er sees, either
his star or that of _Shawn-na-Middogue_ must be in the ascendant. He
accordingly set to work with all his skill and craft to secure his
person and offer him up as a victim to the outraged laws of his country,
and to a government that had set a price upon his head, as the leader of
the outlaws; or, what came nearer to his wish, either to shoot him down
with his own hand, or have him shot by those who were on the alert for
such persons. The first individual to whom he applied upon the subject
was his benevolent step-father, who he knew was a magistrate, and whose
duty was to have the wretched class of whom we write arrested or shot as
best they might.

"Sir," said he, "I think after what has befallen my dear brother Charles
that this murdering villain, Shawn-na-Middogue, who is at the head of
the tories and outlaws, ought to be shot, or taken up and handed over to
government."

"Why," asked Mr. Lindsay, "what has happened in connection with
Shawn-na-Middogue and your brother?"

"Why, that it was from his hand he received the wound that may be his
death. That, I think, is sufficient to make you exert yourself; and
indeed it is, in my opinion, both a shame and a scandal that the
subject has not been taken up with more energy by the magistracy of the
country."

"But who can tell," replied Lindsay, "whether it was Shawn-na-Middogue
that stabbed Charles? Charles himself does not know the individual who
stabbed him."

"The language of the girl, I think," replied Woodward, "might indicate
it. He was once her lover--"

"But she named nobody," replied the other; "and as for lovers, she had
enough of them. If Shawn-na-Middogue is an outlaw now, I know who made
him so. I remember when there wasn't a better conducted boy on your
mother's property. He was a credit to his family and the neighborhood;
but they were turned out in my absence by your unfeeling mother there,
Harry; and the fine young fellow had nothing else for it but the life of
an outlaw. Confound me if I can much blame him."

"Thank you, Lindsay," replied his wife; "as kind as ever to the woman
who brought you that property. But you forget what the young scoundrel's
mother said of me--do you? that I had the Evil Eye, and that there was a
familiar or devil connected with me and my family?"

"Egad! and I'm much of her opinion," replied her husband; "and if she
said it, I give you my honor it is only what every one who knows you
says, and what I,