“There is no chance of any one being here for another twenty minutes,” Desmond said.  “The sergeant will not rouse the men up till a quarter to six, therefore no one is likely to come along until within a few minutes of the hour.  It’s precious cold here, though the wall does shelter us from the wind a bit; still it’s not a lively job having to wait here half an hour, with the thermometer somewhere below freezing point.”

The time passed slowly.  Occasionally they exchanged a few words in low tones, but as the time approached when they knew that the sergeant would be going his rounds to call the men they spoke less.

“It must be nearly six o’clock now,” Desmond said at last.  “The men would be called at a quarter to, so if any one is coming he will most likely be here in a few minutes.  Hush!  I think I can hear footsteps.”

A few seconds later they dimly saw a figure running toward them at full speed.  As it dashed up to the gate they sprang out and seized it.  There was a sharp frightened cry.

“Don’t make a noise,” Desmond said sternly, “or it will be the worse for you.  Where were you going?”

It was a girl of about twelve years old whom they had captured.  She was silent a moment.

“Sure, your honor,” she said in a whimper, “I was doing no harm.  I was only running to tell Mike Brenan that his ould mother is taken bad with the cramps, and wanted to see him bad.”

“Where do you expect to go to, you little liar?” Desmond asked.  “We know what you are up to.  You were running to tell some one that the soldiers were getting up.  Now, if you are quiet and keep still no harm will come to you; but if you try to scream or to get away we shall hand you over to the police, and there’s no saying whether they may not make it a hanging matter for aiding the king’s enemies.”

“I suppose we needn’t fasten her?” Ralph said.

“Not fasten her!  Why, she is as slippery as a young eel, and if you take your hand off her for a moment she would be off like a hare.  No, no, we must make her safe.  Beside,” he whispered in Ralph’s ear, “she would scream to a certainty if she saw any one else coming, then they might strike off and get round us.  No, no, we can’t run any risks; there is too much depends on it.  Now just sit down there, young woman, by the wall.  We are not going to hurt you, but you have got to keep quiet.  Now put your feet together.”  Desmond took out his pocket handkerchief and folded it, and tied the girl’s ankles firmly together.  “Now then, Ralph, do the same with her wrists.  That’s right now.  Wrap that shawl of hers three or four times tightly round her mouth.  That’s it; let her breathe through her nose.  Now you keep a sharp watch over her, and see she doesn’t wriggle out of these things.  If you see any one coming clap your hand over her mouth, and see she doesn’t make a sound.  When he comes up you can let go and help me if necessary; it won’t matter her giving a bit of a scream then.”