"But we're escaping," said Bart. "Sure, and I'll escape too," said Dinny, smiling. "It's moighty dull work stopping there." "But you're a soldier," said Abel. "To be sure I am--a sowldier of fortune." "You'll be a deserter if you stop with us," growled Bart. "The divil a bit! Ye made me a prishner, and I couldn't help meself." "Why, I wanted you to go back last night!" growled Bart. "To be ate up entoirely by the ugly bastes of dogs! Thank ye kindly, sor, I'd rather not." Dinny looked at Mary and gave her a droll cock of the eye, which made her frown and look uneasy. "Sure, Misther Jack," he said, coolly, "don't you think they're a bit hard on a boy?" "Hard?" said Mary, shortly. "Av coorse. They knocked me down and took away me mushket and bagnet, and there they are in the bottom of the boat. Then they made me get over the gate and eshcape wid 'em; and, now they're safe, they want to put me ashore." "We can't take you with us," said Abel, shortly. "Aisy, now! Think about it, sor. Ye're going for a holiday, sure; and under the circumstances I'd like one too. There! I see what ye're a-thinking--that I'd bethray ye. Sure, and I'm a Kelly, and ye never knew a Kelly do a dirthy thrick to anyone. Did I shout for help last night when you towld me not?" "You were afraid," growled Bart. "Afraid!--me afraid! Did ye ever hear of a Kelly who was afraid? No, sor; I said to meself, `The poor boys are making a run for it, and I'll let them go.' Sure, and I did, and here ye are." "It would not be wise to go near the shore now," said Mary, in a whisper to her brother. "You have nothing to fear from him." Abel glanced at the happy, contented face before him, and then turned to Bart. "What do you say?" he asked. "There's no harm in him," said Bart, with a suspicious look at the Irishman. "Sure, an' ye'll find me very useful," said Dinny. "I was at say before I 'listed, so I can steer and haul a rope." "Can you keep faith with those who trust you?" said Mary, quickly. "An' is it a Kelly who can keep faith, me lad? Sure, an' we're the faithfullest people there is anny where. And, bedad! but you're a handsome boy, and have a way wid you as'll make some hearts ache before ye've done." Mary started, and turned of a deep dark red, which showed through her sun-browned skin, as she flashed an angry look upon the speaker. Dinny burst into a hearty laugh. "Look at him," he said, "colouring up like a girl. There, don't look at me, boy, as if ye were going to bite. I like to see it in a lad. It shows his heart's in the right place, and that he's honest and true. There, take a grip o' me hand, for I like you as much for your handsome face as for the way you've stood thrue to your brother and his mate. And did ye come all the way from your own counthry to thry and save them?" Mary nodded.