"Well, then," said Cahill, "the long an' the short of it is this--they're back from Dublin at the Glebe agin. The Capting has sure word from _her_ that she'll be ready to go away with him to-morrow night at twelve. Let ye get three more good boys an' watch, an' soon as ever ye hear them gallop from the gap where they'll mount--make a dash for the house, she'll be shure to leave the windy open, an' then--ye have her murdherin' father--_I need say no more_." "I'm agin the _blood_ any how," said one of the men; "he forgiv' my brother Mick two years' 'rear of tithe--an' he giv' Jug Sheedy an' her two childher a cabin an' half an acre o' garden when Buck Rice turned her off the Clo'mel estate"---- "Iss"----said another, "an' the wife, when she was alive, was good to the poor. As far as smashin' the place, an' makin' a fire upon the stairs, an' bringin' away the tithe-books goes, I'm agreeable; but I vote agin blood unless we can't help it." "Then ye'll not get a rap from me," said their tempter. "Bloor-an-nagers! what do you mean?" asked a third. "Will you be satisfied if we giv' him a beaten'?" "No--I won't," answered Cahill. "Nothin' but blood? Well, I'll tell you what, we'll shplit the difference--we'll cut the ears ov' him--he was always hard on us--but h---- to the one ov us will go further; he never took a spade[26] ov ground over a man's head yet, an' he don't desarve it. I won't say but he hurt many a poor boy by the processes--still _that's_ law--but the villyans that go to eject creathures out of house an' home"---- "Well--I'm satisfied with the ears," muttered Cahill. "It'll be some satisfaction for my hundhred-an'-forty-sevin pounds eighteen-an'-tenpence, including costs, of the last arrear; besides he'll suffer in losin' the daughter. I'll meet you here again afther to-morrow night, this hour, an' we'll settle." And Mr Cahill, remounting his steed, rode away. CHAPTER VI. He did not journey far. A mile further over the mountain, he pulled up before a lonely public-house, the only abode deserving the name of habitable that then existed for many miles on that desolate range of hills. It was of a very suspicious appearance, and quite as questionable a character; but the Shopkeeper seemed to entertain no scruple on those heads, for he alighted and entered with a pleasant air, and met, from numerous stragglers who were loitering in the kitchen, a cheerful reception. Curly, having cast a reconnoitring glance through the place, wiped his mouth softly with his right palm, and before he withdrew it managed to whisper from behind it to mine host-- "Is he within jest now?" "You'll find him in the back room; he has been askin' for you this half hour," was as gently responded.