On  the  following  morning  the  Lady  of  M'Alister
appeared  equipped  for  a  walk.  Bryan  suggested  that  the
continued  bombardment  rendered  the  streets  unsafe ;  but
she  replied,  "My  child,  I  have  now  no  sacred  task  to
fulfil  at  home ;  and  it  becomes  my  duty  to  devote  the
remnant  of  strength  to  our  more  helpless  fellowa"

"  But,  dear  mother,  you  can  pray."

"  And  work  too,  Biyan.  He  who  has  coupled  *  fervent
in  spirit,*  with  *  not  slothful  in  business,'  will  accept  the
heart's  prayer,  while  the  feet  and  the  hands  are  occupied


DERKT.  203

In.  tlie  service  of  His  poor  afflicted  ones.  Lead  me  to
Ross."

With  secret  gladuess  be  obeyed,  and  rejoiced  in  tho
delighted  welcome  of  his  friend,  who  received  her  as  a
celestial  visitant.  He  left  her  there,  and,  joined  by
Magrath,  who  had  fulfilled  his  visit  of  mercy  to  the
prisoners,  he  mounted  the  walls.  These  celebrated  bul-
warks of  Derry  consist  of  an  inner  and  an  outer  wall,  the
former  of  which  is  about  twenty  feet  in  thickness,  afford-
ing an  excellent  promenade ;  the  height  of  the  other
varies,  in  some  places  rising  above  the  stature  of  a  man,
but  generally  not  more  than  four  feet,  forming  battle-
ments to  the  inner  one,  to  which  it  is  united.  Here,
then,  the  besieged  were  wont  to  array  themselves,  and
employ  their  smaller  fire-arms  with  such  effect  as  they
could,  to  aid  their  guns,  planted  on  the  bastions  and  lines.
Of  these,  they  had  no  more  than  twenty  fit  for  use,  which,
with  two  stationed  on  the  cathedral  roof,  formed  the
entire  battery  for  the  defence  of  the  town.
