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aera ae eee
18
in the kitchen garden to a closet on the second
-floor of the castle?”
“That it does, captain. I discovered it only
two nights before they sent me away.” -
Captain Tracy looked at his watch. .
--“By Jupiter!” he cried, “we will go at them. It
is not twelve o’clock yet, and we have time to re-
take the castle and hang them all. before morning.
They all hastened to prepare for an open and
a secret attack on the stronghold. In the mean-
time, the Little Red Fox and his followers had
mastered all the English in the castle, and they
were preparing to hold the place against the Eng--
lish army, if possible. Old Tracy and Mabel still
-remained in the reception room after the castle
was taken, and the treacherous merchant was
trembling with apprehension.
“Dear girl,” he said, “you have influence with
' Charley, and I pray that you will prevent him
from offering violence to me.’
“He-will not offer you violence, sir, I am cer-
tain, but he w ill demand the money you hold be-.
longing to him.”
“But that has. been confiscated by the govern-
ment, my dear.”
“Not a bit.of it, you old Turk.”
A startled expression escaped from the old
traitor, and he turned from*the window to con-
front his rebel nephew.
“Oh, Charley,” he continued, “J assure you all
the funds I held for you have been seized.”
The young victor gave a sly ‘wink at Mabel as
he retorted in sharp tones: :
“Then you will have to refund to me out of
your own money in the bank in Dublin, as I de-
manded all the cash you received from the tenants.
here for me, less the amounts I drew from you
since the death ‘of my father.”
But that is robbery, Charley.”
“Not a bit, as I know full well that you have
not given a pound of my money to the govern-
~ment.. What is it, sergeant?”
The old veteran had entered the room in haste,
and Charley moved toward him.
“They are mustering in force over the hill
_ there, captain,” said the old man.
> “Let them muster and come on, -and we will
give them a nice reception.’’
“But what - if they should discover the secret
passage.
“We'll settle “that at once, old fellow,” inter-
rupted Charley, as he hastened out of the room
and sent forth a shrill whistle. The little fox
soon ran in to him from the courtyard, barking
joyously.
“Come up, Roe,” said the young leader, ‘“and_
‘keep watch for me. '
The little animal followed his master up to the
closet, where the secret. passage opened out into
the castle. The young fellow opened the hidden
.door by touching a spring as he said to the fox:
“Keep your nose open, Roe, and watch for me
until morning. Lie down there.”
Charley closed the secret door again, and the
fox stretched himself on the floor with his keen
nose to the secret door.
looking on, and he remarked:
“Yes, he'll warn us, but it would be better to
put a guard outside the door here also.”
“Then place one, you suspicious old humbug,
and let us hear no more about it.” ,
The old veteran was.
THE LITTLE RED FOX
Charley then returned to open the attack on his
miserly uncle again.
- “See here, sir,” he said; “you have been acting
a treacherous part to me, but I will not punish
you on account of dear Mabel here. Two months
ago you told: me that you held over twenty thou--
sand-pounds of my money
“So I did, Charley; ue it has all been seized by
the government:”
“Hear to the robber, Mabel.’
“He is only demanding his- own, sir,’
young girl, as she smiled at Charley.
A heavy gun was then heard outside.
“Dear Mabel,” said Charley, “the English are
attacking the castle, and I wish “you would get
down into the vaults.”
? said the
* “Not I,” answered the brave girl, “as I want to.
see you fighting for your castle.”
“Oh, come down, Mabel!” cried the terrified old
man, as a ball from one-efvthe English cannon
struck the castle wall, causing a commotion in the
courtyard.
“T-will not, sir, go_ down, if you please, but
here I will remain.”
‘Charley O’Connor was hastening out of the re-
ception- room to defend the castle, when the little
fox. ran down the stairs and bounced . on him,
giving a sharp bark.
“What, Roe!” exclaimed the young rebel, ‘
they coming through the secret passage?”
The little fox barked again and darted up the
- stairs to the closet.
guard outside.
“Keep quiet, Roe,” said Charley, as he entered
the closet and put his ear to the. secret door.
Then all was silent save the booming of the Eng-
lish canon on the hill. And Charley kept listen-
ing as he gave whispered orders to the men near
him, who had been keeping guard outside. the
closet. Old Corney soon appeared on the scene.
“They are forming in force in the woods on
each side, captain,” he said, “and in front also.”
“Then blaze away at them if: they attempt to -
close on us, sergeant. Alf I want is a small force
up here to hold ‘the closet.” -
And are they coming through the passage, cap-
tain? ”
‘Charley had his ear ‘at the passage still, and he
held up his hand to the men outside as he whis-
pered:
“They are coming now. Be ready, ‘boys, 2 and
-we il give. them a . hot reception. ” :
CHAPTER XX.—The Secret Passage.
About a hundred foot soldiers under Captain —
Tracy made their way through the wood at the
Four of the rebels were on .
Poa
back of the castle and entered the kitchen garden, » -
which was outside the strong walls.
led the way, and Major Sirr was close behind him,
holding a pistol ready.
The little rascal soon operied. a small door at
the back of the summer-house, saying
“Maybe you'd better go first with the lantern,
master,” .
“No; you take the lantern and lead the way >
and I will follow. Hugh! What a musty smell.”
The little rascal led the way through the musty,
narrow passage, and the others followed. Captain
Tracy was the third to enter.
“We'll give it to the rascals now,” he - mut-
Little Pete.”