Until this moment, I forgot the character which my dress and appearance assigned to me. But a look from the piper recalled me at once to recollection; and taking up the iron key, I proceeded, under Darby's instructions, to do what I was desired, while Darby and the captain amused themselves by wondering what had become of Tim, and speculated on the immediate consequences his absence would bring down on him. “Are you going with us, Darby?” said the captain. “Faix, I don't know, sir,” said he, as if hesitating. “Ar there was any gentleman that liked the pipes--” “Yes, yes; come along, man,” rejoined the skipper. “Is the boy with you? Very well; come in, youngster.” We were soon under way again; and Darby, having arranged his instrument to his satisfaction, commenced a very spirited voluntary to announce his arrival. In an instant the cabin door opened, and a red-faced, coarse-looking fellow, in uniform, called out,-- “Halloo, there! is that a piper?” “Yes, sir,” said Darby, without turning his face round; while, at the same time, he put a question in Irish to the skipper, who answered it with a single word. “I say, piper, come down here!” cried the yeoman, for such he was,--“come down here, and let 's have a tune!” “I 'm coming, sir!” cried Darby, standing up; and holding out his hand to me, he called out,--“Tom, alannah, lead me down stairs.” I looked up in his face, and to my amazement perceived that he had turned up the white of his eyes to represent blindness, and was groping with his hand like one deprived of sight. As any hesitation on my part might have betrayed him at once, I took his hand, and led him along, step by step, to the cabin door. I had barely time to perceive that all the passengers were habited in uniform, when one of them called out,--“We don't want the young fellow; let him go back. Piper, sit down here.” The motion for my exclusion was passed without a negative; and I closed the door, and sat down by myself among the trunks on deck. For the remainder of the day I saw nothing of Darby,--the shouts of laughter and clapping of hands below stairs occasionally informing me how successful were his efforts to amuse his company; while I had abundant time to think over my own plans, and make some resolutions for the future. CHAPTER VII. KEVIN STREET.