h as is likely to make you frinds in the counthry,
except with such as Jonas Brown and the like. And though, mind you, I
know nothing of plots and conspiracies among the boys, I don't think
you're over safe whilst staying among thim you have been trating that
way; and if they were to shoot you some night, it's no more than many
would expect. To tell you the truth, then, Captain Ussher, I think
you'd be safer anywhere than at Mohill."

Thady considered that he thus made a just compromise between the
faith he thought he owed to the men with whom he was going to league
himself, and the duty, which he could not but feel he ought to
perform, of warning Ussher of the danger in which he was placed.

Ussher felt quite satisfied with what Thady had said. He was not at
all surprised at his expressions of personal dislike, and he felt
confident, from the manner in which young Macdermot had spoken of
his perilous situation, that even if any conspiracy had been formed,
of which he was the object, there was no intention to put it into
immediate operation, and that, at any rate in Macdermot's opinion, no
concerted plan had yet been made to attack him. A good many reasons
also induced Ussher to think that he stood in no danger of any
personal assault. In the first place, though the country was in a
lawless state--though illicit distillation was carried to a great
extent--though many of the tenants refused to pay either rent,
tithes, or county cesses till compelled to do so--the disturbances
arising from these causes had not lately led to murder or bloodshed.
He had carried on his official duties in the same manner for a
considerable time without molestation, and custom had begotten the
feeling of security. Moreover, he thought the poor were cowed and
frightened. He despised them too much to think they would have
the spirit to rise up against him. In fact, he made up his mind
that Thady's intention was to frighten him out of the country, if
possible, and he resolved that he would not allow anything he had
heard on the subject either to disturb his comfort, or actuate his
conduct.

"Well, Macdermot, that's fair and above board--and what I expected,
though it's neither friendly nor flattering; and I am not vexed with
you for that; for if you don't feel friendly to me you shouldn't
speak as if you did, and therefore I'm obliged to you. And I will say
that if I am to be shot down, like a dog, whilst performing my duty
to the best of my