"Very well. In that case you can give no special evidence against
them. It is probable that at the trial evidence may be required from
Galway as to the deeds that that red-bearded scoundrel committed
there; and it is possible that you may be summoned with others, but I
should think that the evidence of the constabulary will be sufficient.
So, if you will give me your address there I will take it upon myself
to let you go at once. In that case you can join your wife this
evening and travel back with her."
"Thank you, sir," Denis replied. "I have no objection at all to give
evidence as to what I know, so that it does not come out it was
Bridget who tould you where they were hiding."
"You need not be afraid of that, Denis. Captain O'Connor gave her his
word that her name should not be mentioned. At the same time I have no
doubt he will claim for her the hundred pounds reward that was
offered; and if he obtains it he will send it to you, so that nobody
will be any the wiser."
"I should not like to take informer's money," Denis said.
"Not in ordinary cases," Ralph replied. "But you see she spoke out,
not for the sake of money, but to get you out of their hands. And
considering how much mischief those fellows have done, and how much
more they would have done had we not laid hands on them, it is a very
different case from that of an ordinary informer. None of your
neighbors will know that she has had anything to do with the capture
of these men, therefore no one will be any the wiser, and no doubt a
hundred pounds will be very useful to you. I am sure you deserve some
sort of compensation for being dragged away from home, and for the
risk you ran in that fight; for a bullet might just as well have
struck you as any of the others. I know that if I were in your place I
should accept it without the least hesitation. And now, as I don't
suppose they have left any money on you, and as your wife is not
likely to be very well provided, I will give you five pounds on
account; and remember that I shall always feel your debtor for the
manner in which you saved my life by springing upon that ruffian just
at the critical moment."
"You will deduct it from the other money, your honor?" Denis said,
hesitating.
"Certainly I will, Denis. I should not think of offering you money for
such a service as you rendered me. Now, if you will just give me your
address in Galway I will make a note of it; though I don't think it at
all likely you will be wanted at the trial. They will most likely
proceed against him on the charge of shooting his officer and
deserting; for they will have no difficulty in proving that, as the
regiment he belonged to is in Dublin."
Denis started at once to rejoin his wife, highly pleased to have got
away so quickly. Two days later Captain Morrison and Mr. Stapleton
arrived from headquarters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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