Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

312 _—_--——_ ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. ee EE eee government might see the necessity of extermi- nating this hated incubus of our soil,” “Lower, a little lower, my friend;” suggested Simon Smut. “What do you fear?” ‘‘ Nothing ; but it’s as well to be prudent,” con- tinued the party interrupted, ‘‘raising your voice can do no good, and may do much harm,” Looking carefully round, -he added, “ There are eyes that see, and ears that hear, even through your walls,” ; , “The gentleman is quite right,” observed Bridget, ' the farmer’s wife, “why expose yourself‘ to the vengeance of the Rapparees, who never pardon? Remember our neighbour, murdered fifteen day since, for haying denounced, one of; them.’} » » « ‘“‘ Let them kill me,”:shouted Murtagh, again, “no power on éarth shall hinder me: from saying aloud, and in all places, what I think.” ‘ ‘¢ Husband !” “You wonder,” continued the enraged. man, “why I wage war with these Catholics and robbers who twenty years ago inflicted an injury I must not forget,” : «But you.can forgive,’) answered Bridget, with celestial calmness, — “Never !’ti-? 5 oe cent P , . With the word Murtagh Mackeen advanced to a large thick ring of iron.- It was strongly embedded and fixed in the stone wall of the apartment. He placed his hand upon the metal and exclaimed, addressing his wife, ‘‘ Your puny hand would fail to move from its stubborn resting place this massive circlet ; so with my hate,’”’ continued the farmer, ‘it is as firmly set in my heart, and nothing but death can snatch it from the stronghold.” At this moment the iron-tongued monitor of time proclaimed the twelfth hour, And the abbey bell hard by tolled midnight, ‘Midnight already,” murmured Una, with emo- tion, suddenly recollecting her appointment with Jack Sheppard. : “ Our guest,” said Bridget, ‘‘has"need of refresh- ment, and——” ‘‘ He is welcome to that which our scanty larder affords,” continued her husband. “‘Thank you kindly, good people, I will take neither bite nor sup,” replied Simon Smut, *¢ Anxiety has taken away my appetite, and I never drink when I’m labouring under excitement.” But,” the speaker continued, ‘if you will allow me to repose——”’ “ Patrick,” interrupted the farmer, “ conduct this gentleman to the chamber above, and see that he wants for nothing,” The man who had obeyed the summons, winked his eye in token of acquiescence, and bid the traveller follow after him. The latter, thanking his host for his hospitality, and bidding the rest good night, did as Patrick had desired him, We need not ascend the stairs with Simon Smut and his companion, nor mention the mishaps and blunders of the guide and guided, but leave the two stuck in a hole in the floor, that strangers had a mighty knack of putting their foot into, and return to Una and her adopted parents, _ The damsel, on the departure of the guest, had lit two flambeaux, and opened the door of the corridor leading to the farmer’s bed-chamber, To this room his wife was about to retire, when an 2ction on the part of her husband arrested her progress, She had observed Murtagh draw a pipe from his pocket and fill it, ant Ne “Are you not coming to bed?” she asked, sur- prised at the unusual custom of her husband smoking at so late an hour, ‘‘No,” he replied. ‘‘I cannot sleep at present. Give yourself no uneasiness about me, When I am tired, I shall rest, not before,” Bridget, though affected by the rough remark: appeared to take no notice of it, and prepared to depart for the night. Whether she concealed ineffetually or not her wounded feelings did not appear, but be it as it may, Murtagh, the following moment altered his demeanour, and took her hand, as if aware that he had been somewhat hasty with the woman ke loved but too well, ‘Bridget, mavourneen, you are disquieted by me,”’ he cried, it) No,”’ You know my impetuosity of old, but it is like the spark’ of a flint, vanishing as swiftly as it appears.” “A sentence spoken in anger by you, Murtagh,”’ said his wife, “is no sooner uttered than neglected.’ ‘‘ Let me kiss thee, Bridget, for those words.” Murtagh then,moyed slowly towards his wife, and looking down with tenderness, fervently em- braced her. ‘You forgive me, too?” continued the farmer, addressing Una, who had also appeared piqued at his abrupt behaviour. ‘“‘T will answer for her,’’ said the foster mother ; ‘she is content with you. Look at her features, do they not smile approval ?” ‘“‘ They do, they do, asthore.”’ + With the words Murtagh clasped the maiden in his arms, then bid her, with Bridget, leave him alone for a short space. ; Thus exhorted, the two females withdrew, and proceeded to their chambers. . Both were moved to tears, Una sobbing audibly. When they were gone Murtagh fell into a deep contemplation, From this he was aroused by some one approach- ing him, It was Patrick O’Shaughnessy. Apparently disturbed by the new comer, he abruptly demanded— ‘“Who has gone the round of the farm to- night?” ‘‘ Patrick O’Shaughnessy did that same,” was the Hibernian’s reply. ‘So much the better. caution.” ‘‘ Whist,’’ continued the other, with his elegant brogue. ‘Show me the boy that would gainsay ~ yez—och ! and black’s the white of his eye.” « Nevertheless, Patrick,” said the farmer, ‘‘I have observed ——’’ ‘‘The divil doubt ye,” muttered the addressed to himself. “T have observed, I say,” continued Murtagh, “that yesterday you omitted to unloose the house- - dog, Ceesar ; don’t let it occur again.” There was now a second intrusion in the person of Larry Finch, another farm labourer, who entered the room hastily. ‘ _ There was terror in the man’s countenance as he uttered the following words :— “Och! masther, masther, sure an’ it’s all over wid poor Ceesar,”’ ‘What has happened ?” “The poor dog has dropped down stark, stiff dead at the entrance of the farm, as natural as ony Christian,” . / You are a lad of pre- i enn nena aaa Senay COMICHOOkKS.com