The Heir of Kilfinnan: A Tale of the Shore and Ocean
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CHAPTER FIVE.
Without waiting for further directions, away went the mad girl overmoorland and glen at a speed which, considering the darkness, scarcely awild deer could have rivalled, and before long she stood at the entranceof the cavern. She waited for some time, in the hopes that the inmateswould go to sleep, and that she could more easily find an entrance.Listening, she heard voices within, and that of Father O'Rourke aboveall the rest.
"Where the priest is, there there's mischief," she said to herself. "Ifhe's going to stay there's little I shall be able to do."
She had not waited long, however, concealed behind a rock, when she sawFather O'Rourke issue forth and take his way down the hill. She waitedsome time longer, then quietly entered the cavern, gliding past thetable and up to its further end. The men, who were still awake, gazedat her with astonishment, wondering what had brought her there, but noneventured to speak to her. She was held in a sort of superstitiousreverence by the ignorant peasantry; and seeing her fearlessly enter,they fancied that she had authority for coming among them. No onesuspected, indeed, that she would not prove faithful to their cause, hadshe discovered their intention. Silently she passed up the cavern andsat herself down on a chest at the further end, where, concealed by thedarkness, she yet could look forth on the objects lighted by the lamp,and make her observations.
She had not been there long before she discovered Dermot resting on hiselbow on the bunk where he had been placed. She watched till thosearound her appeared to be asleep, and she then noiselessly glided up towhere he lay.
"I have come to look for you, Dermot," she whispered. "Have you anymessage to send to friends, or would you have me set you free? Themessage I might take, but if I were to try and set you free, I might bemade prisoner myself."
"I will send a message; that will be the safest plan," said Dermot."But how did you find me out?"
She told him briefly.
"Stay, I can take a leaf from one of my books," he observed. "I willwrite it, it will be safer, and you will remember to deliver it,Kathleen, if you wish to do me and others real service."
"Oh yes, Dermot, write, you may trust me; it is better than putting itinto my poor mind, though I can remember if it is not overcharged," sheanswered with a sigh. "But be quick, or some of these people will besuspecting us."
Dermot sat up. He had fortunately a pencil in his pocket, and taking aleaf from one of his books, he wrote a few lines, addressed to the Earl,telling him of the intention of the rebels to attack his castle, andalso of their purpose of getting the frigate out of the way.
The note may not have been well written or very well expressed, but itwas clear and to the purpose. After signing his name he added, "Oh,trust me, my lord, I would come myself but I am a prisoner, and I prayheaven that this may reach you in time to be of service."
Kathleen placed the note in her bosom, hoping that she had not beenobserved.
"Now hasten away, Kathleen," whispered Dermot. "You can do as much goodas I could have done had I been free, and providing those in the castleare preserved I care not what happens."
Kathleen returned to her former seat and began chanting one of the airsshe was generally heard singing, and then, once more gliding down thecentre of the cave, she took her departure unquestioned by any of therebels. Again in the open air she quickly descended the mountain, darkas it was, and in spite of the roughness of the way, she hastenedforward at a rapid speed towards Kilfinnan Castle. All was silent asshe approached the gates. In vain she walked round and round, she couldfind no means of making herself heard. The inmates, unsuspicious ofdanger, were all at rest. She looked down into the bay. The frigatewas not there. "All my labours will be of no avail," she thought toherself, "if I cannot let the good lord know what is threatened."
She had walked some way under the castle walls, when, looking up, shesaw a light in a window. Instantly she gave forth one of her wildsongs. Some of those within who had heard of the famed Banshee werefully persuaded that it was a phantom visitor singing outside the gates,indicative of the speedy death of some one of consequence within. Atlength the window opened.
"Who's there?" asked a feminine voice. "Surely it is some mortal, andnot a spirit from another world."
"I'm sure it is," said another voice.
"It's the poor girl Miss O'Reilly was telling us about. What is it youwant, Kathleen?" asked the speaker in a tender tone.
"Is it you who calls me, my lady?" answered Kathleen from below.
"Yes, it is I; what brings you here at this hour of the night?"
"A message--a paper for the Earl, my lady," said the mad girl. "It isfrom one who would serve him, and it is of great importance he told me.I cannot say more now; but if you will let me into the castle I willplace it in your hands, and tell you all I know."
"Come round to the front door," said a voice, which was that of LadySophy. "We will come down with a light, and admit you."
Some time was occupied by the young ladies in putting on their dresses,and then arousing the Earl with the information that a message ofimportance was brought for him, they hastened down stairs.
At first, from the incoherent way in which poor Kathleen spoke, LadySophy and Nora could not understand what had occurred. At length thetruth dawned upon them, and by the time the Earl appeared, they wereable to explain to him what they had learned.
He at once clearly understood that Dermot had been seized by those whointended to carry off his own son, and he felt not a little grateful tothe young fisher-boy for the way he had behaved in the matter. He sawlikewise that no time was to be lost, and that it would be necessaryboth to send off messengers to procure troops from the nearest placewhere they were quartered, and also immediately to put the castle into astate of defence. He regretted the absence of the frigate, and couldonly hope that she might return sooner than it had been CaptainFalkner's intention of doing.
In vain Lady Sophy pressed poor Kathleen, after her exertions, to remainand rest at the castle.
"No, no," she answered; "I will be back again at my home. If I amabsent, they will suspect that I have taken a part in this matter; andthough they can do me no harm, they may injure those I love."
The poor girl could scarcely be persuaded to take any refreshment; andat length, having eaten a little which Lady Nora brought her, shehastened away towards the vicarage, singing in her usual strain as shewent.
The Earl quickly aroused the inmates of the castle. Messengers weresent off as he proposed, and all the people in the neighbourhood whocould be trusted were summoned to come within the walls to aid in itsdefence. There were a few guns planted on the battlements, but theywere more for show than use, that part of the country having hithertobeen tranquil, and no idea being entertained that they would berequired. There were, however, muskets and pistols in the armoury, andpikes, and numerous old weapons of warfare which were stored there, moreas an exhibition on account of their antiquity than for use. Still, thegates were strong, and it would require no small amount of force tobreak them open.
The preparations for the defence occupied a considerable time; the lowerwindows had to be barricaded, and the doors strengthened by stout bars.A few holes were left for musketry in different parts, and a supply oflarge stones was brought up from the beach below to serve as missiles,should the rebels approach near enough to make them useful.
The first streaks of daylight were appearing in the sky before all thesepreparations were made. Soon after, while the little garrison wereresting from the toil they had undergone, the tramp of feet was heardapproaching the castle.