“Let us go and see them,” said I; for what he had said seemed to me very like halloaing before we were out of the wood, as it were.
When we entered the cabin, I saw at once that my mistress had recovered something of her usual spirits, while Richard Burke’s honest face was bright with happiness. It needed no voice to tell me that he had again made suit to her, and that she had not repulsed him.
And so best, thought I.
But there was a stern business before us, for we must win our way to the hands of our brides across a field of blood.
Sir Nicholas began at once to tell us what he had arranged with respect to us and his English troops. At dawn we were all to cross the Shannon, and, plunging into the forest, march upon the camp of Fitzmaurice. He trusted that he might come upon Sir James unawares, or, at any rate, before he had had time to make the best disposition of his men.
When all these matters had been settled between us, we bade Grace O’Malley and Eva farewell.
“Wear this,” said Grace O’Malley, on parting, to Richard Burke, taking a ring from her finger and putting it into his hand, “and wear it for my sake.”
As for myself, I had secretly possessed myself of a silken riband of Eva’s, and twined it about the guard of my sword. That was guerdon enough for me until I should return to claim her.
“Victory!” cried my mistress to me.
“Amen and amen to that!” said Sir Nicholas and we all, in a breath.