ns determined to hold a
demonstration. They wished to convince a watching world, especially the
United States of America, that the people of Ballyguttery are unanimous
and enthusiastic in the cause of Irish independence. They proposed to
march through the village street in procession, with a band playing
tunes in front of them, and then to listen to speeches made by eminent
men in a field.

The Loyal Invincibles heard of the intended demonstration. They could
hardly help hearing of it, for the Wolfe Tone Republicans talked of
nothing else, and the people of Ballyguttery, whatever their politics,
live on friendly terms with each other and enjoy long talks about public
affairs.

The Loyal Invincibles at once assembled and passed a long resolution,
expressing their determination to put a stop to any National
demonstration. They were moved, they said, by the necessity for
preserving law and order, safeguarding life and property, and
maintaining civil and religious liberty. No intention could have been
better than theirs; but the Wolfe Tone Republicans also had excellent
intentions, and did not see why they should not demonstrate if they
wished to. They invited all the eminent men they could think of to make
speeches for them. They also spent a good deal of money on printing,
and placarded the walls round the village with posters, announcing
that their demonstration would be held on September fifteenth, the
anniversary of the execution of their patron Wolfe Tone by the English.

In fact Wolfe Tone was not executed by the English or anyone else, and
the date of his death was November the nineteenth. But that made no
difference to either side, because no one in Ballyguttery ever reads
history.

The Loyal True-Blue Invincibles did not tear down the posters. They were
kindly men, averse to unneighbourly acts. But they put up posters
of their own, summoning every man of sound principles to assemble on
September fifteenth at 10.30 a.m, in order to preserve law, order, life,
property, and liberty, by force if necessary.

Mr. Hinde, District Inspector of Police in Ballyguttery, was considering
the situation. He was in an uncomfortable position, for he had only four
constables and one sergeant under his command. It seemed to him that law
and order would disappear for the time, life and property be in danger,
and that he would not be able to interfere very much with anybody's
liberty. Mr. Hinde was, however, a young man of natur