his
+whole command. In view of this, troops were being despatched against
+him from all points; while the tug Robb, black with artillery and men,
+came round from Dunville and patrolled the Niagara River between Fort
+Erie and Black Creek, under command of Capt. L. McCallum. This craft
+was manned by the Dunville Naval Brigade and the Welland Field
+Battery, under Capt. R.S. King, all armed to the teeth with Enfield
+rifles. On this vessel there was, we learn, so much mirth when it was
+found that the Fenians were cut off from the American shore, that the
+force aboard it assumed the air of a sort of military pic-nic party.
+They laughed at the dilemma in which they considered the invaders
+placed; and landed some of their men at one point on the river to make
+a pleasant reconnoisance of the enemy, and give them a warm reception
+as they came flying back towards Fort Erie before the victorious
+Queen's Own or the University Rifles--either corps being considered
+quite sufficient to snuff out the little band of patriots who dared to
+beard the British Lion in his den. The wine and the jest passed gaily
+round, until so secure were they of their position and the defeat of
+the invaders, a landing was effected At Fort Erie where the skull and
+cross-bones of St. George once again floated over the village, and
+assured the inhabitants that they were not yet lost to wheezy old
+England. Lieut. Col. Denis was absolutely in ecstasies and evinced
+such instances of personal bravery over his brandy and water, that no
+one could have imagined, that, in the space of a couple of hours or
+so, he should be found in a hay-loft, shorn of his fierce moustachois,
+and endeavoring to imitate the Irish brogue, in the slouched caubeen
+and coarse, gray habiliments of some poor, plundered Son of the Sod.
+Those who caught a glimpse of the brave commander as he fled before
+the dangers that threatened him, report him as presenting the most
+ludicrous appearance imaginable, and scarcely worth sending to his
+account in a respectable manner. To this disguise alone, we learn, he
+owed his escape after the second carnage of the British by the Irish
+troops on the memorable day already named, and on their return from
+Limestone Ridge.
+
+When O'Neill left Ridgeway, after pursuing the routed English forces
+through and beyond the village, he took the Garrison Road and, as
+already mentioned, fell back on Fort Erie. Here he came upon the
+Welland Field Battery and Dunville Naval Brigade just referred to.
+Flushed with the victory of the morning, he was upon them like a
+whirlwind, and, in the twinkling of an eye sent them flying to cover
+in every direction. His horse being much jaded with the march of the
+previous night, and the dreadful fatigues of the battle of the
+morning, he could scarcely get him to move a leg when he entered the
+village; and this circumstance was near leading to the most fatal
+results; for, in passing a house in which a number of the enemy had
+taken shelter, one of them came to the door, and seeing the animal
+going at so slow a pace, took deliberate aim with a rifle, and fired,
+in the hope of bringing down his rider. The all but murderous ball
+displaced the hair just over the right temple of O'Neill, lodging in a
+building opposite; the hero escaping all the dangers of the day, to
+the amazement of those who had marked him galloping among the carnage
+and bullets of the morning, in what might be termed a constant hand to
+hand struggle with death. It is sometimes thus with the men who show
+the most daring front in battle, and at the call of duty expose
+themselves to dangers the most appalling; while such as are more
+cautious often fall in their first encounter with the enemy.
+
+The British forces at Fort Erie, from the very nature of things, had
+the Fenians at great advantage on the return of the latter from
+Ridgeway. The troops under O'Neill were fatigued and hungry, and after
+a desperate battle and a long march, while the English had been
+resting on their oars and feasting all day long, or at least for many
+hours. Still, with all these advantages in their favor, they were
+whipped instantly a second time; many of them being killed and
+wounded; Captain King of the Welland Battery losing a leg upon the
+occasion, and others being terribly maimed. In addition, some of them
+were so terror-stricken as to roll from the bank into the river, and
+conceal themselves as best they could, with their heads just over the
+water, and sheltered by whatever chanced to float against them or
+project into the flood. In one case they fought for a few minutes from
+behind some cord-wood: but from this they were soon dislodged by the
+terrible bayonets of their enemies, and scattered like sheep in and
+about the village. It was here that the brave Colonel Michael Bailey
+was dangerously wounded by a rifle ball from a house where the enemy
+had already hung out a flag of truce. He was riding at the head of his
+men when he was tumbled from his horse, the ball having entered his
+left breast, damaging the breast bone and passing out just under his
+right nipple. The wound was at the time considered mortal; but the
+gallant soldier survived it for upwards of a year. Still it was the
+occasion of his death ultimately; for, from the hour that he received
+it, he drooped gradually into his grave. Only for the timely
+interference of O'Neill, the house from which this treacherous shot
+was fired, like that from which he himself had nigh received his
+death, would have been burned to the ground. He saw, of course, how
+cowardly the act, to first hang out a flag of truce and then follow
+the white emblem with so diabolical an attack; but he perceived, also,
+that if one building chanced to be fired, Fort Erie might be burned to
+the ground. He therefore quelled the rising tempest at this foul play,
+and with his iron will held the whole command in the hollow of his
+hand and made those who composed it trample on their feelings and curb
+their just anger for the good of the cause--a noble sentiment emulated
+by the brave Dr. Edward Donnelly, of Pittsburgh, who at the risk of
+his life and liberty, remained among the wounded of both parties and
+assisted by the humane Drs. Blanchard and Trowbridge, of Buffalo,
+attended upon the sufferers even after the troops had recrossed the
+river, and the British had again taken possession of Fort Erie.
+
+If we except the death of the brave Lonergan and that of half a dozen
+other noble fellows, whose names are unfortunately not at our command
+at this moment, and take into consideration the capture by the British
+of the Christian and chivalrous Father McMahon, who, regardless of his
+own personal safety, remained with the dead and dying, after the
+forces of O'Neill had recrossed the river, the victory of Ridgeway was
+completely unclouded. This patriotic priest and some other friends of
+Ireland are now suffering for their love of Fatherland in an English
+bastile at Kingston, in the New Dominion; but the thought strikes us,
+the hour of their redemption draws nigh. Subsequently, one or two
+others, including the gallant Bailey, died from the effects of their
+wounds upon that memorable field; but such are the contingencies of
+war, and such the fate of some of the truest of our race.
+
+When O'Neill conquered and captured all the British force at Fort
+Erie, he at once sent a despatch to Buffalo asking for reinforcements
+and stating that if it were necessary to the success of any movement
+that might be going on at some other point, he would hold Fort Erie
+and make it a slaughter-pen to the last man of his command. General
+Lynch having arrived at Buffalo some short time previously, it was
+decided to send reinforcements; but on its being found, subsequently,
+that a sufficient number to be of real service could not be then sent
+to the Canada side, the idea was abandoned and transportation prepared
+for the victorious troops to re-cross the river.
+
+When the British entered Fort Erie in the morning, they captured some
+Fenian stragglers who were, of course, set free on the arrival of
+O'Neill from Ridgeway; and now after being themselves captured in turn
+they were released on their parole; O'Neill having no other means of
+disposing of them. Nicholas was not engaged in this latter affair; as,
+not anticipating it, he had kept in the rear of the army with Kate and
+Evans; so that now when he came up, he was both ashamed and mortified
+that even an engagement so trifling, when compared with that of the
+morning, was fought without his having participated in it. However,
+the day was doubly won, and as he explained to his gallant Commander,
+the peculiarity of his position, with a smile and a hearty shake of
+the hand, he got permission to re-cross the river with his betrothed.
+This much accomplished, Henry turned his horses and drove down the
+bank at a quick pace, until he arrived at the house of a friend who
+kept a boat; and prevailing on him to take our hero and heroine to the
+American side a little below the Lower Rock, he made his warm
+_adieux_, with a promise soon to visit Buffalo with Martha, where,
+meeting an express desire from the lips of Kate, he agreed that they
+should be made man and wife. And so the friends parted for the time
+being--Nicholas and Kate, in the course of an hour, finding themselves
+under the Stars and Stripes once more, and beneath the hospitable roof
+that had so long sheltered her.
+
+Here to their utter astonishment they found Big Tom who had just
+arrived from Canada; he having been obliged to turn over his
+establishment hastily to his trusty friend, Burk, and fly the
+Province; as through some successful espionage, his connection with
+the Brotherhood had been discovered. From a friendly detective who had
+learned the true state of the case and the danger that threatened him,
+he received the hint that urged him to make his escape, and which
+doubtless saved him from the horrors of a dungeon if not from death.
+His sister was to follow him as soon as a sale of his establishment
+could be effected, and then, as he said himself, "good bye to the
+tyrant until we meet on the battle field." He was astounded at the
+disclosures regarding the pretended Greaves, and all but paralysed at
+the frightful position from which Kate had so miraculously escaped.
+When, however, he heard of the glorious victory of the arms of the
+Irish Republic at Ridgeway and Fort Erie, under O'Neill, he forgot
+everything else and leaped to his feet with a cheer that shook the
+house to its very foundation. In the ecstasy of joy that seized him,
+he took everybody near him by the hand ten times over, and added cheer
+to cheer until it was deemed expedient to recall him to something like
+reason. A more genuine display of heartfelt pleasure and patriotic
+feeling was never witnessed or experienced by any individual or
+indulged in a manner more original or unsophisticated.
+
+"Tell it to me again, Nick! Tell it to me again!" he exclaimed for the
+twentieth time; "and did you see them run, and how many of them are
+kilt? Have you a soord or a gun or anythin belongin to them? for if
+you have I'll give you tin times the value of it for a keepsake."
+
+"Oh!" replied Barry, amused at this unusual display on the part of the
+sedate and phlegmatic Tom, "there will be no lack of keepsakes in
+Buffalo to-morrow; for the field was covered with their coats, arms,
+and knapsacks; and some of these, I am sure, will be got for a mere
+song."
+
+This seemed to satisfy O'Brien, who soon flowed into conversation
+touching all that had transpired regarding Kate and Darcy, as well as
+in relation to Nicholas himself. During the narrative, he referred to
+the doubts that he had from the first entertained regarding the spy;
+although he confessed he was not altogether clear at times upon the
+subject.
+
+After the fight at Fort Erie, many of the Fenians, understanding that
+they were not to be reinforced and that the enemy was about coming
+down on them in force and hemming them in on all sides, made the best
+of their way across the river. The great bulk of the command, however,
+stood by O'Neill; until about midnight, when a large scow attached to
+a steam tug approached the Canadian shore and took the whole of the
+remaining forces on board. Laden thus, they steamed out into the
+middle of the river, when a 12-pound shot fired across their bows,
+from the tug Harrison, belonging to the U.S. Steamer Michigan,
+brought them to--doubtless to the extreme delight of Acting
+Sailing-Master Morris who seemed anxious enough to fire the gun and
+make the capture; although they would at the moment have stuck to a
+child hearing the authority of the United States. It is significant,
+however, that the over-officiousness of Mr. Morris has not tended much
+to his advantage as he no longer belongs to the United States Navy; he
+having been quite as unfortunate as a certain District Attorney, who,
+also, endeavored to impress the Government as to his undoubted
+unfriendliness to the cause of Irish freedom. The lesson may be
+profitable to Government officials at some future period; and prevent
+them from exceeding the simple and unprejudiced bounds of their duty.
+Be this as it may, about two o'clock on the morning of the third of
+June the scow was brought along side the Michigan and the officers
+taken on board that vessel and handed over to the urbane and
+gentlemanly Capt. Bryson, its commander, as prisoners under the
+authority of the United States; while the men were detained in the
+same character aboard the scow.
+
+We are unable to trace to any particular source, the cruelty inflicted
+upon these latter noble fellows, in keeping them for days in that open
+vessel huddled together, and with the rain for a portion of that
+period, descending upon them in torrents. The disgrace of such a
+proceeding has been so often denounced, that we dismiss this part of
+the subject without further comment. Ultimately, they were all
+liberated on their own recognizance, to appear about the middle of the
+month at Canaudaigua, to answer for a breach of the Neutrality Laws;
+and there the matter ended.
+
+Now, however, the arms and ammunition belonging to the Brotherhood had
+been seized at every point except Buffalo. In addition, the volunteers
+who poured to the frontier from every side found themselves helpless,
+being without weapons or a commissariat: although the brave General
+Spear, with but a handful of men, made a descent subsequently upon the
+enemy at St. Albans, and put them to a most ignominious flight.
+According to General Meade, of the United States Army, between thirty
+and forty thousand of these brave fellows were furnished with
+transportation back to their homes at the expense of the Government;
+while the arms that were seized were subsequently returned to the
+authorities of the Organization on certain conditions that have been
+for so far complied with.
+
+Thus ended the first invasion of Canada under the gallant O'Neill,
+who, on his return from the campaign, was made a General and
+Commander-in-chief of the Army of the Irish Republic, and who, in
+addition, was subsequently elevated, to the position of President of
+the Fenian Organization throughout the world. What his next move may
+be, we are unable to say; but this we know, it will be in the right
+direction and likely to succeed. He had no doubt been spared on the
+numerous battle-fields on which he fought so bravely, for some wise
+purpose: and this purpose, we feel, is in connection with the freedom
+of Ireland. For the present, then, we bid him and his noble comrades
+adieu; hoping the next time we shall have occasion to refer to them,
+the power of England may be broken on this continent, and the green
+flag of old Ireland floating over the Castle of Dublin. Our hopes of
+success were never brighter than they appear to be at this, the moment
+of our writing. We have an immense army in preparation for the field,
+and a noble and self-sacrificing Senate and band of Organizers that
+may well command his confidence and that of every Irish Nationalist in
+the world. For the benefit of our readers, we here give the names of
+the members of both these bodies, so that they shall be known and
+cherished throughout the globe. We might single out from amongst them,
+that of the able and patriotic P.J. Meehan, Esq., editor of the _Irish
+American_, and bold it up to the admiration of our countrymen
+everywhere: but where all have acted so nobly we shall include all as
+worthy of praise alike; although we could point out D. O'Sullivan,
+Esq., Secretary of Civil Affairs, A.L. Morrison, Esq., of Chicago, and
+a host of others, as eminently entitled to our love and admiration;
+while, were we permitted to do so, we could illumine our pages with
+the names of thousands of our fair countrywomen and their beautiful
+American sisters who have laid their hands to the good work with all
+the passion and nobility of their pure and generous natures: but we
+must for the present content ourselves with the following list and its
+recent modifications, at the Seventh National Congress of the Fenian
+Brotherhood, which assembled at Philadelphia on Tuesday, November
+24th. 1868:
+
+_NAMES OF SENATORS OF THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD_.
+
+JAMES GIBBONS, ESQ., Vice President, F.B. 333 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.
+THOMAS LAVAN, ESQ., 13 Superior Street, Cleveland, Ohio.
+T.J. QUINN, ESQ., Albany, N.Y.
+MILES D. SWEENEY, ESQ., San Francisco. Cal.
+JOHN CARLETON, ESQ., Bordentown, N.J.
+F.B. GALLAGHER, ESQ., Buffalo, N.Y.
+P.W. DUNNE, ESQ., Peoria. Ill.
+EDWARD L. CAREY, ESQ., New York City.
+PATRICK J. MEEHAN, ESQ., Hudson City, N.J.
+PETER CUNNINGHAM, ESQ., Utica, N.Y.
+MICHAEL FINNEGAN, ESQ., Houghton, Mich.
+J.C. O'BRIEN, ESQ., Rochester, N.Y.
+WM. FLEMING, ESQ., 16 Congress Street Troy, N.Y.
+HON. J.W. FITZGERALD, Ellen Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
+PATRICK SWEENEY, ESQ., Newburgh Street, Lawrence, Mass.
+
+_NAMES OF ORGANIZERS OF THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD_[1]
+
+JOHN F. FINNERTY, ESQ.
+JAMES BRENNAN, ESQ.
+COLONEL P.F. WALSH.
+MAJOR WM. McWILLIAMS.
+H.M. WILLIAMS, ESQ.
+HENRY LE CARON, ESQ.
+MAJOR TIMOTHY O'LEARY.
+JOSEPH SMOLENSKI, ESQ.
+E.C. LEWIS, ESQ.
+COLONEL WM. CLINGEN.
+FRED. O'DONNELL, ESQ.
+H.M. SULLIVAN, ESQ.
+
+(FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES)
+
+PHILADELPHIA. NOVEMBER 29, 1868.
+
+"The Seventh National Congress of the Fenian Brotherhood adjourned
+_sine die_ at six o'clock this morning, the delegates having sat from
+three o'clock P.M., on Saturday, determined to finish their business
+in one session. General JOHN O'NEILL was unanimously re-elected
+President, and resolutions were adopted, approving his administration
+of the affairs of the Brotherhood.
+
+"The following named Senators, nine in number, were elected to fill
+vacancies:--
+
+"J.C. O'Brien, Rochester, N.Y.; J.W. Fitzgerald, Cincinnati, Ohio;
+Major J. McKinley, Nashville, Tenn.; R. McCloud, Norwich, Conn.; J.E.
+Downey, Providence, R.I.; P. Bannon, Louisville, Ky.; W.J. Hynes,
+Washington, D.C.; P.J. Meehan, New York; Colonel John O'Neill,
+Dubuque, Iowa.
+
+"The following named Senators hold over under the Constitutional rule,
+having been elected for two years at the Cleveland Congress:--
+
+"James Gibbons, of Philadelphia; Miles D. Sweeney, of San Francisco;
+T.J. Quinn, of Albany, N.Y.; E.L. Carey, of New York; P.W. Dunne, of
+Peoria, Ill.; Frank B. Gallagher, of Buffalo, N.Y.
+
+"What may be termed the central authority of the Brotherhood, within
+the Senate, stands thus, Dec., 1868:
+
+"PRESIDENT--GENERAL JOHN O'NEILL.
+_Executive Committee_--VICE PRESIDENT GIBBONS, P.J. MEEHAN and E.L. CAREY.
+_Acting Sec. of War_--P.J. MEEHAN.
+_Assistant Treasurer_--JOHN P. BROPHY.
+_Sec. of Civil Affairs_--DAN. O'SULLIVAN, of Auburn.
+_Assistant Secretaries_--FRANK RUNEHAN and RUDOLPH FITZPATRICK.
+_Treasurer_--PATRICK KEENAN."
+
+As we have referred to the recent Congress at Philadelphia, the
+following article from the Philadelphia _Age_ November 27, 1868, will
+be interesting to our readers as indicative of the present standing
+and prospects of the Brotherhood on this continent:
+
+"One of the great events of Thanksgiving Day, outside of the
+festivities of the home circle and the attendance on public worship,
+was the grand demonstration by the Irishmen of Philadelphia in honor
+of the assembling of the Fenian Congress in this city. This body,
+which consists of delegates from all parts of the world, has been
+holding secret sessions at the Assembly Buildings during the week, and
+important results have been anticipated by the friends of Ireland all
+over the world.
+
+"The parade was quite a success, and reflected great credit on the
+managers. Mr. John Brennan was Chief Marshal, assisted by Frank
+McDonald, Marshal First Division; Michael Moane, Second Division;
+James Carr, Third Division; John McAtee, Fourth Division; Michael D.
+Kelly, Fifth Cavalcade, with the following Aids--John A. Keenan, R.J.
+Keenan, Andrew Wynne, Thomas N. Stack, Capt. F. Quinlan.
+
+"The line commenced moving about half-past three o'clock, in the
+following order, the military having the right of the line:
+
+"Gen. John O'Neill, President of the Fenian Brotherhood, and the
+following Staff--Gen. J. Smolenski, Chief-of-Staff; Col. John W. Byron,
+Asst. Adjt.-General; Col. J.J. Donnelly, of Engineers; Major T. O'Leary,
+of Ordnance; Major Henry LeCaron, Com. Subsistence; Dr. Donnelly,
+Surgeon; Capt. Wm. J. Hynes, Assistant Inspector; Lieut.-Col. Sullivan,
+Aide-de-Camp; Lieut.-Col. Atkinson, Aide-de-Camp; Lieut.-Col. John W.
+Dunne, Aid-de-Camp; Capt. J. Smolenski, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. J. Driscoll,
+Aide-de-Camp.
+
+"There were three regiments of the Irish Republican Army in line; they
+numbered fully two thousand men, and were clad in their new uniform.
+The three regiments parading were the Eighth, Ninth and Twenty-fourth.
+The brigade was commanded by Col. William Clingen, Major Daniel A.
+Moore, Asst. Adj't-Gen.
+
+"The Eighth Regiment was commanded by Col. P.S. Tinah, the Ninth by
+Col. J. O'Reilly, and the Twenty-fourth by Col. Michael Kirwan. The
+military was followed by numerous civic societies. There were nineteen
+Circles of the Fenian Brotherhood and three hundred delegates to the
+Fenian Congress, besides the Charles Carroll Beneficial Society and
+the Buchanan Beneficial Society. The civic portion of the parade
+numbered about five thousand men. The participants wore dark suits and
+badges, and pieces of green ribbon tied in the button-holes of their
+coats.
+
+"In the line of the procession was a handsome chariot drawn by six
+gray horses. It was painted green and gold; the platform was covered
+with beautiful oilcloth, and on it was placed a large brass bell,
+supported on a green framework. This bell was kept tolling over the
+whole route of the procession. In the rear of the chariot was a raised
+platform, on which sat a beautiful daughter of Erin, dressed as a
+Goddess of Liberty, holding a beautiful silk banner. She was seated
+underneath an arch of gold stars, set on a field of white satin, and
+the top of the arch was covered with holly and evergreen. The rear of
+the arch and the back of the chariot were covered by a beautiful
+anchor of hope, made entirely of flowers. The horses were decked with
+red, white and blue plumes and large silk pennants. The whole
+arrangement made a very fine display, and elicited much applause along
+the route.
+
+"A banner was carried in the line of the civic societies, containing
+the following, in gold letters on a field of green satin:
+
+  "Delegates--remember the words of our martyred O'Brien, to unite in
+   God's name, for Ireland and liberty. God save Ireland.
+
+"An outline cross in gold covered the front of the banner.
+
+"Along the route advertised, the sidewalks were lined by expectant
+watchers, in some instances three or four abreast. They waited
+patiently for nearly three long hours before the head of the line
+appeared. Green flags, with yellow harps and the words 'Erin go
+Bragh,' were plentifully distributed throughout the crowd. The
+universal color was green; green ribbons in button-holes, green
+neckties, green badges, green flags, green coats, green sashes and
+green uniforms. The bands played 'Wearing of the Green,' continually.
+'Green grow the Rushes, O,' 'The Green above the Red,' and
+'Garry-owen' were the only substitutes.
+
+"There was a great deal of enthusiasm manifested all along the route,
+and the procession did not cease marching until the shades of evening
+had approached."
+
+But to resume, once more, the thread of our story:--In due time the
+establishment of The Harp was disposed of to advantage, and the sum
+realized from it placed in the hands of O'Brien by his sister who had
+made her way to Buffalo according to his directions. When matters
+quieted down in the vicinity of Ridgeway, Martha paid a visit to her
+friend Kate, and was soon followed by Henry with a view to keeping his
+word in relation to their marriage which took place on the same
+evening and under the same roof with that of Kate and Nicholas. The
+joint affair was a grand one; many guests having been invited to the
+wedding; among whom were some officers of the I.R.A., and all that
+survived of Barry's comrades. Tom, was in his glory; and as all the
+military men present had been at Ridgeway, the _pros_ and _cons_ of
+that important battle were discussed in a manner the most lively and
+entertaining. Then and there, it was voted, that although the invasion
+of the Provinces had not at the moment, resulted in any immediate
+benefits to the Irish, it had given a prestige to the arms of Ireland
+in an individual and national sense, not realized by that country for
+ages. Not since the palmy days of our early chivalry, had British soil
+been invaded by a hostile Irish army, until O'Neill broke the ice at
+Ridgeway; and at no period in the history of the nation had a mere
+handful of men performed greater miracles of valor or been handled
+with more consummate judgment and daring.
+
+In the course of a few days, Mr. and Mrs. Evans returned to their home
+near Ridgeway; and prevailed upon Mrs., now the widow Wilson, to
+dispose of the house and property identified with so many unhappy
+associations, and near which the young wife could not now be induced
+to venture. In the roomy and commodious dwelling of the Evans' she
+found a home; and in the course of time began to wear a more cheerful
+aspect, and forget, in a measure, the dreadful ordeal through which
+she had passed. Nevertheless, no real sunshine visited her brow, as
+the shadow that had fallen on it was too deep and sorrowful for even
+the peace and quiet now promised her in the decline of her years.
+
+Six months after their marriage, the Barrys were apprised of their
+success regarding the Chancery-suit; but so enormous were the expenses
+attending it, that, after all, the benefits accruing from it were
+something similar to those experienced by Gulliver after his having
+encountered and overcome all the difficulties that could have possibly
+beset humanity. Still they were richer through its having been decided
+in their favor; and were enabled on the strength of it to purchase a
+handsome dwelling near their friends of the Rock, where they still
+reside in comfortable if not affluent circumstances. Tom and his
+sister, old bachelor and old maid, are once again in business, but
+this time not in the restaurant line; and had we not given assumed
+names throughout our whole story in so far as he and Barry are
+concerned, his establishment might be recognized at any period by
+those acquainted with Buffalo and its vicinity, or such as have passed
+along a certain well-known thoroughfare to Black Rock. His faith never
+falters in relation to the independence of Ireland; and he still keeps
+up his connection with the Brotherhood on both sides of the line;
+often receiving from Canada lengthy and mysterious epistles written by
+Burk, over which he pores, from time to time, with sundry nods, winks
+and significant smiles.
+
+Henry and Martha are now occasionally to be seen at the Rock; the
+former wearing a green necktie, and the latter as happy as the day is
+long. In the arms of both Kate and Martha are now two sweet
+prattlers--one christened, John O'Neill Barry, and the other, Martha
+Ridgeway Evans. Perhaps in after years they in turn may plight their
+vows on the banks of the Niagara, as Kate and Nicholas had done by
+those of the Shannon. Kate now and then visits her friends at their
+residence on the Canadian side of the lakes; but Nicholas is of the
+impression, that he is quite as well off in judiciously remaining at
+home to look after the affairs of their establishment. Sometimes,
+however, he gazes across the river and wonders how soon again he shall
+have an opportunity of measuring swords with the ancient enemy of his
+race; while Tom has made up his mind to handle a rifle himself, the
+next time that O'Neill sounds "to horse!"
+
+And so ends our story of Ridgeway, with all the difficulties, loves,
+hopes and fears connected with it. Throughout the whole of our
+narrative we have been faithful to circumstances where the interests
+of the truth required that we should be just and impartial. In this
+connection we have been guided solely by personal knowledge and the
+evidence of respectable eye-witnesses; and by official documents of
+the campaign, the veracity of which are beyond any question whatever.
+Here, then, we bid our readers good-bye for the present; trusting that
+we may soon again renew our acquaintance, and that we have not done
+injustice to any party; for, notwithstanding the slight tinge of
+romance with which our facts are interwoven, we have, after all,
+presented nothing for their perusal at variance with truth, or, we
+hope, prejudicial to society.
+
+_THE END_.
+
+
+[1] Although we are under the impression that others of these
+gentlemen than those designated belong to the I.R.A. yet we are unable
+to give their military rank, from the fact of our not being able, at
+the time of our writing, to obtain proper intelligence on the subject.
+
+
+
+
+AUTHENTIC REPORT OF THE
+_Invasion of Canada, and the Battle of Ridgeway_,
+
+By the Army of the Irish Republic, under General O'NEILL, June, 1866.
+
+About midnight, on the 31st May, the men commenced moving from Buffalo
+to Lower Black Rock, about three miles down the river, and at 3:30 A.M.,
+on the 1st of June, all of the men, with the arms and ammunition, were
+on board four canal boats, and towed across the Niagara River, to a
+point on the Canadian side called Waterloo, and at 4 o'clock A.M.,
+the Irish flag was planted on British soil, by Colonel Starr, who had
+command of the first two boats.
+
+On landing, O'Neill immediately ordered the telegraph wires leading
+from the town to be cut down; and sent a party to destroy the
+railroad bridge leading to Port Colborne.
+
+Colonel Starr, in command of the Kentucky and Indiana troops,
+proceeded through the town of Fort Erie to the old Fort, some three
+miles distant up the river, and occupied it for a short time, hoisting
+the Irish flag.
+
+O'Neill then waited on the Reeve of Fort Erie, and requested him to
+see some of the citizens of the place, and have them furnish rations
+for the men, at the same time assuring him that no depredations on
+the citizens would be permitted, as he had come to drive out British
+authority from the soil, and not for the purpose of pillaging the
+citizens. The request for provisions was cheerfully complied with.
+
+About 10 o'clock A.M., he moved into camp on Newbiggin's Farm,
+situated on Frenchman's Creek, four miles down the river from Fort
+Erie, where he remained till 10 o'clock P.M.
+
+During the afternoon, Capt. Donohue, of the 18th, while out in command
+of a foraging party, on the road leading to Chippewa, came up with the
+enemy's scouts, who fled at his approach.
+
+Later in the afternoon, Col. Hoy was sent with one hundred men in the
+same road. He also came up with some scouts about six miles from camp.
+Here he was ordered to halt.
+
+By this time--8 o'clock P.M.--information was received that a large
+force of the enemy, said to be five thousand strong, with artillery,
+were advancing in two columns; one from the direction of Chippewa, and
+the other from Port Colborne; also, that troops from Port Colborne
+were to make an attack from the lake side.
+
+Here truth compels me to make an admission that I would fain have kept
+from the public. Some of the men who crossed over with us the night
+before, managed to leave the command during the day, and recross to
+Buffalo, while others remained in houses around Fort Erie. This I
+record to their lasting disgrace.
+
+On account of this shameful desertion, and the fact that arms had been
+sent out for eight hundred men, O'Neill had to destroy three hundred
+stand, to prevent them falling into the bands of the enemy. At this
+time he could not depend on more than five hundred men, about
+one-tenth of the reputed number of the enemy, which he knew were
+surrounding him. Rather a critical position, but he had been sent to
+accomplish a certain object, and he was determined to accomplish it.
+
+At 10 o'clock P.M., he broke camp, and marched towards Chippewa, and
+at midnight changed direction, and moved on the Limestone Ridge road,
+leading toward Ridgeway; halting a few hours on the way to rest the
+men;--this for the purpose of meeting the column advancing from Port
+Colborne. His object was to get between the two columns, and, if
+possible, defeat one of them before the other could come to its
+assistance.
+
+At about 7 o'clock A.M., 2d of June, when within three miles of
+Ridgeway, Col. Owen Starr in command of the advanced guard, came up
+with the advance of the enemy, mounted, and drove them some distance,
+till he got within sight of their skirmish line, which extended on
+both sides of the road about half a mile. By this time, O'Neill could
+hear the whistle of the railroad cars which brought the enemy from
+Port Colborne. He immediately advanced his skirmishers, and formed
+line of battle behind temporary breastworks made of rails, on a road
+leading to Fort Erie, and running parallel with the enemy's line. The
+skirmishing was kept up over half an hour, when, perceiving the enemy
+flanking him on both aides, and not being able to draw out their
+centre, which was partially protected by thick timber, befell back a
+few hundred yards, and formed a new line. The enemy seeing he had only
+a few men--about four hundred--and supposing that he had commenced a
+retreat, advanced rapidly in pursuit. When they got close enough, he
+gave them a volley, and then charged them, driving them nearly three
+miles, through the town of Ridgeway. In their hasty retreat they threw
+away knapsacks, guns, and everything that was likely to retard their
+speed, and left some ten or twelve killed and twenty-five or thirty
+wounded, with twelve prisoners, in his hands. Amongst the killed was
+Lieut. McEachern, and amongst the wounded Lieut. Ruth, both of the
+"Queen's Own." The pursuit was given up about a mile beyond Ridgeway.
+
+Although he had met and defeated the enemy, yet his position was still
+a very critical one. The reputed strength of the enemy engaged in the
+fight was fourteen hundred, composed of the "Queen's Own," the 13th
+Hamilton Battalion, and other troops. A regiment which had left Fort
+Colburne was said to be on the road to reinforce them. He also knew
+that the column from Chippewa would hear of the fight, and in all
+probability move up in his rear.
+
+Thus situated, and not knowing what was going on elsewhere, he decided
+that his best policy was to return to Fort Erie, and ascertain if
+crossings had been made at other points, and if so, he was willing to
+sacrifice himself and his noble little command, for the sake of
+leaving the way open, as he felt satisfied that a large proportion of
+the enemy's forces had been concentrated against him.
+
+He collected a few of his own wounded, and put them in wagons, and for
+want of transportation had to leave six others in charge of the
+citizens, who promised to look after them and bury the dead of both
+sides. He then divided his command, and sent one half, under Col.
+Starr, down the railroad, to destroy it and burn the bridges, and with
+the other half took the pike road leading to Fort Erie. Col. Starr got
+to the old Fort about the same time that he himself did to the village
+of Fort Erie, 4 o'clock P.M. He (Starr) left the men there under the
+command of Lieut. Col. Spaulding, and joined O'Neill in a skirmish
+with a company of the Welland Battery, which had arrived there from
+Port Colborne in the morning, and which picked up a few of the men who
+had straggled from the command the day before. They had these men
+prisoners on board the steamer "Robb." The skirmish lasted about
+fifteen minutes, the enemy firing from the houses. Three or four were
+killed, and some eight or ten wounded, on each side.
+
+It was here that Lieut. Col. Bailey was wounded, while gallantly
+leading the advance on this side of the town. Here forty-five of the
+enemy were taken prisoners, among them Capt. King, who was wounded,
+(leg since amputated,) Lieut. McDonald, Royal Navy, and Commander of
+the steamer "Robb," and Lieut. Nemo, Royal Artillery. O'Neill then
+collected his men, and posted Lieut. Col. Grace, with one hundred men,
+on the outskirts of the town, guarding the road leading to Chippewa,
+while with the remainder of the command he proceeded to the old Fort.
+
+About six o'clock A.M., he sent word to Capt. Hynes and his friends at
+Buffalo that the enemy could surround him before morning with five
+thousand men, fully provided with artillery, and that his little
+command, which had by this time considerably decreased, could not hold
+out long, but that if a movement was going on elsewhere, he was
+perfectly willing to make the Old Fort a slaughter pen, which he knew
+it would be the next day if he remained. FOR HE WOULD NEVER HAVE
+SURRENDERED.
+
+Many of the men had not a mouthful to eat since Friday morning, and
+none of them had eaten anything since the night before, and all after
+marching forty miles and fighting two battles, though the last could
+only properly be called a skirmish. They were completely worn out with
+hunger and fatigue.
+
+On receiving information that no crossing had been effected elsewhere,
+he sent word to have transportation furnished immediately; and about
+ten o'clock P.M. Capt. Hynes came from Buffalo and informed him that
+arrangements had been made to recross the river.
+
+Previous to this time some of the officers and men, realizing the
+danger of their position, availed themselves of small boats and
+recrossed the river, but the greater portion remained until the
+transportation arrived, which was about 12 o'clock on the night of
+June 2, and about 2 o'clock A.M. on the morning of the 3d, all except
+a few wounded men were safely on board a large scow attached to a tug
+boat which hauled into American waters. Here they were hailed by the
+tug Harrison, belonging to the U.S. steamer Michigan, having on board
+one 12-pounder pivot gun, which fired across their bows and threatened
+to sink them unless they hauled to and surrendered. With this request
+they complied; not because they feared the 12-pounder, or the still
+more powerful guns of the Michigan, which lay close by, but because
+they respected the authority of the United States, in defence of which
+many of them had fought and bled during the late war. They would have
+as readily surrendered to an infant bearing the authority of the
+Union, as to Acting Master Morris of the tug Harrison, who is himself
+an Englishman. The number thus surrendered was three hundred and
+seventeen men, including officers.
+
+The officers were taken on board the Michigan, and were well treated
+by Capt Bryson and the gentlemanly officers of his ship, while the men
+were kept on the open scow, which was very filthy, without any
+accommodation whatever, and barely large enough for them to turn round
+in. Part of the time the rain poured down on them in torrents. I am
+not certain who is to blame for this cruel treatment; but whoever the
+guilty parties are they should be loathed and despised by all men. The
+men were kept on board the scow for four days and then discharged on
+their own recognizances to appear at Canandaigna on the 19th of June,
+to answer to the charge of having violated the Neutrality Laws. The
+officers were admitted to bail. The report generally circulated, and,
+I might say, generally believed, that the pickets were left behind,
+and that they were captured by the enemy, is entirely false. Every man
+who remained with the command, excepting a few wounded, had the same
+chance of escaping that O'Neill himself had.
+
+To the extraordinary exertions of our friends of Buffalo, F.B.
+Gallagher, Wm. Burk, Hugh Mooney, James Whelan, Capt. James Doyle,
+John Conners, Edward Frawley, James J. Crawley, M.T. Lynch, James
+Cronin, and Michael Donahue, the command were indebted for being able
+to escape from the Canadian side. Col. H.R. Stagg and Capt. McConvey,
+of Buffalo, were also very assiduous in doing everything in their
+power. Col. Stagg had started from Buffalo with about two hundred and
+fifty men, to reinforce O'Neill, but the number was too small to be of
+any use, and he was ordered to return. Much praise is due to Drs.
+Trowbridge and Blanchard, of Buffalo, and Surgeon Donnelly, of
+Pittsburg, for their untiring attendance to the wounded.
+
+All who were with the command acted their parts so nobly that I feel a
+little delicacy in making special mention of any, and shall not do so
+except in two instances: One is Michael Cochrane, Color Sergeant of
+the Indianapolis Company, whose gallantry and daring were conspicuous
+throughout the fight at Ridgeway. He was seriously wounded, and fell
+into the hands of the enemy. The other is Major John C. Canty, who
+lived at Fort Erie. He risked everything he possessed on earth, and
+acted his part gallantly in the field.
+
+In the fight at Ridgeway, and the skirmish at Fort Erie, as near as
+can be ascertained, the Fenian loss was eight killed and fifteen
+wounded. Among the killed was Lieut. E.R. Lonergan, a brave young
+officer, of Buffalo. Of the enemy, thirty were killed and one hundred
+wounded.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ridgeway, by Scian Dubh
+
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