he vengeance of such a person as Shawn upon him, I would
have the tongue cut out of my mouth, or the right arm off my body."

"And I, Caterine," he answered, retrieving himself an well as he could;
"yes, I deserve to have my tongue cut out, and my right arm chopped off,
for what I have said. O, no; if there be danger let me run the risk,
and not poor, good, kind-hearted Charles, who is certainly infatuated
by this girl. He is to meet her to-morrow night at nine o'clock, in the
little clump of alders below the well, but I shall go in his place--that
is, if I can prevail upon him to allow me--and endeavor once for all
to put an end to this business: mark that I said, if he will allow me,
although I scarcely think he will. Now, good-night, and many thanks for
your good wishes towards myself and him. Accept of this, and good-night
again." As he spoke he placed some money in her unreluctant hand, and
returned on his way home.

CHAPTER XIV. Shawn-na-Middogue Stabs Charles Lindsay

Shawn-na-Middogue Stabs Charles Lindsay in Mistake for his Brother

Shawn-na-Middogue, though uneducated, was a young man of no common
intellect. That he had been selected to head the outlaws, or rapparees,
of that day, was a sufficient proof of this. After parting from Caterine
Collins, on whom the severity of his language fell with such bitterness,
he began to reflect that he had acted with great indiscretion, to say
the least of it. He knew that if there was a woman in the barony who, if
she determined on it, could trace him to his most secret haunts, she was
that woman. He saw, too, that after she had left him, evidently in
deep indignation, she turned her steps towards Rathfillan House, most
probably with an intention of communicating to Harry Woodward the strong
determinations of vengeance which he had expressed against him. Here,
then, by want of temper and common policy, had he created two formidable
enemies against himself. This, he felt, was an oversight for which he
could scarcely forgive himself. He resolved, if possible, to repair the
error he had committed, and, with this object in view, he hung about the
place until her return should afford him an opportunity of making such
an explanation as might soothe her into good humor and a more friendly
feeling towards him. Nay, he even determined to promise her marriage, in
order to disarm her resentment and avert the danger which, he knew,
was to be apprehended from it. He according