se us, Mr. Sheriff," they replied; "we belong to the military
detachment which government has placed under the control of Sir Robert
Whitecraft."

"Oh, indeed," exclaimed the sheriff; "I wish to heaven you had been a
little more advanced on your journey; you might have saved me from being
plundered, as I have been, and probably secured the robber."

"Could you observe, sir, what was the villain's appearance?"

"I had a small lantern," replied the functionary, "by which I caught a
brief but uncertain glance of him. I am not quite certain that I could
recognize his features, though, if I saw him again--but--perhaps I
might, certainly I could his dress."

"How was he dressed, sir?" they inquired.

"Quite beyond the common," said the sheriff; "I think he had on a brown
coat, of superior cloth and make, and I think, too, the buckles of his
slices were silver."

"And his features, Mr. Sheriff?"

"I cannot exactly say," he returned; "I was too much agitated to be able
to recollect them; but indeed the dim glimpse I got was too brief
to afford me an opportunity of seeing them with any thing like
distinctness."

"From the description you have given, sir," said one of them, "the man
who robbed you must have been Reilly the Outlaw. That is the very dress
he has been in the habit of wearing. Was he tall, sir, and stout in
person?"

"He was a very large man, certainly," replied the sheriff; "and I regret
I did not see his face more distinctly."

"It can be no other, Mr. Sheriff," observed the man; "the fellow has no
means of living now, unless by levying contributions on the road. For my
part, I think the scoundrel can make himself invisible; but it must go
hard with us or we will secure him yet. Would you wish an escort home,
Mr. Sheriff? because, if you do, we shall accompany you."

"No," replied the other, "I thank you. I would not have ventured home
unattended if the Red Rapparee had still been at his vocation, and his
gang undispersed; but as he is now on the safe side, I apprehend no
danger."

"It's not at all impossible but Reilly may step into his shoes," said
the cavalryman.

"I have now neither money nor arms," continued the sheriff; "nothing the
villain robbers could covet, and what, then, have I to fear?"

"You have a life, sir," observed the man respectfully, "and if you'll
allow me to say it--the life of a man who is not very well liked in the
country, in consequence of certain duties you are obliged