n myself."

"Come," said one of them, "drag the idolatrous old rebel along. Come, my
old couple-beggar, there's a noose before you."

He had scarcely uttered the words when twenty men, armed with strong
pikes, jumped out on the road before them, and about the same number,
with similar weapons, behind them. In fact, they were completely hemmed
in; and, as the road was narrow and the ditches high, they were not at
all in a capacity to make resistance.

"Surrender your prisoners," said a huge man in a voice of
thunder--"surrender your prisoners--here are we ten to one against you;
or if you don't, I swear there won't be a living man amongst you in two
minutes' time. Mark us well--we are every man of us armed--and I will
not ask you a second time."

As to numbers and weapons the man spoke truth, and the military party
saw at once that their prisoners must be given up.

"Let us have full revenge on them now, boys," exclaimed several voices;
"down with the tyrannical villains that are parse-cuting and murdherin'
the country out of a face. This night closes their black work;" and
as the words were uttered, the military felt themselves environed and
pressed in upon by upwards of five-and-twenty sharp and bristling pikes.

"It is true, you may murder us," replied the dragoon; "but we are
soldiers, and to die is a soldier's duty. Stand back," said he, "for, by
all that's sacred, if you approach another step, William Reilly and that
rebel priest will fall dead at your feet. We may die then; but we will
sell our lives dearly. Cover the priest, Robinson."

[Illustration: PAGE 65a--I entreat you, to show these men mercy now]

"Boys," said the priest, addressing the insurgent party, "hold back, for
God's sake, and for mine. Remember that these men are only doing their
duty, and that whoever is to be blamed, it is not they--no, but the
wicked men and cruel laws that set them upon us. Why, now, if these;
men, out of compassion and a feeling of kindness to poor persecuted
creatures, as we are, took it into their heads or their hearts to let
that man and me off, they would have been, probably, treated like dogs
for neglecting their duty. I am, as you know, a minister of God, and a
man of peace, whose duty it is to prevent bloodshed whenever I can,
and save human life, whether it is that of a Catholic or a Protestant.
Recollect, my friends, that you will, every one of you, have to stand
before the judgment throne of God to seek for