ng as the
bloody owld barrister chose to keep 'em there."

"Jack," said one of the others, "did Paddy, d'y remimber, happen to
have an odd twenty pound in his breeches pocket? becase av so, he
might jist put it down genteel, and walk out afore thim all."

"Well, then, Corney," answered Jack, with Pat Brady's pipe in his
mouth, "av Paddy had sich a thrifle about then, I disremember it
entirely; but shure, why wouldn't he? He'd hardly be so far as
Carrick, in sich good company too, without a little change in his
pocket."

"But to go and put twenty pound on them boys!" observed the more
earnest Joe; "the like of them to be getting twenty pounds! mightn't
he as well have said twenty thousand? and tin pounds on Tim too! More
power to you, Jonas Brown; tin pounds for a poor boy's warming his
shins, and gagging over an owld hag's bit of turf!"

"But Joe," said Brady, "is it in Carrick they're to stop?"

"Not at all; they're to go over to the Bridewell in Ballinamore.
Captain Greenough was there. A lot of his men is to take them to
Ballinamore to-morrow; unless indeed, they all has the thrifle of
change in their pockets, Corney was axing about."

"And supposing now, Joe," said Jack, "the boys paid the money, or
some of the gentlemen put it down for 'em; who'd be getting it?"

"Sorrow a one of me rightly knows. Who would be getting the brads,
Pat, av they war paid?"

"Who'd be getting 'em? why, who would have 'em but Masther Ussher?
D'ye think he'd be so keen afther the stills, av he war not to make
something by it? where d'ye think he'd be making out the hunters, and
living there better nor the gentlemen themselves, av he didn't be
getting the fines, and rewards, and things, for sazing the whiskey?"

"Choke him for fines!" said Jack; "that the gay horse he rides might
break the wicked neck of him!"

"Sorrow a good is there in cursing, boys," continued Joe. "Av there
war any of you really'd have the heart to be doing anything!"

"What'd we be doing, Joe? kicking our toes agin Carrick Gaol, till
the police comed and spiked us? The boys is now in gaol, and there
they're like to be, for anything we'll do to get 'em out again."

Joe Reynolds was now puzzled a little, so he fumbled in his pockets,
and bringing out another three halfpence, hallooed to Kathleen.

"Kathleen, d'ye hear, ye young divil's imp! bring me another half
noggin of speerits," and he gave her the halfpence; "and here, bring
a glass for Jack too."