lt inclined to
declare that he had again changed his mind, and that instead of
taking this oath and joining himself in any league with them, he was
prepared to return home to Ballycloran, and give himself up to the
police; but his courage failed him now that he was, as it were, in
their own country, and particularly after the kindness and attention
that Reynolds had showed him. He therefore followed them, and they
entered together the other cabin belonging to Dan Kennedy. Dan and
his wife, and another man, his brother, were there. Dan was a sullen,
surly, brutal looking ruffian, about fifty years old, and his wife
was a fitting mate for such a man; she was dirty, squalid, and
meagre; but there was a determined look of passion and self-will
about her, which plainly declared that whoever Dan bullied, he did
not, and could not, bully his wife.

His brother Abraham was a cripple, having no use in either of his
legs; but he had an appearance of intelligence and wit in his face,
which his brother in no degree shared, and he was very powerful with
his arms. It was he who chiefly made the spirits, while Dan and the
others procured the barley--brought it up to Aughacashel, malted it,
and afterwards disposed of the whiskey.

"Well, my hearty," said Dan, as Thady followed his guides into the
cabin, where his family party were engaged drinking raw spirits round
the fire, "so you've done for that bloody thief of the world, have
you? Joe tells me you riz agin him quick enough when you found him at
his tricks with yer sisther. Divil a toe though you stirred to come
to mother Mulready's when we axed you, in spite of the oath you took
on the holy cross; but you're quick enough coming among us now you're
in the wrong box yourself."

"Asy, Dan," said Joe; "what's the use of all that bother now; an't he
here? and hasn't he rid us of him that would have got clane off from
us, but for Mr. Thady here, that struck the blow we ought to have
struck?"

"Thrue for you, Joe," said Abraham; "so hould yer jaw, Dan, and give
me hoult of the blessed book till I give him the oath."

"All's right," said Dan; "and I'm glad to see you here, my lad of
wax, seeing what sent you; but business first and play after. I
s'pose if you're maning to stay here wid us--an' by G----d you're
wilcome--you'll not be saying anything agin giving me or Corney
there, a bit of a line to some of your frinds at Ballycloran, to be
sending you up a thrifle of money or so, o