lves."

He accordingly took their pistols, examined them closely, fixed the
powder in the pans, adding' a fresh supply of priming from a little
goat's horn which he carried in his-pocket. He then took out his own,
which he simply looked at, and again returned to his pocket.

"Now," said he, "our best plan is to take him about the small o' the
back, when he's before us, one only at a time; you," said he, addressing
the tallest, "will fire first; you,"--to the other--"next if he misses
him; and, as I'm the boy that doesn't miss my mark, I'll take him down,
never fear, if he should escape either of you. Come now, let us go in
and get him to his legs, that we may start."

On making their appearance again, Finnerty approached M'Carthy, and
exclaimed as before, but on this occasion with a loud and earnest voice,
"Come, sir, get up if you plaise; it's time for you to meet the car." To
this M'Carthy made no reply.

"Come, sir," repeated Finnerty, "bounce; hillo, I say, Mr. M'Carthy; up
wid you, sir, the car will be waitin' for you;" and he gave him a slap
on the shoulder as he spoke.

"Hallo!" exclaimed the pretended sleeper, "have a care--easy,'
easy--what's that? who are you?--eh--aw--oh, dear me, where am I?"

"In a friend's house, sir; get up, you know Mr. Purcel's car is waitin'
for you at the mountain road below."

M'Carthy started to his feet, and on looking about him, exclaimed, "How
is this, Finnerty? why are the faces of these men blackened?"

"Never you mind that, sir," replied Finnerty, "they are two or three
poor fellows that's on their keepin' in regard to havin' paid their
tithes against the will o' the people; an' they don't wish to be known,
that's all."

"Well," replied M'Carthy, "that's their own affair, and neither yours
nor mine, Finnerty. Come, then, are you ready? for I am."

"These boys, Mr. M'Carthy, has promised to take the best care of you
while in their company, an' as they're goin' to the mountain road,
where your're to meet the car, they'll bring you safe, sir."

"Most certainly not, Finnerty," replied the other; "I shall be escorted
by no person or persons ashamed to show their faces. If you refuse to
come, you break your word with me; but, in any event, I shall not
travel with these men. I am too well aware of the disturbed state of the
country, and that, being a friend of Mr. Purcel, I may not be popular. I
consider myself, however, under your protection and under the protection
of