ho was the
secretary of the Orange Lodge.

"Jimmy," said O'Farrelly, "we're in trouble about the demonstration
that's to be held next Tuesday."

"It'd be better for you," said Jimmy, "if that demonstration was never
held. For let me tell you this: the Lodge boys has their minds made up
to have no Papist rebels demonstrating here."

"It isn't you, nor your Orange Lodge nor all the damned Protestants in
Ireland would be fit to stop us," said O'Farrelly.

Jimmy McLoughlin spit on his hands as if in preparation for the fray.
Then he wiped them on his apron, remembering that the time for fighting
had not yet come.

"And what's the matter with your demonstration?" he asked.

"It's the want of instruments for the band that has us held up," said
O'Farrelly. "We lent them, so we did, and the fellows that had them
didn't return them."

Jimmy McLoughlin pondered the situation. He was as well aware as Mr.
Hinde, as O'Farrelly himself, that a demonstration without a band is a
vain thing.

"It would be a pity now," he said slowly, "if anything was to interfere
with that demonstration, seeing as how you're ready for it and we're
ready for you."

"It would be a pity. Leaving aside any political or religious
differences that might be dividing the people of Ballyguttery, it would
be a pity for the whole of us if that demonstration was not to be held."

"How would it be now," said Jimmy Mc-Loughlin, "if we was to lend you
our instruments for the day?"

"We'd be thankful to you if you did, very thankful," said O'Farrelly;
"and, indeed, it's no more than I'd expect from you, Jimmy, for you
always were a good neighbour. But are you sure that you'll not be
wanting them yourselves?"

"We will not want them," said Jimmy Me-Loughlin. "It'll not be drums
we'll be beating that day--not drums, but the heads of Papists. But mind
what I'm saying to you now. If we lend you the instruments, you'll have
to promise that you'll not carry them beyond the cross-roads this
side of Dicky's Brae. You'll leave the whole of them there beyond the
cross-roads, drums and all. It wouldn't do if any of the instruments got
broke on us or the drums lost--which is what has happened more than once
when there's been a bit of a fight. And it'll be at Dicky's Brae that
we'll be waiting for you."

"I thought as much," said O'Farrelly, "and I'd be as sorry as you'd be
yourself if any harm was to come to your drums. They'll be left at the
cross-roads the way