stood and suddenly pressed his arm, "Whisht!" said he, in an
under-tone, "I think I hard voices."

"No," replied the other in the same low tone.

"I'm sure I did," said Ned, "take my word for it, there's people before
us on the boreen--whisht!"

They both listened, and very distinctly heard a confused but suppressed
murmur of voices, apparently about a hundred yards before them on the
little bridle--way. Without uttering a word they both proceeded as
quietly and quickly as possible, and in a few minutes nothing separated
them but the hedge. The party on the road were wallowing through the
mire with great difficulty, many of them, at the same time, bestowing
very energetic execrations upon it and upon those who suffered it to
remain in such a condition. Even oaths, however, were uttered in so
low and cautious a tone, that neither M'Cormick nor the Dandy could
distinguish their voices so clearly as to recognize those who spoke,
supposing that they had known them. Once or twice they heard the
clashing of arms or of iron instruments of some sort, and it seemed to
them that the noise was occasioned by the accidental jostling together
of those who carried them. At length they heard one voice exclaim rather
testily. "D--n your blood, Bartle Flanagan, will you have patience till
I get my shoe out o' the mud--you don't expect me to lose it, do you?
We're not goin' to get a purty wife, whatever you may be."

The reply to this was short, but pithy--"May all the divils in hell's
fire pull the tongue out o' you, for nothin' but hell itself, you
villin, timpted me to bring you with me."

This was not intended to be heard, nor was it by the person against
whom it was uttered, he being some distance behind--but as Ned and his
companion were at that moment exactly on the other side of the hedge,
they could hear the words of this precious soliloquy--for such it
was--delivered as they were with a suppressed energy of malignity,
worthy of the heart which suggested them.

M'Cormick immediately pulled Duffy's coat, without speaking a word, as
a hint to follow him with as little noise as possible, which he did,
and ere many minutes they were so far in advance of the others, as to be
enabled to converse without being heard. "_Thar Bheah_ Duffy," said his
companion, "there's not a minute to be lost."

"There is not," replied the other--"but what will you do with me? I'll
lend a hand in any way I can--but remember that if we're seen, or