atch, an' soon as ever ye hear them gallop
from the gap where they'll mount--make a dash for the house, she'll be
shure to leave the windy open, an' then--ye have her murdherin' father--_I
need say no more_."

"I'm agin the _blood_ any how," said one of the men; "he forgiv' my
brother Mick two years' 'rear of tithe--an' he giv' Jug Sheedy an' her two
childher a cabin an' half an acre o' garden when Buck Rice turned her off
the Clo'mel estate"----

"Iss"----said another, "an' the wife, when she was alive, was good to the
poor. As far as smashin' the place, an' makin' a fire upon the stairs, an'
bringin' away the tithe-books goes, I'm agreeable; but I vote agin blood
unless we can't help it."

"Then ye'll not get a rap from me," said their tempter.

"Bloor-an-nagers! what do you mean?" asked a third. "Will you be satisfied
if we giv' him a beaten'?"

"No--I won't," answered Cahill.

"Nothin' but blood? Well, I'll tell you what, we'll shplit the
difference--we'll cut the ears ov' him--he was always hard on us--but
h---- to the one ov us will go further; he never took a spade[26] ov
ground over a man's head yet, an' he don't desarve it. I won't say but he
hurt many a poor boy by the processes--still _that's_ law--but the
villyans that go to eject creathures out of house an' home"----

"Well--I'm satisfied with the ears," muttered Cahill. "It'll be some
satisfaction for my hundhred-an'-forty-sevin pounds eighteen-an'-tenpence,
including costs, of the last arrear; besides he'll suffer in losin' the
daughter. I'll meet you here again afther to-morrow night, this hour, an'
we'll settle."

And Mr Cahill, remounting his steed, rode away.

CHAPTER VI.

He did not journey far. A mile further over the mountain, he pulled up
before a lonely public-house, the only abode deserving the name of
habitable that then existed for many miles on that desolate range of
hills. It was of a very suspicious appearance, and quite as questionable a
character; but the Shopkeeper seemed to entertain no scruple on those
heads, for he alighted and entered with a pleasant air, and met, from
numerous stragglers who were loitering in the kitchen, a cheerful
reception.

Curly, having cast a reconnoitring glance through the place, wiped his
mouth softly with his right palm, and before he withdrew it managed to
whisper from behind it to mine host--

"Is he within jest now?"

"You'll find him in the back room; he has been askin' for you this