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After leaving Donegore hill, O'Halloran and
his companions did not relax their speed until
they reached Ballyclare, a town about five miles
distant. Here they stopped for some refreshment,
and with a view to consult on what measures they
should adopt for their safety. But here they had
not been many minutes, until the town was beset
by a troop of horse, that had just arrived from
Larne, on their way to join Nugent in his attack
upon the insurgents at Donegore.

These were the men who, as the reader will remember,
entered Larne the preceding day under
the command of Captain Claverill, and would have
set fire to the town after the insurgents left it, had
they not been prevented by Small and his party.
They were now informed of the encampment at
Donegore being broken up, for which the valiant
Captain Caverill swore he was damned sorry, as
he had expected to have some good fighting with
the rebel rascals that evening. “But come, my
lads,” said he to his dragoons, “this cursed town has
been a nest for rebels. Apply your matches and
burn the damned hole.”

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The dragoons obeyed him after having for some
time galloped through the streets, uttering the
most horrid imprecations against the inhabitants,
who were mostly women and children, for the
majority of the men had been at Donegore, and
were not yet returned. In a few minutes the town
was emptied of these miserable inhabitants, terror
driving them in all directions, over the surrounding
country.

O'Halloran and his companions had also started
off. But the troopers having received some intimation
concerning them, they were pursued. The
fleetness of their horses, however, saved them all,
except Porter, whose horse stumbled and threw
him, in consequence of which he was taken.

When O'Halloran and M`Cracken had reached
Ballybolly hill, about two miles distant, perceiving
that the pursuit had ceased, they slackened their
pace, and turning round, perceived the town in
flames.

“Ah!” said M`Cracken, “what have not these
villains to answer for?”

“Regret is now useless,” replied O'Halloran,
“but I am afraid that we also have some of this
to answer for. But our motives were good; our
judgments only were in error.”

“Surely,” said M`Cracken “you do not repent
your efforts in the cause of your country's freedom.”

“I meant well for my country,” replied O'Halloran,
“but my efforts have only encreased her
chains. I wished to make her happy, and more
prosperous, and I have contributed to make her
more miserable and degraded!”

M`Cracken only replied with a sigh; and in this
tone of mind, each absorbed in his own reflections,
they rode slowly and silently until they came to a
small cottage on the verge of Agnew's hill. They

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stopped at the door, and a neat, cleanly looking,
middle aged woman, with a child in her arms,
opened it. She appeared to have been weeping,
for the tears still shone in her eyes. On first seeing
the gentlemen, she startled as if she apprehended
some danger; but soon recognising O'Halloran,
her fears vanished, and being asked if they could
obtain some refreshment, she replied

“Yes, and welcome; such as I have.”

They now alighted and entered. Upon a small
table, near a blazing turf fire, over which a teakettle
was suspended, they found a large bible,
lying open, on looking into which, O'Halloran's
attention was arrested by the following consolatory
passage, at the beginning of the 46th Psalm.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though
the earth be removed, and though the mountains
be carried into the midst of the sea; though the
waters thereof roar and be troubled; though the
mountains shake with the swellings thereof.”

He read the passage aloud; and turning to
M`Cracken, “I am not superstitious,” said he, “but
really there is consolation here. Dependence on
God is, indeed, the firmest rock on which to build
hope, and the unlooked-for occurrence of this passage,
appears to me something like an assurance
that heavenly power will protect us from our enemies.”

“Mr. O'Halloran,” replied the other, “you are
surely not serious in laying such emphasis on any
accidental incident? We must expect no miracles
now-a-days; and I believe that the best way to
preserve ourselves from our enemies is to keep out
of their reach.”

“I believe, however,” observed O'Halloran,
“that whether out of their reach or in it, we require
the protecting arm of Providence to

[figure description] Page 060.[end figure description]

accomplish our safety. I confess that from the time that
we left the camp, until this moment, I felt much
dispirited. I felt as if I had no support in my distress,
no refuge to fly to from the vengeance of our
pursuers; but this passage has, in an instant, dispelled
my fears, or rather it has restored my courage,
for it has reminded me that, come what will,
I have an unchangeable friend, who will not desert
me in my need.”

M`Cracken, astonished at the seriousness of his
companion, replied, “I hope, however, that, in relying
on preternatural protection, you will not
neglect the usual earthly means of safety, a proper
concealment from your enemies.”

“I will not neglect earthly means,” said O'Halloran,
“for it is my duty not to neglect them; but
I shall not, henceforth, be so solicitous about the
result; for should my enemies find me, here,” said
he, placing his finger on the passage, “here is my
support.”

The woman now modestly observed to O'Halloran,
“Ah! sir, that is, indeed, a comfortable passage.
I also, just before you came, derived great
consolation from it; for I have been, both yesterday
and to day, in great trouble; but this precious
book has enabled me to support it. I have passed
the time in reading the various promises which
God makes to his children in affliction, and I have
had my sorrows sweetened. But, gentlemen, as I
find you have been at Donegore, may I ask you if
there has been any blood shed? My husband left
me yesterday to join the United Irishmen there?”

“At what time of the day did your husband go,”
inquired O'Halloran.

“In the afternoon, Sir.”

“Then” said he,” be comforted, for he is safe.
There was blood shed at Antrim, but none at Donegore;
and your husband did not depart in time to

[figure description] Page 061.[end figure description]

have reached Antrim before all was over. You
may expect him home this very evening, for the
people assembled at Donegore, have voluntarily
dispersed, after having stipulated with the government
for a pardon.

“O God! I thank thee, that my children are not
yet fatherless!” she cried, falling on her knees.
“Thou hast heard my prayer, and hast protected
him. Make me thankful all the days of my
life, for thou hast delivered me out of this great
calamity.”

She then rose with a countenance brightened
with joy; but still serious. “Gentlemen,” said she,
“you must excuse me; for really I could not refrain
for returning instant thanks to the Author of
all good, for this unlooked for mercy to me and
mine.—But you must want refreshments. Shall I
prepare you any?”

They assented. She called aloud—“Paddy!”
and a little boy of about ten years old appeared,
whom she directed to lead the gentlemen's horses
into the stable, and give them oats.

The gentlemen seeing the boy so small, went to
assist him. When they returned they found a comfortable
meal prepared for them. During the repast,
Mrs. M`Kinley, with a countenance expressive of
some anxiety, requested to know if the pardon they
had mentioned, extended to all who had been in arms
on Donegore hill, for, said she, “you were there;
and yet you speak of being in danger.”

“The pardon was not granted to all,” replied
O'Halloran; “but very few were excepted, and it
was our fate to be among the unfortunate number.
You may be assured, however, that your husband
is included in it.”

“Gentlemen,” said she, “I am sorry for your
situation. In this remote place, however, you are
in the meantime safe; and my husband will gladly

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contribute all in his power to your concealment.
Poor man! he left me yesterday with a sore heart;
but, he said, he must go, as his oath compelled
him.”

Shortly after tea was finished, little Paddy came
running into the house, with intelligence that he
saw his father coming, and then ran off with the
fleetness of an arrow to meet him. Mrs. M`Kinley
hastily got up, and was speedily in her husband's
arms.

“Thank God! thank God!” was all she could
utter for some minutes, while her husband kissed
off the tears of joy that trickled down her cheeks.
He now perceived O'Halloran and his companion;
and advancing respectfully towards them, welcomed
them to his house.

“Gentlemen,” said he, “you must be carefully
concealed, for Claverill's dragoons are scouring the
whole country. They have caught Porter; and
had it not been for M`Claverty, they would have
put him to death in Ballyclare; but he prevailed
on them to send him to general Nugent, to be disposed
of as the government may order. It was
well for us all that M`Claverty came with us to
Ballyclare, as they would otherwise have discredited,
or at least disregarded, our having obtained
pardon; and many would have fallen victims to
heir ferocity. They had more than three-fourths
of the town in flames, when he arrived; but by his
exertions the remainder has been saved.”

O'Halloran signified his intention, if M`Cracken
would accompany him, to proceed, as soon as it
should be dark, by unfrequented roads, to his own
castle, in the neighbourhood of which, they might
find means of concealment till an opportunity should
offer of escaping to Scotland, whence they would
easily obtain a conveyance to America. M`Cracken
at first preferred taking the road to Slimiss mountain,

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where M`Cauley, Archer, and the other unpardoned
insurgents had proposed to take refuge, as they
believed that they might there, for a long time,
elude the pursuit of the government; but the advantage
of being near a sea-port, from which means
might be found to escape to another country, appeared
so inviting that he yielded to his friend's
proposal. They accordingly set off as soon as it
became dark, expecting to arrive at O'Halloran
castle long before day break.

When within two miles of the castle they were
surprised to find the road, at the house of a man
named Howley, guarded by armed persons in military
uniform, on whom they had advanced before
they were aware. They turned suddenly back,
and endeavoured to escape at full flight, which they
would both have done, had not a shot, fired at
them by one of the military, wounded M`Cracken's
horse. The animal immediately fell with his rider
under him, who was instantly seized by three
men who had followed in pursuit of them.

“Who is your companion?” demanded they. “A
gentleman,” he replied, “whom I pray heaven
you may never discover.”

“Where were you journeying to at this unseasonable
hour?” was the next question.

“To Larne,” was the reply.

“We'll send you there to-morrow,” said one of
them; “but to-night, you must be so good as to
lodge with us. Culbert and Craig,” continued he,
addressing two of his party who had come forward
on horse back, “pursue the other runaway! They
must be a couple of the damned rebels who are
now flying from justice.”

They obeyed him with all their speed; but
O'Halloran was considerably in advance of them,
and knew the country so well, that although their
horses were fresh and swift, he finally escaped.

[figure description] Page 064.[end figure description]

However, as he was now obliged, if he continued on
horseback, to keep the main road to Larne, which
he wished to avoid, judging rightly that it would be
the whole of the ensuing day beset with parties of
military and royalists, in pursuit of their prey, he
thought it best to abandon his horse, and seek
safety on foot. He, therefore, turned into an avenue
leading to a farm house, with the principles of
whose owner he was acquainted; but not wishing
to disturb the family, for fear of attracting his pursuers,
he threw his saddle and bridle into a ditch,
and turning his horse loose betook himself for
shelter to one of the out houses.

He had scarcely secreted himself when he heard
the sound of his pursuers galloping rapidly past
the avenue to the house. He, therefore, conceived
that he was for the present safe; and endeavoured
to compose himself to rest on some straw that he
found on the floor. For a considerable time, the
agitation of his mind, on account of M`Cracken,
kept him awake; but the fatigue of his body, together
with his having slept none for the two preceding
nights, at length overcame him, and he fell
into a slumber, from which he did not awake until
he was startled by the entrance of a man in the
morning.

He arose, and found that the threshing floor of
a barn had been his couch. He also found that
the man whose entrance had aroused him, was the
owner of the place. His name was Blair; and although
he had not been active among the conspirators,
his sentiments and feelings were known to
be on their side. He conducted O'Halloran to the
dwelling house, and ordered breakfast to be prepared
for him in a private room. O'Halloran recounted
to him the incidents which had brought
him there, and requested to know by what

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accident the military were stationed on the road at
Howley's house.

“They are a party of the Glenarm yeomanry,”
said Blair; “and, I believe, it is for the purpose of
making a parade of his loyalty that Howley has
brought them to his house. The United Irishmen
had taken him prisoner, in Glenarm, on the morning
of the rising, and carried him to their camp on
Belair hill, adjoining that town. The catholics
from the northern part of the county, who disliked
him on account of the officious discoveries he had
made of their smuggling, by which he impoverished
many of them, would have put him to death but
for the opposition of their leaders.

“The yeomen of the place and a few Scotch fencibles,
forming the whole military force stationed
there, took refuge from the people, in Lord Antrim's
Castle. No bloodshed, as far as I can learn,
took place, and on hearing this morning of the defeat
at Antrim, the United men thought proper,
spontaneously to disperse. Howley pretending great
fear of assassination, obtained from the commander
of the yeomanry a guard of twelve men, who escorted
him home; and these men, whom from either
excess or affectation of fear, he has kept as sentinels
about his house, are those you encountered.”

“Then M`Cracken is, indeed, among his enemies!”
said O'Halloran, with a sigh.

Towards the evening he was informed that
M`Cracken had been sent forward to Carrickfergus,
to be imprisoned in the county jail. Blair
had gone himself to O'Halloran castle to inform
Mrs. Brown and Ellen of the place of his concealment.
In the evening, therefore, his sister visited
him, the distance being little more than two miles.
She told him that Ellen was in a state of dreadful
anxiety for his safety; and that it was with great
persuasion she was prevented from accompanying

[figure description] Page 066.[end figure description]

her to see him, being prevailed on to stay behind
only from the consideration that her visit might
excite suspicion, and lead to a discovery of his retreat.

“The Recluse has been our only comforter,”
continued Mrs. Brown. “He is a worthy, and a
wise man; and has visited us frequently since you
left us. When we proposed the Point Rock as the
place of your concealment, `No,' said he, `Sir
Geoffrey is acquainted with it, and it will unquestionably
be searched before many days.' He then
mentioned that he had an apartment in his subterraneous
dwelling, in which he thinks you might
be comfortably and safely concealed until a vessel
can be provided to convey you to Scotland.”

“That meets my own views exactly,” said
O'Halloran. “In this country I never can be safe,
and breathe the air in freedom. To Scotland I
shall go, and thence, if the government still pursues
me, I can find a ready passage to America.”

As the vicinity of Howley, who with his twelve
yeomen had become very active in hunting after
the proscribed rebels, was considered peculiarly
dangerous, with Blair's assistance, O'Halloran was
that very night conveyed in safety to the Recluse's
dwelling. His astonishment at the accommodations
it afforded, and the furniture it contained,
were strongly expressed; but the Recluse soon explained
the matter.

“It is now no time,” said he, “to be mysterious
or reserved with you. I am not the poor destitute
Sanders you have hitherto supposed me to be. I
am your son-in-law, Francis Hamilton. I make
the explanation now that you may know how much
I am interested in your safety, and to satisfy you
that, should your affairs take the worst possible
turn, she, for whom you have hitherto displayed
the tenderness and solicitude of a father, will not

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want a protector. It is true, I cannot as yet publicly
acknowledge her as my daughter. The vengeance
of the disappointed Sir Geoffrey, armed
with the power of those laws I was so unfortunate
as to offend, would be let loose without mercy upon
me. But I can reside near her. I can watch over her,
and render her all the effectual advice and assistance,
that I could, if I enjoyed the privileges of an
unoffending subject.”

At this moment Ellen entered. “Oh! my grandfather!”
she exclaimed, as she rushed into his arms.
“God be praised, you are safe!”

“Yes, my child, I am yet safe,” he replied, “but
how long I shall be so, God only knows. I have
no doubt that I have much persecution to suffer; for
my enemies are inveterate, and will not be at rest
until they effect my destruction. But, my daughter,
whatever may now be my lot, I can bear it
with resignation, since I shall not leave you destitute
of parental protection. Your father has revealed
himself to me; and I feel now that death
has lost its sharpest sting. The hand of fate cannot
now be so grievous, fall upon me in what manner
it may. Very different are now my feelings
and views respecting death from what they were
when I left Donegore hill. Then, I could have
braved that king of terrors as a soldier; now I can
submit to his summons as a christian, who considers
it as an invitation to a better country.” He
then strained her to his bosom, and kissing her
with parental affection, “May the God of Heaven
bless thee,” he added, “and never leave thee destitute
of a friend as sincerely solicitous for thy
welfare as thy grandfather!”

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