O, then, tell me, Shawn O’Farrell, Where the gathering is to be. In the old spot by the river Right well known to you and me! _Sergeant:_ Stop that! Stop that, I tell you! _Man:_ (_Sings louder_)— One word more, for signal token, Whistle up the marching tune, With your pike upon your shoulder, At the Rising of the Moon. _Sergeant:_ If you don’t stop that, I’ll arrest you. (_A whistle from below answers, repeating the air._) _Sergeant:_ That’s a signal. (_Stands between him and steps._) You must not pass this way.... Step farther back.... Who are you? You are no ballad-singer. _Man:_ You needn’t ask who I am; that placard will tell you. (_Points to placard._) _Sergeant:_ You are the man I am looking for. _Man:_ (_Takes off hat and wig. Sergeant seizes them._) I am. There’s a hundred pounds on my head. There is a friend of mine below in a boat. He knows a safe place to bring me to. _Sergeant:_ (_Looking still at hat and wig._) It’s a pity! It’s a pity. You deceived me. You deceived me well. _Man:_ I am a friend of Granuaile. There is a hundred pounds on my head. _Sergeant:_ It’s a pity, it’s a pity! _Man:_ Will you let me pass, or must I make you let me? _Sergeant:_ I am in the force. I will not let you pass. _Man:_ I thought to do it with my tongue. (Puts hand in breast.) What is that? (_Voice of Policeman X outside:_) Here, this is where we left him. _Sergeant:_ It’s my comrades coming. _Man:_ You won’t betray me ... the friend of Granuaile. (_Slips behind barrel._) (_Voice of Policeman B:_) That was the last of the placards. _Policeman X:_ (_As they come in._) If he makes his escape it won’t be unknown he’ll make it. (_Sergeant puts hat and wig behind his back._) _Policeman B:_ Did any one come this way? _Sergeant:_ (_After a pause._) No one. _Policeman B:_ No one at all? _Sergeant:_ No one at all. _Policeman B:_ We had no orders to go back to the station; we can stop along with you. _Sergeant:_ I don’t want you. There is nothing for you to do here. _Policeman B:_ You bade us to come back here and keep watch with you. _Sergeant:_ I’d sooner be alone. Would any man come this way and you making all that talk? It is better the place to be quiet. _Policeman B:_ Well, we’ll leave you the lantern anyhow. (_Hands it to him._) _Sergeant:_ I don’t want it. Bring it with you. _Policeman B:_ You might want it. There are clouds coming up and you have the darkness of the night before you yet. I’ll leave it over here on the barrel. (_Goes to barrel._) _Sergeant:_ Bring it with you I tell you. No more talk. _Policeman B:_ Well, I thought it might be a comfort to you. I often think when I have it in my hand and can be flashing it about into every dark corner (_doing so_) that it’s the same as being beside the fire at home, and the bits of bogwood blazing up now and again. (_Flashes it about, now on the barrel, now on Sergeant._)