CHAPTER VII.

AND

HOW GEOFFREY AND MONA FALL INTO STRANGE COMPANY;
HOW THEY PROFIT BY IT; AND HOW MONA, OUTSTRIPPING
WICKED VENGEANCE, SAVES A LIFE.

'Is it very late?' says Mona, awaking from her happy dreams with a start.

'Not very,' says Geoffrey. 'It seems only just now that Mickey and the dogs left us.' Together they examine his watch, by the light of the moon, and see that it is quite ten o'clock.

'Oh, it is dreadfully late!' says Mona, with much compunction. Come, let us hurry.'

" Well, just one moment,' says Geoffrey, detaining her; let us finish what we were saying. Would you rather go to the East or to Rome?'

'To Rome,' says Mona. But do you mean it? Can you afford it? Italy seems so far away.' Then, after a thoughtful silence, Mr. Rodney

frey.

Whom on earth are you speaking to?' says Geof

To you!' with surprise.

'I am not Mr. Rodney; Jack is that.

call me anything else?'

'What else?' says Mona shyly.

Call me Geoffrey.'

Can't you

'I always think of you as Geoffrey,' whispers she, with a swift, sweet upward glance; but to say it is so different. Well,' bravely, I'll try. Dear, dear, dear Geoffrey, I want to tell you I would be as happy with you in Wicklow as in Rome.'

word, darts through the hedge again like a shaft from a bow, and, scurrying through the fields is soon lost to sight.

'Come with me,' says Mona to Rodney; and with an air of settled determination, and a hard look on her usually mobile lips, she moves deliberately towards the hawthorn bush that is about a quarter of a mile distant. Mona,' says Rodney, divining her intent, stay you here while I go and expostulate with these men. It is late, darling, and their blood is up, and they may not listen to you. Let me speak to them.'

6

You do not understand them,' returns she sadly, ' and I do. Besides, they will not harm me. There is no fear of that. I am not at all afraid of them, and ---I must speak to them.'

He knows her sufficiently well to refrain from further expostulation, and just accompanies her silently along the lonely road.

It is I, Mona Scully,' she calls aloud when she is within a hundred yards of the hiding-place. 'Tim Ryan, come here, I want you.'

It is a mere guess on her part, supported certainly by many tales she has heard of this Ryan, of late, but a guess nevertheless. It proves, however, to be a correct one. A man, indistinct, but unmistakable, shows himself on the top of the wall, and pulls his forelock through force of habit.

'What are you doing here, Tim?' says Mona bravely, calmly, at this hour, and with-yes, do not seek to hide it from me-a gun! And you, too, Carthy,' peering into the darkness to where another man less plucky than Ryan lies concealed. "Ah! you may well wish to shade your face, since it is evil you have in your heart this night.'

'Do ye mane to inform on us,' says Ryan slowly, who is a man of a villainous countenance,' laying his hand impulsively upon his gun, and glancing at her and Rodney alternately, with murder in his eyes. It

is a critical moment. Rodney, putting out his hand, tries to draw her behind him.

'No, I am not afraid,' says the girl, resisting his effort to put himself before her; and when he would have spoken she puts up her hand, and warns him to keep silence.

'You should know better than to apply the word "informer" to one of my blood,' says she coldly, speaking to Ryan, without a tremor in her voice.

I know that,' says the man sullenly. But what of him '-pointing to Rodney, the ruffianly look still on his face the Englishman I mane?

Is he sure? It's a life for a life afther all when everything is towld.'

6

He handles the gun again menacingly. Mona, though still apparently calm, whitens perceptibly beneath the cold penetrating rays of the pale-faced moon' that up above in heaven's ebon vault, studded with stars unutterably bright,' looks down upon her perhaps with love and pity.

Tim,' she says, what have I ever done to you that you should seek to make me unhappy??

'I I have nothing to do with you. Go your ways. It is with him I have to settle,' says the man morosely. 'But I have to do with him,' says Mona distinctly. At this, in spite of everything, Rodney laughs lightly, and taking her hand in his draws it through his arm. There is love and trust and great content in his laugh.

"Eh!' says Ryan, while the other man she has called Carthy-and who up to this has appeared desirous of concealing himself from view-now presses forward and regards the two with lingering scrutiny.

Why-what have you to do with her?' says Ryan, addressing Rodney, a gleam of something that savours of amusement showing itself even in his ill-favoured face; for an Irishman, under all circumstances, dearly loves a courting, a bon mot, and a broil.'

This much,' says Rodney, laughing again. I am going to marry her, with her leave.'

If that be so, she'll make you keep from splittin' on us,' says the man. 'So now go; we've work in hand to-night not fit for her eyes.'

Mona shudders.

'Tim,' she says distractedly, 'do not bring murder on your soul. Oh, Tim! think it over while there is yet time. I have heard all about it; and I would ask you to remember that it is not Mr. Maxwell's fault that Peggy Madden was evicted, but the fault of his master. If any one must be shot, it ought to be Lord Crighton' (as his Lordship is at this moment safe in Constantinople, she says this boldly), and not his paid servant.' 'I daresay we'll get at the lord by-an'-bye,' says Ryan untouched. Go yer ways, will ye, an' quick too. Maybe if ye thry me too far, ye'll learn to rue this night."

6

Seeing further talk is useless, Mona slips her hand into Rodney's, and leads him down the road.

But when they have turned a corner and are quite out of sight and hearing, Rodney stops short and says hurriedly :

'Mona, can you manage to get home by some short way by yourself? Because I must return. I must stand by this man they are going to murder. I must indeed, darling. Forgive me that I desert you here and at such an hour, but I see you are safe in the country, and five minutes will take you to the farm, and I cannot let his life be taken without striking a blow for him.'

'And did you think I was content to let him die? says Mona, reproachfully. 'No! There is a chance. for him still, and I will explain it to you. It is early yet. He seldom passes here before eleven, and it is but a little after ten. I know the hour he usually returns, because he always goes by our gate, and often I bid him good-night in the summer time. Come with me,' excitedly. I can lead you by a cross path to the Ballavacky road, by which he must come, and if we

overtake him before he reaches that spot, we can save his life. Come-do not delay!' She turns through a broken gap into a ploughed field, and breaks into a quick run.

'If we hurry we must meet his car there, and can send him back into Bantry, and so save him.'

All this she breathes forth in disjointed sentences as she rushes like a light-footed deer across the ploughed land into the wet grass beyond.

Over one high bank, across a stile, through another broken gap, on to a wall, straight and broad, up which Rodney pulls her, carefully taking her down in his arms at the other side.

Still onward-lightly, swiftly; now in sight of the boundless sea, now diving down into the plain, without faintness or despondency, or any other feeling but a passionate determination to save a man's life.

Rodney's breath is coming more quickly, and he is conscious of a desire to stop, and pull himself together -if only for a minute-before bracing himself for a second effort. But to Mona, with her fresh and perfect health, and lithe and lissom body, and all the rich young blood that surges upwards in her veins, excitement serves but to make her more elastic; and with her mind strung to its highest pitch, and her hot Irish blood aflame, she runs easily onwards, until at length the road is reached that is her goal.

Springing upon the bank that skirts the road on one side, she raises her hands to her head, and listens with all her might for sound of wheels in the distance. But all is still.

Oh, if they should be too late! If Maxwell has passed and gone down the other road, and is perhaps now already done to death' by the cruel treacherous enemy that lieth in wait for him!

6

Her blood heated by her swift run grows cold again as this thought comes to her- forced to the front by the fact that all the air a solemn stillness holds,' and