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and though he went frequently out to look for its return, he never saw it again.

After making frequent trips of observation from the shade, he at last called to O'Gollochar to come and look out. The Irishman did so, and much to the wonder of both, they beheld a small figure, sitting erect as it were, upon the water, and gliding with a slow steady motion towards the castle, as if from a part of the shore a little beyond the point immediately below them.

Amherst heard O'Gollochar's teeth chatter in his head as he stood beside him, and began to chide him for so soon giving way to his fears, at the same time earnestly reminding him of his promises.

"Faith, then, master," said the attached Irishman, "though I don't much like the looks of yon cratur sailing on the top of the water, for all the world like a salmon, I'll stand by your honour any way, now that I'm fairly in for it, though it should be against the divil himself-Och, I beg his pardon !-but be it against whom it may, by Saint Patrick, who I wish to be about us, may I never see old Ireland again, and more nor that, may I never see Mamsel Spindle any more, whose prayers,

I hope, I have at this moment, if I don't follow your honour till I drop."

"That's bravely spoken," said Amherst to him, very much amused to hear how naturally, like an ancient knight, he had recommended himself to his patron saint and his mistress in the same breath; "that's well said, Cornelius-let me see you act up to this manly resolution, and depend upon it, you will have no arms but those of flesh to contend with."

"Flesh or fish," said Cornelius, with a determined voice, "I'm ready for whatever may come!"

By this time, the object upon the lake had moved under the deep shadow thrown on the wa ter by the broad mass of wall, and was entirely lost. Amherst and his man however kept their eyes stedfastly fixed upon the place where it had disappeared; and, after a little time, they again perceived it gliding from the obscurity under the walls, and making as it were towards that part of the shore where the Fairy Oak spread its wide arms abroad.-Amherst had now no doubt that the figure was that of the Carline. Renewing his caution to O'Gollochar, he desired him to follow,

and hastened to descend the slope towards the tree, beneath the shade of which they awaited her landing. As she drew near to the point of the shore, he perceived, and made O'Gollochar too observe, that although there was something very ingenious, there was nothing supernatural in her mode of navigating the lake; for she sat lightly balanced on a broad thin plank, quite unequal to support the weight of any larger body, but easily bearing her small frame, which was adroitly poised on it, and oared without noise, by means of two thin pieces of lathwood.

Her frail bark had no sooner touched the shore, than she leaped to the bank, and tripped with inconceivable rapidity into the shadow formed by the great oak.

"You are here," she said, in a low tone of voice. ""Tis well!-are your arms in order, and your horses at hand ?"

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They are,” replied Amherst.

"Then hasten to them," said she, "and, with this plaid folded, and stuffed with the softest and driest moss you can gather from the stones, quickly form a pillion, and fasten it securely behind your saddle;-I will be here again by the time

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you have done it." And, saying so, she darted off to the water's edge.

Amherst and his servant lost no time in obeying her orders. O'Gollochar was actively useful, for his fears were now considerably moderated, by observing that this supposed witch at least worked by human means;-his wits, therefore, began to be perfectly available.

CHAPTER XIV.

I pray you tread softly, that the blind mole may not hear a foot fall.

SHAKESPEARE.

AMHERST and his servant had no sooner adjusted every thing about the horses than they returned to the tree. In a short time they perceived the Carline, again in the act of leaving the shade of the ruins, not on the same frail conveyance which had borne her thither, but in a little boat, which she rowed quietly towards the shore. Having attached it to the point where she had formerly landed, she again joined them.

"You must aboard with me!" said she; "every thing favours our design. But, remember! be resolute, and be silent as the grave !-Let not surprise at any thing you may see or hear betray you into a single exclamation, or all may be lost. Forget not that you are but as instruments in my hands,―act but according to the signs I shall

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