ogans;--"throth," he observed with
a grin, "dere may be something under dat too. Ay! an' she wishes Bryan
M'Mahon well," he exclaimed, raising his red eyebrows.

"Shiss," replied Hycy, mimicking him, "her does."

"But you must have de still-house nowhere but in Ahadarra for alls dat."

"For alls dats" replied the other. "Dat will do den," said Phats,
composedly. "Enough of this," said Hycy. "Now, Phats, have you examined
and pitched upon the place?"

"Well, then," replied Phats, speaking in his natural manner, "I have;
an' a betther spot isn't in Europe than there is undher the hip of
Cullamore. But do you know how Roger Cooke sarved Adam Blakely of
Glencuil?"

"Perfectly well," replied Hycy, "he ruined him."

"But we don't know it," said Ned; "how was it, Teddy?"

"Why, he set up a still on his property--an' you know Adam owns the
whole townland, jist as Bryan M'Mahon does Ahadarra--an' afther three
or four runnin she gets a bloody scoundrel to inform upon Adam, as if it
was him an' not himself that had the still. Clinton the gauger--may the
devil break his neck at any rate!--an' the redcoats--came and found all
right, Still, Head, and Worm."

"Well," said Bat, "an' how did that ruin him?"

"Why, by the present law," returned Phats, "it's the townland that must
pay the fine. Poor Adam wasn't to say very rich; he had to pay the fine,
however, and now he's a beggar--root an' branch, chick an' child out of
it. Do you undherstand that, Misther Hycy?"

"No," replied Hycy, "you're mistaken; I have recourse to the still,
because I want cash. Honest Jemmy the gentleman has taken the _sthad_
an' won't fork out any longer, so that I must either run a cast or two
every now an' then, or turn clodhopper like himself. So much I say for
your information, Mr. Phats. In the meantime let us see what's to be
done. Here, Ned, is a five-pound note to buy barley; keep a strict
account of this; for I do assure you that I am not a person to be played
on. There's another thirty-shilling note--or stay, I'll make it two
pounds--to enable you to box up the still-house and remove the vessels
and things from Glendearg. Have you all ready, Philip?" he said,
addressing himself to Hogan.

"All," replied Philip; "sich a Still, Head, and Worm, you'd not find in
Europe--ready to be set to work at a minute's notice."

"When," said Hycy, rising, "will it be necessary that I should see you
again?"

"We'll let you know," replied Phats, "when