ntonations, it stopped short, with a loud and
indescribable backsnort in his nose, and then, after a lull of some
length, during which he groaned and muttered to himself, he again
resumed his sternutations in a manner so natural as would have imposed
upon Satan himself, if he had been present, as there is little doubt he
was, though not exactly visible to the eyes of his two precious agents.

"Listen to that," replied the woman; "do you think, now, he's not
asleep? and even if he was sitting at the fire beside us, devil a
syllable we said he could understand. I spoke to him in English when he
came in, but he didn't know a word I said."

"Well, then, let the ould fellow sleep away; I won't touch him."

"Why, now, that's a good boy; go home to your barracks, and take a good
sleep yourself."

"Ay, yes, certainly; but have you Reilly's clothes safe--shoes, silver
buckles, and all?"

"Ay, as safe as the head on your shoulders; and, upon my soul, a great
dale safer, if you rob any more sheriffs."

"Where are they, then?"

"Why, they're in my flat box, behind the bed, where nobody could see
them."

"Very well, Molly, that will do; I may want them wanst more," he
replied, pointing again with his thumb over his shoulder towards
Whitecraft's residence; "so goodnight; be a good girl, and take care of
yourself."

"No," she replied, "but do you be a good boy, and take care of
yourself." And so they parted for the night.

The next day Fergus, possessed of very important evidence against the
Rapparee, was travelling along the public road, not more than half a
mile from the residence of Sir Robert Whitecraft, when whom should he
meet but the identical sheriff, on horseback, that the Rapparee had
robbed. He put his hand to his hat, and asked him for charity.

"Help a poor ould man, for the love and honor of God."

"Why don't you go to work--why don't you go to work?" replied the
sheriff.

"I am not able, sir," returned Fergus; "it wouldn't be good for my
health, your honor."

"Well, pass on and don't trouble me; I have nothing for you."

"Ah! thin, sir, if you'd give me a trifle, maybe I'd make it worth your
while."

"What do you mean?" asked the sheriff, who knew that persons like him
had opportunities of hearing and knowing more about local circumstances,
in consequence of their vagrant life, than any other class of persons in
society.

"What do you mean by what you have just said?"

"Aren't you the sheriff, s