time
seemed incredibly long till they arrived at the spot where I had
determined they should at least hear the report of the blunderbusses,
although I hoped none of them would feel the effects of the firing.
Indeed, the horsemen themselves, with the exception of Lord Strepp,
appeared to take little comfort in their position, and were now more
anxious to fall behind and urge on the others on foot than to lead the
band with his lordship.

I let them all get very close, then held up my hand, and you would
think pandemonium was let loose. I doubt if all the cannon in Cork
would have made such a noise, and the heathen Indians we read of in
America could not have given so terrifying a yell as came from my nine
men. The blunderbusses were more dangerous than I supposed, and they
tore up the gravel into a shower of small stones that scattered far
and wide, and made many a man fall down, thinking he was shot. Then
the mob ran away with a speed which made up for all lost time coming
the other direction. Cries of anguish were heard on every side, which
made us all laugh, for we knew none of them were hurted. The horses
themselves seemed seized with panic; they plunged and kicked like mad,
two riders being thrown on the ground, while others galloped across
the valley as if they were running away; but I suspect that their
owners were slyly spurring them on while pretending they had lost
control of them. Lord Strepp and one or two others, however, stood
their ground, and indeed his lordship spurred his horse up opposite
the front door. One of my men drew a pistol, but I shouted at him:

"Don't shoot at that man, whatever he does," and the weapon was
lowered.

I opened the window and leaned out.

"Well, Lord Strepp," cried I, "'tis a valiant crowd you have behind
you."

"You cursed highwayman," he cried, "what do you expect to make by
this?"

"I expect to see some good foot-racing; but you are under an error in
your appellation. I am not a highwayman; it is Jem Bottles here who
stopped nine of your men on the Maidstone road and piled their saddles
by the side of it. Is it new saddlery you have, or did you make a
roadside collection?"

"I'll have you out of that, if I have to burn the house over your
head."

"I'll wager you'll not get any man, unless it's yourself, to come near
enough to carry a torch to it. You can easily have me out of this
without burning the house. Tell your father I am ready to compromise
with him."