give it up peaceably, they'll take the lives
of us."

Seymour, who was aware that the surrender of the means of intoxication
would probably lead to worse results, turned to his men, who had
assembled outside of the hut, and had armed themselves with spars and
fragments of the wreck on the first appearance of hostility, and
directed them to roll the cask of rum into the hut, and prepare to act
on the defensive. The English seamen, indignant at such violation of
the laws of hospitality, and at the loss of their clothes, immediately
complied with his instructions, and, with their blood boiling, were with
difficulty restrained from commencing the attack.

A shaggy-headed monster, apparently the leader of the hostile party,
again addressed Conolly in his own language.

"It's to know whether ye'll give up the cask quietly, or have a fight
for it. The devil a pair of trousers will they give back, not even my
own, though I'm an Irishman, and a Galway man to boot. By Jesus, Mr
Seymour, it's to be hoped ye'll not give up the cratur without a bit of
a row."

"No," replied Seymour. "Tell them that they shall not have it, and that
they shall be punished for the theft they have already committed."

"You're to come and take it," roared Conolly, in Irish, to the opposing
party.

"Now, my lads," cried Seymour, "you must fight hard for it--they will
show little mercy, if they gain the day."

The boatswain returned his Bible to his breast, and seizing the mast of
the frigate's jolly-boat, which had been thrown up with the other spars,
poised it with both hands on a level with his head, so as to use the
foot of it as a battering-ram, and stalked before his men.

The Irish closed with loud yells, and the affray commenced with a
desperation seldom to be witnessed. Many were the wounds given and
received, and several of either party were levelled in the dust. The
numbers were about even; but the weapons of the Irish were of a better
description, each man being provided with his own shillelah of hard
wood, which he had been accustomed to wield. But the boatswain did
great execution, as he launched forward his mast, and prostrated an
Irishman every time, with his cool and well-directed aim. After a few
minutes' contention, the Englishmen were beaten back to the shealing,
where they rallied, and continued to stand at bay. Seymour, anxious at
all events that the Irish should not obtain the liquor, directed
Robinson, the captai