"And do you mean to say there never was any clue to the discovery of
him?"

"The entire affair is wrapt in mystery to this hour," said he. "There
was a joke about it, to be sure, among the officers; but the North Cork
never wanted something to laugh at."

"And what was the joke?" said several voices together.

"Just a complaint from old Mickey Oulahan, the postmaster, to the
Colonel, in the morning, that some of the officers took away his blind
mare off the common, and that the letters were late in consequence."

"And so, Doctor," called out seven or eight, "your friend turned out to
be--"

"Upon my conscience they said so, and that rascal, the serjeant, would
take his oath of it; but my own impression I'll never disclose to the
hour of my death."




CHAPTER XVI.

THEATRICALS.

Our seance at the mess that night was a late one, for after we had
discussed some coopers of claret, there was a very general public feeling
in favour of a broiled bone and some devilled kidneys, followed by a very