Part 27 (1/2)
”We do, sir,” said Fergus, laughing; ”not a doubt of it.” The latter then whispered something to Purcel, who smiled, and immediately turning to the doughty magistrate, said:--
”Well, sir, since you insist upon protecting me home--”
”Good--that's the word, Alick--steady boys--shoulder omes.”
”I will feel very happy, sir, in your escort.”
”Yes, Alick--yes--exactly so--but then we are time enough, man--the night's but young yet--we must have another tumbler before we go--if it is only to put terror into these villains.”
”I am exceedingly sorry that it is out of my power to wait, sir. My father and John may possibly come over here, and if they do it is difficult to say what these blood-thirsty villains, who care so little about human life--especially, sir, when that life belongs to either a t.i.the-proctor or a magistrate, may do. You will oblige me very much, sir, by coming with me now. I wish to heavens I had your courage, Mr.
O'Driscol, and that I-was such a wicked and desperate dare-devil as you are.”
”Good, Alick, upon my honor and conscience, you've hit me off there--hallo--what is this?--put these pistols and that blunder-bush aside, and be d--d to you, we don't want them yet awhile;” this was addressed to the servant who had brought them at Fergus's suggestion. ”I am a hospitable man, Alick--a convivial man--and I tell you that I don't wish a guest to leave my house with dry lips--and what is more, I won't allow it--sit down then, and take your punch, or if you're afraid of these fellows why didn't you say so?”
”I am then, sir,” replied Alick, who thought that by admitting the fact, he might the sooner bring matters between himself and the magistrate to a crisis.
”What!” exclaimed the latter, ”you admit your cowardice, do you?--Well, upon my honor and reputaytion, Alick, I'm extremely surprised at you--a young fellow like you--and a coward! Now I'll tell you what, Alick, I hate a coward--I despise a coward, and d--n me if any man who is mane enough to acknowledge himself to be one, shall have the benefit of my escort this night. Then stay where you are, sir, and take your punch--but you are not ent.i.tled to any protection; no, confound me if you are! A nice office for a man of my mettle to escort a coward!--no, no--take your punch, I say--you are safe under this roof, but as touching my protection, no fellow of your kidney shall resave it from me, unless in honest open daylight with a body of police or military at my elbow; and, besides, you have declined my hospitality, Mr. Purcel, and with the man--but man you are not--who declines my hospitality, I will keep no terms. Here's the 'Castle!' long life to it, and may it never have occasion to read me a lecture for protecting a coward!
Steady, men--shoulder oines!--ah, I'm a pearl before swine here:--upon my honor and conscience, I'm nothing else--hurra!”
Whilst this manifestation of courage and loyalty was proceeding, his daughter had sent a little girl by a lonely and circuitous way across the fields to Longshot Lodge, with a message to the effect that they had prevailed upon Alick to stop for the night, and that he would also breakfast there the next morning. The little girl's absence was very brief, and on her return, Alick had no hesitation in remaining. The heroic magistrate, having taken another tumbler, began to get drowsy, and with some a.s.sistance, was prevailed on to go to bed, where he almost immediately fell asleep. The two young men then got together all the arms and ammunition in the house, which, having made ready for an attack, they went also to bed, taking only their coats off, where for the present we leave them--but not asleep--and return to M'Carthy, for whose absence, no doubt, the reader is anxious that we should account.
CHAPTER XII.--Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire.
M'Carthy on that night had not gone far, after having separated from the friendly Whiteboy, when he was met by a powerfully-formed man, who, he thought, bore a considerable resemblance in shape and size to the fellow who had been invested with authority not long before in Finnerty's. On seeing that it was M'Carthy, the stranger, whose face was blackened, and who also wore the white s.h.i.+rt outside, approached him coolly but determinedly, and laying his hand upon his shoulder, said--: ”Your name is Francis M'Carthy'?” and as he spoke, M'Carthy could perceive the ends of a case of pistols projecting from his breast within the s.h.i.+rt, which was open at the neck.
”As I have never knowingly done anything that should occasion me to deny my name, I acknowledge it--you know me, of course.”
”I know you well. I meek it a point to know everyone who is worth knowing. In the meantime, M'Carthy, you'll come along with me, if you pleese.”
”It is not at all clear that I will,” replied M'Carthy; ”you are a perfect stranger to me--at least your disguise makes you so. You are out on illegal business, as is evident from that disguise, and you are armed with a case of pistols. Now, under these circ.u.mstances, happen what may, until I know more about you, and who you are, I will not walk one inch in your society, except as a free agent.”
”Hear me,” replied the other; ”you were singled out for murdher this night, and you only escaped by a miracle--by the a.s.sistance of a man who is a warm friend to you, and who got information of the danger you wor in from another friend who suspected that you were in that danger. Two pistols wor loaded to settle you, as they say. Well, the person that saved your life damped the powder in these pistols--both wor snapped at you, and they didn't go off--am I right?”
”You are right for so far, certainly.”
”Well, then, the other two who followed you--one of them with a long, sharp dagger--were shot down--d--n your friend that didn't send the bullets through their brains instead of their hams and limbs; however, they fell and you escaped--am I right?”
”Perfectly correct,” replied M'Carthy; ”and you must have had your information only from the person who befriended me.”
”Well, then, have you-any objection to come with me now?”
”Every objection; I wish to go either to Mr. O'Driscol's or Mr.
Purcel's.”
”Listen. I say if you attempt this night to go to either one house or the other, you will never carry your life to them. If I was your enemy, and wished to put a bullet into you, what is there to prevent me now, I ask you?”
”All, my good friend,” replied M'Carthy, ”that argument won't pa.s.s with me. Many. a man there is--and I dare say you know it well--who feels a strong scruple against committing murder with his own hands, who, notwithstanding, will not scruple to employ others to commit it for him.”