"I said that I would. Then they made the sign of a cross, and swore me on it. And they swore me specially to say nothing up here. And they swore me again when they met down at Tim Rafferty's house in Headford. I intended to keep my word, and I think that you ought to have let me keep it." "But there were three others whom you saw," urged the Captain. "There was Con Heffernan, and a man they call Lax, who had come from Lough Conn beyond Castlebar." "He's not a man of this county." "I think not, though I had seen him here before. He has had something to do with the Landleaguers up about Foxford." "I think I have a speaking acquaintance with that Mr. Lax," said the Captain; and everybody could perceive that the tone of his voice was altered as he spoke about Mr. Lax. "And who was the sixth?" "There was that old man, papa, whom they call Terry. But he wasn't doing anything in particular." "He is the greatest blackguard on the estate," said the father. "But we will confine ourselves to the five," said the Captain, "not forgetting Mr. Lax. What was Mr. Lax doing?" "I can't remember what they were all doing. How is a fellow to remember them all? There were those two at the hinges, and Pat Carroll was there pulling his brother out of the water." "Terry was Pat's brother?" "They are brothers," said the father. "And then they went on, and took no notice of me for a time. Lax came up and scowled at me, and told me that if a word was said I should never draw the breath of life again." "But he didn't do anything?" asked the Captain. "I don't remember. How is a fellow to remember after so many months?" "Why didn't you tell the truth at the time?" said his father angrily. Another tear stood in each of the poor boy's eyes, and Edith got closer to him, and threw her left arm round his waist. "You are spoiling him by being so soft with him," said the father. "He is doing the best he can, Mr. Jones," said the Captain. "Don't be harsh with him now. Well, Florian, what came next?" "They bade me go away, and again made me swear another oath. It was nearly dark then, and it was quite dark night before I got up to the house. But before I went I saw that there were many others standing idle about the place." "Do you remember any particularly?" "Well, there was another of the Carrolls, a nephew of Pat's; and there was Tony Brady, Tim's brother. I can't at this moment say who else there were."