if
it's known that we go against them in this--"

"I know," said the other, "we're gone men; still we must manage
it somehow, so as to save the girl; God! if it was only on Connor
O'Donovan's account, that's far away this night, I'd do it. Dandy you
wor only a boy when Blannarhasset prosecuted you, and people pitied you
at the time, and now they don't think much the worse of you for it; an'
you know it was proved since, that what you sed then was thrue, that
other rogues made you do it, an' thin lift you in the lurch. But
d--n it, where's the use of all this? give me your hand, it's life or
death--can I thrust you?"

"You may," said the other, "you may, Ned; do whatever you wish with me."

"Then," continued Ned, "I'll go into the house, and do you keep near to
them without bein' seen; watch their motions; but above all things, if
they take her off--folly on till you see where they'll bring her; after
that they can get back enough--the sogers, if they're a wantin'."

"Depind an me, Ned; to the core depind an me."

They had now reached the Bodagh's house, upon which, as upon every other
object around them, the deep shadows of night rested heavily. The Dandy
took up his position behind one of the porches of the gate that divided
the little grass--plot before the hall--door and the farmyard, as being
the most central spot, and from which he could with more ease hear, or
as far as might be observe, the plan and nature of their proceedings.

It was at least fifteen minutes before they reached the little avenue
that led up to the Bodagh's residence; for we ought to have told our
readers, that M'Cormick and Duffy, having taken a short path, left
the others--who, being ignorant of it, were forced to keep to the
road--considerable behind them. Ned was consequently from ten to
fifteen minutes in the house previous to their arrival. At length they
approached silently, and with that creeping pace which betokens either
fear or caution, as the case may be, and stood outside the gate which
led to the grass-plot before the hall-door, not more than three or
four yards from the porch of the farm-yard gate where the Dandy stood
concealed. And here he had an opportunity of witnessing the extreme
skill with which Flanagan conducted this nefarious exploit. After
listening for about a minute, he found that their worthy leader was not
present, but he almost immediately discovered that he was engaged in
placing guards upon all the back win