“Pretty nearly over the other side.”

“I don’t see him.”

“They will catch him as he gets out.”

“I believe he has sunk.”

“He never could keep under all this time.”

“One of the bullets must have hit him.”

Then a voice in the crowd shouted, “There’s his head, just in the middle of the river,” and a stone splashed in the stream.  It was followed by a volley of other stones, and several musket shots in the same direction.

Walter, having now got his breath, sank his head quietly below the water and swam on again, keeping close under the bank.  Whenever he came up for air, he listened for a moment.  Shots were still being fired below him, and he knew that the attention of all upon the shores was still directed towards the centre of the stream, and that there was but small chance of anyone leaning over to gaze down into the water close to their feet.

His hopes rose, as every minute placed him further from his pursuers.  He could no longer hear voices above him when he rose, but he swam on, for upwards of a mile, and struggled up the bank well beyond the walls of the town.  He lay down a few minutes to rest himself, walked half a mile along the bank, and then, entering the river again, swam across, for the road he was to follow was on the south side of it.

He made his way across the country until he saw a small shed.  He entered this, and finding some hay in the loft, stripped off his wet clothes, and crept deep into the hay to warm himself, for the water was cold, and he was shivering from head to foot.

As soon as it was light, he again put on his clothes and started at a run, which he maintained until he was in a thorough glow, in spite of his wet clothing.  He did not approach the village, at which he had arranged to meet Larry, until the sun was high, and his clothes had dried so far that they would not attract the attention of anyone who might be passing.  Then he went into the deserted village and took up his place in one of the ruined cottages, from which he could obtain a view of the road from Dublin.

Half an hour later, he saw Larry coming along it.  Although there was no one else in sight, someone might be going the other way, and Walter therefore remained in his hiding place till Larry was abreast of him, when he showed his head in the doorway, and called him by name.

Larry gave a cry of joy and, rushing in, threw his arms round him and burst into tears.

“It’s a terrible fright you have given me!” he exclaimed, when he could find words.  “I have been breaking my heart all night.  Sure I thought you were at the bottom of the river.”

“Not this time, Larry, though it was a pretty close thing.  Did you see it all?”