下载辰思小说免费APP
ThearmyofthePrinceofOrangewassaidtoberapidlyapproachingthetown，inordertocommencethesiege。
Onhearingthis，andbeingmadeascertainasthevaguenessandunsatisfactorynatureofmyinformation，whichcamenotfromanyauthenticsource，wouldpermit；
atleast，beingsureofthemainpoint，whichallallowed——namely，thatLimerickwasheldfortheking——andbeingalsonaturallyfondofenterprise，andimpatientofidleness，Itooktheresolutiontotravelthither，and，ifpossible，tothrowmyselfintothecity，inordertolendwhatassistanceImighttomyformercompanionsinarms，wellknowingthatanymanofstrongconstitutionandofsomeexperiencemighteasilymakehimselfusefultoagarrisonintheirstraitenedsituation。
WhenIhadtakenthisresolution，Iwasnotlonginputtingitintoexecution；and，asthefirststepinthematter，Iturnedhalfofthemoneywhichremainedwithme，inallaboutseventeenpounds，intosmallwaresandmerchandisesuchastravellingtradersusedtodealin；andtherest，exceptingsomeshillingswhichIcarriedhomeformyimmediateexpenses，Isewedcarefullyintheliningofmybreecheswaistband，hopingthatthesaleofmycommoditiesmighteasilysupplymewithsubsistenceupontheroad。
IleftDublinuponaFridaymorninginthemonthofSeptember，withatolerablyheavypackuponmyback。
Iwasastrongmanandagoodwalker，andonedaywithanothertravelledeasilyattherateoftwentymilesineachday，muchtimebeinglostinthetownsofanynoteontheway，where，toavoidsuspicion，Iwasobligedtomakesomestay，asiftosellmywares。
IdidnottraveldirectlytoLimerick，butturnedfarintoTipperary，goingneartothebordersofCork。
UponthesixthdayaftermydeparturefromDublinIlearned，CERTAINLY，fromsomefellowswhowerereturningfromtraffickingwiththesoldiers，thatthearmyoftheprincewasactuallyencampedbeforeLimerick，uponthesouthsideoftheShannon。
Inorder，then，toenterthecitywithoutinterruption，Imustneedscrosstheriver，andIwasmuchindoubtwhethertodosobyboatfromKerry，whichImighthaveeasilydone，intotheEarlofClare’sland，andthusintothebeleagueredcity，ortotakewhatseemedtheeasierway，one，however，aboutwhichIhadcertainmisgivings——which，bytheway，afterwardsturnedouttobejustenough。ThiswaywastocrosstheShannonatO’Brien’sBridge，oratKillaloe，intothecountyofClare。
Ifeared，however，thatboththesepasseswereguardedbytheprince’sforces，andresolved，ifsuchwerethecase，nottoessaytocross，forIwasnotfittedtosustainascrutiny，havingaboutme，thoughprettysafelysecured，mycommissionfromKingJames——which，thoughadangerouscompanion，Iwouldnothavepartedfrombutwithmylife。
Isettled，then，inmyownmind，thatifthebridgeswereguardedIwouldwalkasfarasPortumna，whereImightcross，thoughataconsiderablesacrificeoftime；
and，havingdetermineduponthiscourse，I
turneddirectlytowardsKillaloe。
Ireachedthefootofthemountain，orratherhighhill，calledKeeper——whichhadbeenpointedouttomeasalandmark——
lyingdirectlybetweenmeandKillaloe，intheevening，and，havingascendedsomeway，thedarknessandfogovertookme。
Theeveningwasverychilly，andmyselfweary，hungry，andmuchinneedofsleep，sothatIpreferredseekingtocrossthehill，thoughatsomerisk，toremaininguponitthroughoutthenight。Stumblingoverrocksandsinkingintobog-mire，asthenatureofthegroundvaried，Islowlyandlaboriouslyploddedon，makingverylittlewayinproportiontothetoilitcostme。
Afterhalfanhour’sslowwalking，orratherrambling，for，owingtothedark，I
verysoonlostmydirection，Iatlastheardthesoundofrunningwater，andwithsomelittletroublereachedtheedgeofabrook，whichraninthebottomofadeepgully。
ThisIknewwouldfurnishasureguidetothelowgrounds，whereImightpromisemyselfthatIshouldspeedilymeetwithsomehouseorcabinwhereImightfindshelterforthenight。
ThestreamwhichIfollowedflowedatthebottomofaroughandswampyglen，verysteepandmakingmanyabruptturns，andsodark，owingmoretothefogthantothewantofthemoon(for，thoughnothigh，Ibelieveithadrisenatthetime)，thatI
continuallyfelloverfragmentsofrockandstumbleduptomymiddleintotherivulet，whichIsoughttofollow。
Inthisway，drenched，weary，andwithmypatiencealmostexhausted，Iwastoilingonward，when，turningasharpangleinthewindingglen，Ifoundmyselfwithinsometwentyyardsofagroupofwild-lookingmen，gatheredinvariousattitudesroundaglowingturffire。
IwassosurprisedatthisrencontrethatIstoppedshort，an
