“An’ what do you want to be done inquired the red man.

“Come here, an’ I’ll tell you that,” said Nell.

A short conversation took place between them, behind a little partition which divided the kitchen from two small sleeping rooms, containing a single bed each.

“Now,” said Nell, addressing the whole party, “let us all be ready to-morrow, while the whole town’s preparin’ for the fight, to slip away as well disguised as we can, out of the place; by that time you’ll have your business done, an’ your trifle o’ money earned;” she directed the last words to the red-haired stranger.

“You keep me out of this secret?” observed Body.

“It’s not worth knowin’,” said Nell; “I was only thryin’ you, Rody.  It’s nothing bad.  I’m not so cruel as you think.  I wouldn’t take the wide world an’ shed blood wid my own hands.  I tried it once on Lamh Laudher More, an’ when I thought I killed him hell came into me.  No; that I may go below if I would!”

“But you would get others to do it, if you could,” said Rody.

“I need get nobody to do it for me,” said the crone.  “I could wither any man, woman, or child, off o’ the earth, wid one charm, if I wished.”

“Why don’t you wither young Lamh Laudher then?” said Rody.

“If they fight to-morrow,” replied Nell; “mind I say if they do—­an’ I now tell you they won’t—­but I say if they do—­you’ll see he’ll go home in the coffin that’s made for him—­an’ I know how that’ll happen.  Now at eleven we’ll meet here if we can to-morrow.”

The two men then slunk out, and with great caution proceeded towards different directions of the town, for Nell had recommended them to keep as much asunder as possible, least their grouping together might expose them to notice.  Their place of rendezvous was only resorted to on urgent and necessary occasions.

The next morning, a little after the appointed hour, Nell, Rody, and Nanse McCollum, were sitting in deliberation upon their future plans of life, when he of the red hair entered the cabin.

“Well,” said Nell starting up—­“what was done? show me?”

The man produced a dagger slightly stained with blood.

“Damno orrum!” exclaimed the aged fury, “but you’ve failed—­an’ all’s lost if he beats the black.”

“I did fail,” said the miscreant.  “Why, woman if that powerful active fellow had got me in his hands, I’d have tasted the full length of the dagger myself.  The d——­l’s narrow escape I had.”

“The curse of heaven light on you, for a cowardly dog!” exclaimed Nell, grinding her teeth with disappointment.  “You’re a faint-hearted villain.  Give me the dagger.”

“Give me the money,” said the man.

“For what? no, consumin’ to the penny; you didn’t earn it.”

“I did,” said the fellow, “or at all evints attempted it.  Ay, an’ I must have it before I lave this house, an’ what is more, you must lug out my share of the black’s prog.”