"Harry," said his uncle, as nine o'clock approached, "I am going upon
duty tonight."
"In what direction, sir? may I ask."
"Yes, you may, but I'm not bound to tell you. In this instance, however,
there is no necessity for secrecy; it is now too late to give our
gentleman the hard word, so I don't care much if I do tell you. I am
bound for Ahadarra."
"For Ahadarra--you say for Ahadarra, uncle?"
"I do, nephew."
"By heavens, he is the deepest and most consummate scoundrel
alive," exclaimed Harry; "I now see it all. Uncle, I wish to God you
would--would---I don't know what to say."
"That's quite evident, nor what to think either. In the mean time the
soldiers are waiting for me in Ballymacan, and so I must attend to my
duty, Harry."
"Is it upon the strength of the blotted letter you got this morning,
sir, that you are now acting"?"
"No, sir; but upon the strength of a sure spy dispatched this day to the
premises. I am a little too shrewd now, Master Harry, to act solely upon
anonymous information. I have been led too many devil's dances by it in
my time, to be gulled in my old age on the strength of it."
He immediately prepared himself for the excursion, mounted his horse,
that was caparisoned in a military saddle, the holsters furnished with a
case of pistols, which, with a double case that he had on his person and
two daggers, constituted his weapons of offence and defence.
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