What could he do? What right had he to meddle with her destiny? Friendly they had become, close sweet friends--the thought of her was like the thought of the hills purple with heather,--but friendship and destiny are a sweet curling wave and a gaunt cliff. They were two different people, independent. Shane Campbell and the Woman of Tusa hErin. Section 11 She had been distraught all the evening. Merry, feverishly merry at times, and again silent, her eyes far off, her mouth set. She rose suddenly from the piano she was playing, and looked at him. Standing, above the light of the candles, her face and head were like some dark soft flower. "Shane, you are a very true friend of mine, aren't you?" "Yes, Granya." "If I wanted a very great favor, would you consider it?" "Not consider, but do it." "Yes, but the risk," she faltered. "I hardly dare--" "What risk? What are you talking about, Granya?" A thought struck him. "Is it money? Don't be silly and talk about risk! Anything I can give you is yours, and welcome!" "It's not money, Shane. And thank you! It's--it's this--" "Yes, Granya." "It's this, Shane. Would you--would you bring a ship for me from St. Petersburg to Lough Foyle, very quietly?" "What kind of a ship?" "A ship, just a ship, a sailing-ship." "What's in the ship?" She paused. "Guns, Shane." "No, Granya. I won't." "Oh, well," she sat down, "I shouldn't have asked." "Granya," he walked over and caught her shoulder, "don't be foolish." "I'm not foolish, Shane. If I am, it's done now." She smiled.... The air crashed out beneath her fingers. Her voice rang: In came the captain's daughter--the captain of the Yeos-- Saying, "Brave United Irishmen, we'll ne'er again be foes. One thousand pounds I'll give to you, and go across the sea; And dress myself in man's attire and fight for liberty!" "You'll not move one foot from Tusa hErin!" "O Shane, Tusa hErin's no longer mine, and I've got to go." "Because the ship and the guns are mine, Shane," she smiled quietly; "my present." With a terrific smash of the fist he broke in the top of the piano. The wires jangled in pandemonium. The candles fell to the floor. "Hell's fire and God's damnation!" He swore at her. "You fool!" She rose, her breasts heaving. Her eyes flashed. "You've no right to speak to me like that, Shane Campbell." "Oh, yes, I have. Every damned right! Do you think I'd let any woman go cruising around the North Seas, with a crew of foreigners, and a shipmaster she doesn't know.... I'll bring the bi--the boat in...." Section 12