ompliment
so covertly bestowed upon her extraordinary personal attractions, but
in addition it might have been truly affirmed that neither that nor any
adjoining parish could produce a female, in any rank, who could stand on
a level with her in the character of a rival beauty. This was admitted
by all who had ever seen the _colleen dhan dhun_, or "the purty brown
girl," as she was called, and it followed as a matter of course, that
Flanagan's words could imply no other than the Bodagh's daughter.

It is unnecessary to say, that Flanagan,--knowing this as he did, could
almost have bit a portion of his own tongue off as a punishment for its
indiscretion. It was then too late, however, to efface the impression
which the words were calculated to make, and he felt besides that he
would only strengthen the suspicion by an over-anxiety to remove it. He,
therefore, repeated his orders respecting the appointed meeting on the
following night, although he had already resolved in his own mind to
change the whole plan of his operations.

Such was the precaution with which this cowardly but accomplished
miscreant proceeded towards the accomplishment of his purposes, and such
was his apprehension lest the premature suspicion of a single individual
might by contingent treachery defeat his design, or affect his personal
safety. He had made up his mind to communicate the secret of his
enterprise to none until the moment of its execution; and this being
accomplished, his ultimate plans were laid, as he thought, with
sufficient skill to baffle pursuit and defeat either the malice of his
enemies or the vengeance of the law.

No sooner had they left the schoolhouse than the Dandy and M'Cormick
immediately separated from the rest, in order to talk over the
proceedings of the night, with a view to their suspicions of the
"Captain." They had not gone far, however, when they were overtaken by
two others, who came up to them at a quick, or, if I may be allowed the
expression, an earnest pace. The two latter were Rousin Redhead and his
son, Corney.

"So, boys," said the Rouser, "what do you think of our business
to-night? Didn't I get well out of his clutches?"

"Be me troth, Rouser, darlin'," replied the Dandy, "you niver wor
completely in them till this minnit."

"_Dhar ma lham charth_," said Corney, "I say he's a black-hearted
villin."

"But how am I in his clutches, Dandy?" inquired the Rouser.

"Why," rejoined Duffy, "didn't you see