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o the open air。
before them were burning houses。 behind them shone the painted windows of the abbey filled with saints and martyrs； awakened； as from a sacred trance； into an angry and animated life。 the eyes of the troopers were dazzled； and for a while could see nothing but the flaming faces of saints and martyrs。 presently； however； they saw a man covered with dust who came running towards them。 two messengers； he cried； have been sent by the defeated irish to raise against you the whole country about manor hamilton； and if you do not stop them you will be overpowered in the woods before you reach home again！ they ride north？east between ben bulben and cashel？na？gael。
sir frederick hamilton called to him the five troopers who had first fired upon the monks and said； mount quickly； and ride through the woods towards the mountain； and get before these men； and kill them。
in a moment the troopers were gone； and before many moments they had splashed across the river at what is now called buckleys ford； and plunged into the woods。 they followed a beaten track that wound along the northern bank of the river。 the boughs of the birch and quicken trees mingled above； and hid the cloudy moonlight； leaving the pathway in almost plete darkness。 they rode at a rapid trot； now chatting together； now watching some stray weasel or rabbit scuttling away in the darkness。 gradually； as the gloom and silence of the woods oppressed them； they drew closer together； and began to talk rapidly； they were old rades and knew each others lives。 one was married； and told how glad his wife would be to see him return safe from this harebrained expedition against the white friars； and to hear how fortune had made amends for rashness。 the oldest of the five； whose wife was dead； spoke of a flagon of wine which awaited him upon an upper shelf； while a third； who was the youngest； had a sweetheart watching for his return； and he rode a little way before the others； not talking at all。 suddenly the young man stopped； and they saw that his horse was trembling。 i saw something； he said； and yet i do not know but it may have been one of the shadows。 it looked like a great worm with a silver crown upon his head。 one of the five put his hand up to his forehead as if about to cross himself； but remembering that he had changed his religion he put it down； and said： i am certain it was but a shadow； for there are a great many about us； and of very strange kinds。 then they rode on in silence。 it had been raining in the earlier part of the day； and the drops fell from the branches； wetting their hair and their shoulders。 in a little they began to talk again。 they had been in many battles against many a rebel together； and now told each other over again the story of their wounds； and so awakened in their hearts the strongest of all fellowships； the fellowship of the sword； and half forgot the terrible solitude of the woods。
suddenly the first two horses neighed； and then stood still； and would go no further。 before them was a glint of water； and they knew by the rushing sound that it was a river。 they dismounted； and after much tugging and coaxing brought the horses to the river？side。 in the midst of the water stood a tall old woman with grey hair flowing over a grey dress。 she stood up to her knees in the water； and stooped from time to time as though washing。 presently they could see that she was washing something that half floated。 the moon cast a flickering light upon it； and they saw that it was the dead body of a man； and； while they were looking at it； an eddy of the river turned the face towards them； and each of the five troopers recognised at the same moment his own face。 while they stood dumb and motionless with horror； the woman began to speak； saying slowly and loudly： did you see my son？ he has a crown of silver on his head； and there are rubies in the crown。
then the oldest of the troopers； he who had been most often wounded； drew his sword and cried： i have fought for the truth of my god； and need not fear the shadows of satan； and with that rushed into the water。 in a moment he returned。 the woman had vanished； and though he had thrust his sword into air and water he had found nothing。
the five troopers remounted； and set their horses at the ford； but all to no purpose。 they tried again and again； and went plunging hither and thither； the horses foaming and rearing。 let us； said the old trooper； ride back a little into the wood； and strike the river higher up。 they rode in under the boughs； the ground？ivy crackling under the hoofs； and the branches striking against their steel caps。 after about twenty minutes riding they came out again upon the river； and after another ten minutes found a place where it was possible to cross without sinking below the stirrups。 the wood upon the other side was very thin； and broke the moonlight into long streams。 the wind had arisen； and had begun to drive the clouds rapidly across the face of the moon； so that thin streams of light seemed to be dancing a grotesque dance among the scattered bushes and small fir？trees。 the tops of the trees began also to moan； and the sound of it was like the voice of the dead in the wind； and the troopers remembered the belief that tells how the dead in purgatory are spitted upon the points of the trees and upon the points of the rocks。 they turned a little to the south； in the hope that they might strike the beaten path again； but they could find no trace of it。
meanwhile； the moaning grew louder and louder； and the dance of the white moon？fires more and more rapid。 gradually they began to be aware of a sound of distant music。 it was the sound of a bagpipe； and they rode towards it with great joy。 it came from the bottom of a deep； cup？like hollow。 in the midst of the hollow was an old man with a red cap and withered face。 he sat beside a fire of sticks； and had a burning torch thrust into the earth at his feet； and played an old bagpipe furiously。 his red hair dripped over his face like the iron rust upon a rock。 did you see my wife？ he cried； looking up a moment； she was washing！ she was washing！
i am afraid of him； said the young trooper； i fear he is one of the sidhe。 no； said the old trooper； he is a man； for i can see the sun？freckles upon his face。 we will pel him to be our guide； and at that he drew his sword； and the others did the same。 they stood in a ring round the piper； and pointed their swords at him； and the old trooper then told him that they must kill two rebels； who had taken the road between ben bulben and the great mountain spur that is called cashel？ na？gael； and that he must get up before one of them and be their guide； for they had lost their way。 the piper turned； and pointed to a neighbouring tree； and they saw an old white horse ready bitted； bridled； and saddled。 he slung the pipe across his back； and； taking the torch in his hand； got upon the horse； and started off before them； as hard as he could go。
the wood grew thinner and thinner； and the ground began to slope up toward the mountain。 the moon had already set； and the little white flames of the stars had e out everywhere。 the ground sloped more and more until at last they rode far above the woods upon the wide top of the mountain。 the woods lay spread out mile after mile below； and away to the south shot up the red glare of the burning town。 but before and above them were the little white flames。 the guide drew rein suddenly； and pointing upwards with the hand that did not hold the torch； shrieked out； look； look at the holy candles！ and then plunged forward at a gallop； waving the torch hither and thither。 do you hear the hoofs of the messengers？ cried the guide。 quick； quick！ or they will be gone out of your hands！ and he laughed as with delight of the chase。 the troopers thought they could hear far off； and as if below them； rattle of hoofs； but now the ground began to slope more and more； and the speed grew more headlong moment by moment。 they tried to pull up； but in vain； for the horses seemed to have gone mad。 the guide had thrown the reins on to the neck of the old white horse； and was waving his arms and singing a wild gaelic song。 suddenly they saw the thin gleam of a river