When the men had gone out Captain O’Connor opened the letter, which merely confirmed what the sergeant said.  When Sergeant Morris returned Captain O’Connor told him that the company were to parade an hour before daylight.

“Don’t give the order to-night, sergeant; but go round from house to house yourself in the morning, rouse the men, and tell them to fall in quietly without beat of drum.

“Everything is going on well, boys,” he said when the sergeant had left, “and I think we have a good chance of laying these scoundrels by the heels to-morrow.  However, we must insure that word is not sent from the village, when the troops begin to get up.  A stir an hour before the usual time is sure to excite remark, and as it is certain these fellows will have arranged with some one in the village for early news of any unusual movement, we must take steps to prevent a messenger passing.  I propose that you two shall be astir half an hour before the troops; and that you shall, before any one else is moving, go along the path leading to the cliffs, stop a couple of hundred yards beyond the village, and arrest any one who may come along.”

“Yes, I think that will be a very good plan,” Lieutenant Desmond said.  “No one shall pass us, I warrant.”

“Don’t forget to take your pistols; it is likely enough you may have to use them before the day is over.  These scoundrels know they fight with ropes round their necks, and are almost sure to resist desperately.  Now we will have one glass more, and then be off to bed.  The day will begin to break about seven, and I will impress upon the landlord the urgent necessity of calling you both by five.”

“I suppose we are to stay where we take up our station till you come along with the company, O’Connor, whether we take any prisoners or not?”

“Yes, that will be the best way, Desmond.  If you have caught any one I will send them back with a guard to the village.  No, it would not do for you to move before we come up, for there is no saying what time a messenger will go along.  They may not take the alarm until just as we are starting, or even until they see which road we are taking.  By the way, you may as well take that pair of handcuffs the sergeant has left on the table with you, otherwise if you do get a prisoner you would have to keep your hands on his collar, or he might make a bolt any moment.  There is nothing like being on the safe side.

“You had better take up your post at some place where your figures will not be seen by any one coming along the road till he is close to you, or instead of coming straight along he might make a bolt round; and some of these fellows can run like hares.  We must not let the smallest chance escape us.  If we succeed in the affair we shall get no end of credit, beside the satisfaction of freeing the country of as desperate a band of ruffians as any that infest it, and that’s saying a good deal.  Now, here’s success to our work to-morrow.”  O’Connor drained his glass and placed it on the table, and then rising and taking up his sword made his way to his room, his companions at once following his example.