Kilcowan, inquired where the Irish cavalry, who had taken part in the
afternoon's fight, were quartered, and on hearing that they were but two
miles away, the officer in command had forced one of the peasants to act
as guide, and to take a party round, by a detour, so as to enter at the
other end of the village, just as another party rode in by the direct
road.

Walter was taken first to Kilcowan. There he found a party of twelve or
fourteen peasants, surrounded by cavalry. The whole village was in
flames. Several of the inhabitants had been cut down, as the cavalry
entered. The rest, with the exception of those in the hands of the
troops, had fled in the darkness. As soon as the detachment with Walter
arrived, the whole body got into motion, and reached Ginckle's camp
shortly before midnight.

As the general had retired to sleep, they were placed in a tent, and four
sentries posted round it, with orders to shoot anyone who showed his head
outside. In the morning, they were ordered to come out, and found outside
the general, with several of his officers.

"So," Ginckle said, "you are the fellows who attacked my soldiers. I will
teach you a lesson which shall be remembered all over Ireland. You shall
be broken on the wheel."

This sentence was heard unmoved by the peasants, who had not the least
idea of what was meant by it; but Walter stepped forward:

"It is not these men who are to blame, but your soldiers, general," he
said. "Your own proclamation, issued three days ago, guaranteed that no
private property should be interfered with, and that everything the