Kilgorman | Page 9

might be, and why she should
make for the lough on so perilous a course. She might be a smuggler
anxious to avoid the observation of the revenue officers. If so, her
cargo must be precious indeed to make up for the risk she ran. Or she
might be a foreigner, driven in by one of the king's cruisers, which had
not dared to follow her into the bay.
Whatever she was, she was a pretty sailer, and prettily handled. I
wondered if ever I, when I grew to be a man, should be able to weather
a point as skilfully.
It was night before I reached our cabin, and all there was dark. Neither
Tim nor father was home, the fire was out on the hearth, and the poor
fevered sufferer lay tossing and breathing hard on the bed.
She was worse, far worse than when we left her in the morning; and I
could have died of shame when I came to think that all those hours she
had lain alone and untended. I struck a light and put it in the window.
"Is that Barry?" said she faintly.
"Ay, mother, it's Barry," said I, going to the bed and bending over her.
"Bring the light, and let me look at you," she said.
I obeyed. She scrutinised my face eagerly, and then turned her head
wearily on the pillow.
"Barry," said she presently.
"Well?" said I, as I took the hot worn hand in mine.
She lay silent a long while, so that I thought she had fallen asleep, then
she said,--

"Where is father?"
"Away with the boats."
"And Tim?"
"I can't say. Tim and I fought the day, and--"
"Fought? Ay, there'll be fighting enough before wrong's made right,
Barry. Listen! I'm dying, son, but I must see him before I go."
"Is it Tim?" said I.
"No." Then she lifted herself in her bed, and her face was wild and
excited as she clutched my hand. "Barry, it's Gorman I must see--
Maurice Gorman. Fetch him to me. Make him come. Tell him I'm a
dying woman, and must speak before I go. There's time yet--go,
Barry!"
"Mr Gorman!" exclaimed I. What could my mother want with his
honour down at Knockowen?
"Ay, and quickly--or it will be too late."
Knockowen was across the lough, five miles up above Dunree. It would
be hours on a night like this before he could be here. But my mother
continued to moan, "Go, Barry--make haste." So, much against my will,
I put on my cap and prepared to leave her alone. At the door she called
me back.
"Kiss me, Barry," said she. Then before I could obey her she fell to
raving.
"Give me back the lassie," she cried, "dead or alive. She's more to me
than all Kilgorman! Trust me, Mr Maurice--I'll breathe never a word if
you'll but save Mike. It's false--he never had a hand in it! Some day
truth will out--if the lad's mine no harm shall come to him. I'll use him
against you, Mr Maurice. The truth's buried, but it's safe. There's more
than earth under a hearthstone." And she laughed in a terrible way.

After a minute she opened her eyes again and saw me.
"Not gone, Barry? For pity's sake, fetch him, or I must go myself." And
she even tried to get up from her bed.
This settled it, and I rushed from the house, whimpering with misery
and terror.
What was it all about? Why did she send me away thus on a fool's
errand? For Mr Gorman was not likely to come out on a night like this
at the bidding of Mike Gallagher's English wife.
If there had only been some one I could have sent to mind her while I
was gone! But our cabin on the bleak headland was miles from a
neighbour--Knockowen, whither I was speeding, was indeed the
nearest place.
For a lad of twelve it was no easy task on a dark stormy night like this
to cross the lough. But I thought nothing of that. Most of my short life I
had spent afloat, and I knew every rock and creek along the shores.
The boat lay tugging at her moorings when I got down to her, as if
impatient to be away. Luckily her mast was up. It would need but the
least taste of canvas to run her across. The business would be coming
back in the face of the wind.
Sure enough, when I cast off, she rushed through the water like
something mad. And again my spirits rose as I heard the hiss of the
foam at her bows, and felt her rear and plunge among the big boisterous
waves.
After a time I could