Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 295: what you’re looking at

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

~ ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 315 A a eS a me a a a Murtagh was the first to break silence, _ ‘What business,” he cried, “ leads the Rapparee to my premises ?” ow “I come here in peace and friendship,” he cried ; ‘a single word, and we may no longer ~ bear enmity.” e . “You talk like a fool, Redmond O'Hanlon ; “blood will not cool that has seethed in the veins for twerty years.” ‘Let the injuries of the past be effaced, and—”’ “Never !” replied Murtagh, with anger and malignity, ‘I ask again,” he continued, ‘‘ what brings you hither ?” ‘Two things,” “The first ?” “To reveal to you a secret on which my happi- ness, your own, and that of your family depends.” “The second ?”’ ‘To save you from—” **To save me !” echoed Murtagh, ironically, was not aware [ am in any danger.” “You may be so,’”’ answered Redmond ; “ but, first, my secret ; I love—” “T know it,” ‘‘ Indeed !”’ *< IT know also that your passion is not returned,” “This is strange. I believed myself to be for- tunate in my wooing,” “Simply through my contriving,’ smiled Mur- tagh, with sarcasm. ‘“‘ I have allowed your affection to grow, that it may augment the constraint. I wished,” continued the farmer, “to implant such roots of bewitchment in thy being that they could be snatched only by tearing asunder thy heart,” “ Hesitate before you act,” replied Redmond, “ or you may fall into the pitfall you have dug for others.” * Remember, Catholic,’ exclaimed Murtagh, “ the night is advancing. At daybreak, in Castlebar, the prison doors will fly open, At the first sound of the bell a priest will enter the dungeon. The second will see the priest leave the gloomy cell, accom- panied by aman. At the third stroke the miserable wretch will swing on the gibbet, The victim is thy comrade—thy brother; the executioner will be Murtagh Mackeen,” “‘ Malignity maddens you,” said Redmond O’Han- lon, as he gazed with a peculiar and sinister glance at his Companion, “ You cannot reduce it to silence,” the other re- turned ; “your voice is less terrible than that of my own conscience, It was a terrible alternative.” “T fear to understand you,” “Tt was an intense struggle, and appeared to me endless,’ continued the farmer, after a wild gasp for breath, ‘‘ The demon of malice nestled in my bosom, and pierced it with teeth of iron. Thee and thy comrades with one accord seemed to push me to thé abyss of my cruel crime. As I ascended the steps of the tribunal, the rabble pursued me with cries and jmprecations, ‘* Before the judges a thousand menacing eyes spoke for the innocent man I was about to con- demn, “T, who, in my life, have faced death oft-times without a nerve quivering, in the witness-box trembled like an aspen leaf.” Redmond O’Hanlon listened to the words of the vindictive farmer in silence, His attitude was that of careless and assured composure, | But in his gathered brow and the boding glitter of his eye might be discerned some deadly purpose. Measuring with his eye his associate from head to foot with appalling calmness, he addressed him— oT “Murtagh Mackeen, thou hast avowed thy crime, My brother’s blood calls for vengeance.” With these words the robber raised the gun which he had rested against, and, before Murtagh was aware, had pointed it at his breast. He gave himself up for lost, when his enemy suddenly withdrew the weapon he had poised, and fired it through the window. ** No,” exclaimed Redmond, ‘a vengeance more slow and terrible must await the betrayer.” The house of the farmer in a few moments was filled by a body of the wild Rapparees, who had been attracted thither by the signal their leader had given, At the moment the men entered, a distant ‘bell announced that a priest had entered the cell of their condemned comrade. Each Rapparee was armed and masked, Several, by their chief’s order, seized Murtagh before he could offer the slightest resistance. The prisoner remained silent and immovable. as Redmond addressed his followers. “ The¥e is not one of you,” he cried, *‘ but knows the fate of him for whom the bell has just tolled. He has been murdered by false testimony. The witness stands before you.” - “The blood of the Mackeen for the blood of the O’Hanlon !” shouted twenty voices, while as many knives leapt from their scabbards. “You will fail to intimidate me or make me tremble,” said the resolute farmer, casting a look of defiance at those about torush upon him. “J shall not seek even to defend myself, for defence against such long odds is madness. “T shall not utter a ecry,’’ continued the speaker, “for my voice would alarm my wife, who, despite the clamour, still sleeps in yonder chamber, I ask but one thing—that you will lead me hence, not suffer blood to stain my threshold, hitherto tree from guilt.” An imperceptible shudder passed through the frame of Murtagh Mackeen, as he heard, while uttering his last word, the second booming of the prison bell. ‘Hark !” ejaculated Redmond, who had also caught the ominous sound ; “‘ your victim goes to die in the face of heaven, and in the face of heayen you shall make atonement. Forward, boys, lead the Mackeen to his doom.” ‘‘ Adieu, Bridget, asthore,” sighed the farmer, as he moved to depart with his executioners ; “ thy well-loved name will be the last that issues from my expiring lips.” “Thy wife will {soon follow thee,” sneered the Rapparee, “ Miscreant! her blood will not sink into the ground unavenged.”’ Suddenly impressed with an idea that he might save the unfortunate woman, Murtagh Mackeen called out her name aloud. CHAPTER CXXXVIIL. ** Last scene of all That ends this strange eventful history.” Shakespeare THE TOMB ON THE MOUNTAIN, BRIDGET MACKEEN no sooner heard her husband’s voice than she frantically rushed to his side, Her surprise and anguish were truly painful when. she discovered him a prisoner in the hands of his most bitter enemies. Sbe saw no more, for, overcome with terror at the sight, she fell without sense on the floor of the CORE XOXO KS sO)