“We may not be going right,” he said to his companion, “but at least we have the satisfaction of knowing that we are not moving in a circle.”

After some hours’ marching Ralph, to his great delight, came upon a hill rill of water.

“Thank goodness,” he said, “we have got a guide at last.  If we follow this we must get somewhere.  We need not go on in this tedious way, but will halt here till all the men come up.”

It was half an hour before the sergeant arrived.

“We have got a guide now, sergeant, and can push on.  I suppose you have no idea what stream this is, Mr. Fitzgibbon?”

“Not at present,” the officer admitted.  “There are scores of these little rills about.  They make their way down from the bogs at the top of the hills, and there is nothing to distinguish one from the other.”

They now tramped on briskly, keeping close to the little stream.  Sometimes the ground became soft and marshy, and it was difficult to follow its course; but they went straight on and after three more hours’ marching came upon a road that crossed the stream over a little culvert.  There was a cheer from the tired men as they stood on hard ground again.

“Now, the question is shall we turn to the right or the left, for we have not the faintest idea as to the points of the compass.  What do you say, Mr. Fitzgibbon?”

“I should say that it is an even chance; but at any rate whichever way we go we are sure to come in time upon a hut or village, and be able to find out where we are.”

“Very well, then; we will take the right,” Ralph said.  “Form fours, sergeant.  We shall get on better by keeping in step.  Now, sergeant, if any of the men can sing let him strike up a tune with a chorus.  That will help us along.”

There was a little hesitation, and then one of the men struck up a song, and with renewed life and energy they all marched along.  It was nearly an hour before they heard the welcome sound of voices close by.  Ralph halted his men and proceeded toward this sound, and then discovered what the fog had prevented them from seeing before, that they were passing through a village, the voices being those of some women who were brought to their doors by the sound of music, and who were somewhat puzzled at the, to them, mysterious sounds.”

“What place is this?” Ralph asked.

“It is Kilmaknocket.”

“Bless me!” Mr. Fitzgibbon exclaimed, “we are twenty miles away from Ballyporrit if we are an inch.”

“Then it’s evident we can’t get there to-day,” Ralph said.  “We must have come more than that distance since we halted in the night.  Now, my good woman, I have a party of twenty men here, and we have lost our way in the hills, and must stop here for the night.  How many houses are there in the village?”

“There are ten or twelve, sir.”

“That is all right, then.  We must quarter two men on each.  I will pay every one for the trouble it will give, and for something to eat, which we want badly enough, for we have come at least twenty-five or twenty-six miles, and probably ten more than that, and have had nothing but a bit of bread since we started.”