While Mrs Massey had been talking to Gerald, Owen had been inditing an answer to Norah's note, with which, rather later than he had intended, Gerald set off to return home. It was quite dark before he reached the town. He was proceeding along a narrow lane which offered a shorter cut than the high road, when he heard the footsteps of a person running at full speed, and directly afterwards a man rushed by him whose countenance he could not see; but it struck him at the time that the figure greatly resembled that of Carnegan, the second mate of the _Ouzel Galley_. He was doubtful for a moment whether he should follow: though brave enough under ordinary circumstances, he felt pretty certain that if such was the case O'Harrall would not scruple to knock him on the head or to blow his brains out; and so he did the next best thing which occurred to him--he ran on, intending to make his way to the Ring Tower to give information that the prisoner had escaped; though he fully expected to meet a party in hot pursuit of the fugitive. Mrs Massey was at supper with her son, when there came a knock at the door, and a bare-headed damsel appeared. "Mrs Massey, my mother's taken mighty bad entirely, and will it plaze ye to come and see what ye can do for her?" she exclaimed, in a petitioning tone. Mrs Massey, who was proud of the medical knowledge she exercised for the benefit of her neighbours, immediately arose. "Indeed, and I'll come, Molly," she answered. "Just wait till I put on my hood and fill my basket with such things as I may require." She speedily getting ready, told Owen that she would soon be back, and that Mrs Hogan would know that she could not leave him all alone for any length of time; and off she set, with Molly Hogan carrying a lantern before her. Owen trimmed the lamp which burnt on the table, and sat down to read till his mother's return. He had not long been thus occupied, when hearing the door open he looked up, expecting that Mrs Massey had returned for something she had omitted to take with her. Instead of his mother, he saw standing before him the second mate of the _Ouzel Galley_. For a moment he thought that he must be dreaming. "You know me, Owen Massey," exclaimed his visitor, "You saved my life once, when the devil well-nigh had me in his clutches, and I come to throw myself on your generosity--to ask you to render me a further service. Should I be recaptured, I should be doomed to the gallows, and I have no fancy for that fate. Conceal me for a few hours, and I shall be able to get off in safety; refuse to do so, and I shall fall into the hands of my pursuers."