Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 291: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

311 eee “ Come, wife,” he exclaimed, to Bridget, who was still seated near the fire ; ‘‘ won’t you take supper?” “No. Iam too fatigued,” was her reply. “As you will, acushla!” said Murtagh, with forced gaiety, then turning to Una, made a similar request. . “Thank you,” she answered. ‘I cannot eat.” ‘“How so?” asked the farmer. ‘“ Girls at your age should not want an appetite. Now tell me—I have noticed for some time past that you are sad ‘and anxious, and more than once I have surprised a tear in your eye. Are you not happy with us ?” “How could I be otherwise,” replied Una, _ “when you haye been so kind to me? Can I for- get that you rescued me from the sinking vessel on your coast, in which my father perished, and have been my parents of adoption since that fatal day ?” It was at this point of the conversation that Patrick O’Shaughnessy abruptly entered the room. ‘*Och, murther !”’ shouted the Irishman. “ Here’s somebody kilt !” * Killed ?” ** Bedad, yes. lips.”’ “Do you know the party ?” “No, musha, but he calls himself.a fri’nd,” “ A friend, say you ?” “ Sure, and I did, bekase the gontleman speaks the truth, since he was introduced to the family circle by his horse pitching him clain over the garden hedge, where he now lies covered with mud and dirt from head to foot entirely.” “Did the traveller not give his manded Murtagh. ‘His name is Simon Smut, Esq.,”’ replied the individual spoken of, who now appeared supported by two farm servants. Despite the mire and besmeared appearance of this personage, the metamorphosis of the.same was truly surprising, He was no longer Simon Smut the chimney sweep, but Simon Smut the gentleman of independent means, travelling for pleasure and relaxation, and searching excitement in enterprise and adventure. Being born with the silver spoon in place of the wooden ladle destiny, he had dropped into a fortune of which he was the only heir existent. “My friends,” continued he, ‘‘ you behold before you a man whose daring spirit has led him into a He towld me so wid his own name?’ de- most unpleasant difficulty of which you shall be- made aware when I have recovered sufficient breath to make it knowfto you.” Murtagh could scarcely help smiling at the de- plorable condition of his guest, who seemed as one: dragged through a slimy pond. ‘ You are hurt,” said the farmer. “No, I hope not,” interrupted Simon ; “it is in my head I suffer most.”’ « Quick! bring a chair for the gentleman.” Murtagh’s order was no sooner given than obeyed by the two attendants, who had brought in the sufferer. He was further assisted by Una, who applied a vinaigrette to his nostrils. This seemed to revive Simon Smut, who then en- quired, “ Where is my horse? I recollect nothing. I only see the fire,”’ «A fire at this hour !” each one present echoed. ‘Hush!’ continued the traveller, in a whisper. «‘ What you ask belongs to a terrible history. Before I tell it to you, tell me, if you have anyone on these premises I can charge with an important letter.” “Barney McFlin, here is the man for your A =OiMmMiCDOO errand, he has good legs, and will run eight miles in the hour,” With the words Murtagh pointed to one of the farm servants who stood in the chamber. “Then Barney McFlin will answer my purpose,” replied the guest, dryly. “If the gentleman requires writing materials, they are here,” said Bridget, who had busied her- self in getting pen, ink, and paper. “You will not regret your civility, my good woman,” rejoined Simon Smut, taking the articles offered to him. While the rest of the party stood aside he, in a mysterious manner, penned a letter, which ran as follows :— ; “TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE ARMED FORCE IN CON- NAUGHT. “* DEAR StR,—As soon as you receive this epistle, delay not an instant, and put yourself at the head of a squadron and join me at the farm of the ‘ Mackeens’ in the mountains where I attend you. Haste and speed! The matter is grave and pressing. ‘* SIMON SMUT.” CHAPTER CXXXVI. SIMON SMUT’S ADVENTURE AT THE AMBUSCADE— THE HORSE AND THE RIDER—IRISH HOSPI- TALITY AND ENGLISH CANDOUR—EYES THAT SEE AND EARS THAT HEAR—THE KIND GOOD NIGHT—COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE—THE FARMER’S DOG, AND HIS FAITH- LESS SERVANTS—A FOOTFALL ON THE STAIRS, Sruon Smut having finished the letter signed and delivered it to the trusty messenger, who at once departed on his portentious errand. Soon the writer found himself alqne with the farmer, his wife, and Una. | “Now, my friends,’’ said Simon Smut, “I can unravel to you the mystery of the epistle which I have just despatched. Thisevening,” he continued, ‘‘T was travelling in the mountains from the town of Castlebar when I fell in with an ambuscade of the ferocious Rapparees.” ‘Robbers and insurgents ?”” “‘ Just so,” replied the guest. ‘‘I see you tremble, I must confess that I experienced some such fear in discovering wyself in the midst of men known to be mortal enemies to those who unfortunately happen to have money in their pockets, or friends to ransom them, if the case is opposite, therefore I expected no mercy at their hands.”’ ‘‘ And yet,” interrupted Murtagh, “ you appear to have received it, since I find you in my house safe and sound.” ‘‘ Your pardon, farmer,” apologised Simon Smut, “my horse, and not the intended assassins, saved me, ‘¢ Indeed !” ‘* Yes,” added the speaker, “taking advantage of a momentary pause, I put spurs to my beast, and with the swiftness of lightning dashed through their scattered ranks.” ‘Fly before such miserable wretches,” exclaimed Murtagh, with hauteur and malignity, “yon did very wrong, stranger,” “Permit me to differ with you, farmer,” again apologised Simon Smut. ‘ Pray,tell me,” heresumed, ‘how you would have acted in such an emergency ?” ‘‘ How would I have acted?” repeated the farmer, vehemently and in a loud voice, ‘‘I would have sold my life with three-fold interest. I would haye suf- fered my mutilated body,” he added, in the same strain, “to have rested on the road-side, that our | ee ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. —— —_—_—-_—->-—-—-_-::: <¥k}x e.g