eart-broken to see harm come to you, and don't run your neck into the
hangman's noose, thinking it the matrimonial halter. Turn back while
there's yet time, O'Ruddy."

"Believe me, Father Donovan, it grieves me to refuse you anything, but
I cannot turn back."

"You'll be breaking the law of the land."

"But the law of the land is broken every day in our district of
Ireland, and not too many words said about it."

"Oh, O'Ruddy, that's a different thing. The law of the land in Ireland
is the law of the alien."

"Father, you're not logical. It's the alien I'm going to fight
here,"--but before the father could reply we saw ahead of us the bulky
form of Tom Peel, and ranged alongside of the road, trying to look
very stiff and military-like, was the most awkward squad of men I had
ever clapped eyes on; but determined fellows they were, as I could see
at a glance when I came fornenst them, and each man pulled a lock of
his hair by way of a salute.

"Do you men understand the use of a sword and a pistol?" said I.

The men smiled at each other as though I was trying some kind of a
joke on them.

"They do, your honour," answered Tom Peel on their behalf. "Each one
of them can sling a cutlass to the king's taste, and fire a pistol
without winking, and there are now concealed in the hedge half a dozen
blunderbusses in case they should be needed. They make a loud report
and have a good effect on the enemy, even when they do no harm."

"Yes, we'll have the blunderbusses," said I, and with that the men
broke rank, burst through the hedge, and came back with those
formidable weapons. "I have ammunition in the carts," I said, "did you
see anything of them?"

"The carts have gone on to the west, your honour; but we'll soon
overtake them," and the men smacked their lips when they thought of
the one that had the barrels in it. Now Paddy came forward with the
pistols, and Bottles followed and gave each man a blade, while I gave
each his money.

"O dear! O dear!" groaned Father Donovan.

"There's just a chance we may be attacked before we get to Brede, and,
Father, though I am loath to say good-bye, still it must be said. It's
rare glad I'll be when I grip your hand again."

"All in good time; all in good time," said Father Donovan; "I'll go a
bit farther along the road with you and see how your men march. They
would fight better and better behind a hedge than in the open, I'm
thinking."

"They'll not have to fight in the