Ralph related the various steps he had taken, and how, eventually, they had come upon running water and followed it down to a road.
"Well, I really think you have done remarkably well, youngster. I shouldn't be surprised if we have some more tramps before us, for I had a letter this morning from the colonel saying that the fellow known as the Red Captain, a notorious scoundrel who has been with his gang committing all sorts of atrocities in Galway, has made the place too hot for him at last, and is reported to have made his way down to the south coast, somewhere in this direction; and we are ordered to keep a sharp lookout for him. He is an unmitigated ruffian, and a desperate one. He has shot several constables who have tried to capture him, and as he has three or four men with him nearly as bad as himself I expect we shall have some trouble with him. There has been a reward of a hundred pounds for his capture for a long time, but so far without success. One man, whom he suspected rightly or wrongly of intending to betray him, he killed by fastening the door of his cottage and then setting the thatch alight; and the man, his wife, and four children were burned to death."
That evening, just as dinner was over, the sergeant came in and said that a woman wished to speak to the captain.
"What does she want, sergeant?"
"She won't say what she wants, sir; only that she wishes to speak to you privately."
"Show her in then, sergeant."
The sergeant brought in the woman and then retired. As soon as the door closed behind him the woman threw back the shawl which had hitherto almost covered her face. She was about twenty-five years old, and strikingly pretty.
"What can I do for you?" Captain O'Connor asked. "The sergeant says you wish to speak to me on some particular business."
"Yes, sir; sure, and it is very particular business."
"You don't wish to speak to me quite alone, I suppose?" O'Connor asked, seeing that she hesitated.