22.BALLYNEETY

It was a dark Autumn night. The great gates of Limerick were slowly drawn open. Leading their horses, five hundred men stole one by one from the city. Patrick Sarsfield, the leader of the Irish troops in Limerick, had specially chosen each man, for this was a most dangerous task. A great convoy of guns and ammunition was on its way to the camp of King William of England. With supplies such as these in enemy hand the Irish troops could not hope to defend the city. The convoy must be destroyed. For this difficult task Sarsfield chose only his most fearless horsmen.

With beating hearts they crept secretly past the English camp. Then, when they were a safe distance away. Sarsfield gave a sharp order. Five hundred horsemen leaped into their saddles and off they set at a steady gallop through the dark countryside. By their leader's side rode Galloping Hogan, the fearless outlaw. He had joined the gallant hosemen as their guide, for he knew every road and mountain path in the country like the palm of his hand. Along the susty roads they galloped and the pounding hoofs echoed through the still night. It was a thriling ride.

By daybreak they halted and climbed high onto the slopes of the Keeper Mountains. There they lay hidden in the heather and rested for the day. Hour after hour they waited and kept a keen look-out for King Wiliam's great convoy.

Suddenly they saw it coming. There were over a hundred-and-fifty wagons, each filled with guns and ammunition and all heavily guarded. They could see a cloud of dust rising from the road behind it and hear the faint voices of the guards. It halted near the ruined castle of Ballyneety, where the English soldiers camped for the night.

By lucky chance some of Sarsfield's men found out the passsword which was to be used by the English sentry that night. Their leader smiled when he heard it, for it was his own name, "SARSFIELD."

When darkness fell Sarsfield quietyly led his men down mountain path. Slowly they drew near the English camp. The sentry on duty saw them moving through the darkness and caled for the password. The answer came with a roar, "SARSFIELD is the word, and SARSFIELD is the man" and with a wild cheer five hundred horsemen galloped into the camp.

By the light of the blazing camp-fires they quickly set to work. Pontoons and wagons were smashed to pieces. Cannons were loaded with poweder and their muzzles sunk deep into earth. Ammunition was piled in one great heap and a long fuse was lit.

Then Sarsfield and his men galloped away, taking with them the captured horses. As they rode back to Limerick a great flash lit up the night sky. An explosion like a clap of thnunder shook the earth beneath the galloping hoofs. A great cheer broke from the horsemen. William's supplies had been blown to pieces.

The brave five hundred and their gallant leader got safely back to Limerick. There they were warmly back to Limerick. There they were warmly welcomed. Joyful crowds filled the city streets and ludly cheered the fearless men for their glorious and loudly cheered the fearless men for their glorious ride to Ballyneety.