After wandering on for several miles, he at last struck on a path, and
following it a short way, his attention was attracted to a glow of light,
which rose just before him, on what appeared to be the surface of the moor.
He cautiously advanced several steps, and perceived that the light rose
near the edge of a declivity, and the noise of human voices was now
distinctly apparent. Little doubt could exist that it was a haunt either
of smugglers or insurgents, with the description of some of which the
situation accurately corresponded. It would have been more prudent to have
instantly retreated; but the organ of inquisitiveness was, we presume,
very fully developed in Smyth; he stepped forward a little to have a
better survey of the locale, when the ground or rather turf roof of a sort
of outhouse, suddenly gave way under him, and he gently descended among
some hay, with which the place was nearly filled. It may be supposed his
curiosity received a sudden check by this adventure. An imperfectly
constructed partition divided him from the party whose voices he had heard
aloft. You might have heard his heart beat for two or three minutes, as it
was very probable that the noise of his fall would have disturbed the
inmates--but the conversation went on in the same monotonous tone.

"Och, Brine Morrice, _avic_, sure an that thief o' the worl', Will Guire,
hasn't been after letten' the soger-officer com' over him?"

"Bad luck to him, Misthress Burke, _agra_, in troth I was jist awond'ring
what keeps Tom Daly and the b'ys out--and them were to have had the
red-coat these three hours agone!"

"Hisht jewel, I heard a noise--och, _musha_, its the b'ys sure enough--and
the ---- Saxon with 'em, I'll be bail!"

At this moment several men arrived in front of the edifice, and, to the