After he had been with them six months, he managed to get free and went back to Scotland. But he was carried off a second time, and again he escaped. After he reached his own home once more, he said to himself, "I should like to help the people of Ireland. I should like to tell them of Jesus and his religion." He began to study and prepare himself for teaching. At last he was made a bishop. After many years, he was able to go back to Ireland. It was what he had long wished to do. It was the eve of Easter Sunday when he lighted that great fire on the hilltop and surprised the king by his daring. "I will send for the man who kindled that fire. Let him come before me at once," commanded the king. Patrick was brought in haste, but he was not frightened in the least. When the king and the princes, the nobles and the Druid priests were gathered together, he told them he had come to Erin to put out the fires of the Druids. He wished to stop the making of the pagan sacrifices in which the people then believed. He had brought something better in their place. It was the Christian religion. What do you suppose the king replied? He was very angry, of course. But still he asked Patrick to meet the wise men of the country the next day and talk the matter over. Then he could explain his belief to them. On the next day he did meet them. He talked so well and so wisely that many of the listeners thought he knew a great deal more than they did. They became Christians then and there. The king then gave Patrick the right to preach all over Ireland. As he went from place to place, he spoke so well that all those who listened to him felt his great power. In a short time the whole of the people became Christians, and the strange worship of the Druids came to an end. Father Tom told Norah and her sister many wonderful stories of the life of St. Patrick. He told of a spring of water he had visited. This spring worked miracles. It happened that St. Patrick and St. Bridget were one day taking a walk. She said she was thirsty. St. Patrick struck the ground with his staff. Water instantly began to bubble up through the earth, and a spring has been there ever since. Father Tom went on to tell of strange wriggling things called snakes. He had seen them in other countries. They were something like big worms, and were of different colours. The bite of some of them was poisonous. "But we have none of them in our own beautiful Ireland," he said. "You may thank the blessed St. Patrick for sending them out of this country." Norah and Katie both shivered when they thought of the snakes. How good St. Patrick was to drive the horrid creatures out of Ireland!