"I'd have him lend a hand to punish the murthering ruffian as have got half the counthry dhruv into gaols, and as is playing his tricks now with his own sisther." "But what could any of you do? You wouldn't dare knock the chap on the head?" "Who wouldn't dare? by the 'tarnal, I'd dare it myself! Isn't there two of us here, whose brothers is now in gaol along of him? Wouldn't you dare, Jack, av he was up there again in the counthry, to tache him how to be sazing your people?" "By dad, I'd do anything, Joe; but I don't know jist as to murthering. I'd do as bad to him as he did to Paddy: av they hung him, then I'd murther him, and wilcome; but Paddy'll be out of that some of these days--and I think therefore, Joe, av we stripped his ears, it'd do this go." Jack Byrne's equal justice pleased the majority of his hearers; but it did not satisfy Joe. As for Pat, he continued smoking, and said nothing. "Oh, my boys, that's nonsense," said Joe; "either do the job, or let it alone. Av you've a mind to let Captain Ussher walk into your cabins and take any of you off to Carrick, jist as he plazes--why you can; but I'm d----d if I does! I've had enough of him now; and by the 'tarnal powers, though I swing for it, putting Tim in gaol shall cost him his life!" Joe was very much excited and half tipsy; but he only said what most of them were waiting to hear said, and what each of them expected; not one voice was raised in dissent. Pat said nothing, but smoked and gazed on the fire. "Masther Thady'll be in at the wedding to-morrow, Pat?" "Oh in course he will." "Will you be axing him, thin?" "Axing him what? is it to murther Ussher?" "No, in course not that; but will you be thrying him, will he join wid us to rid the counthry of him?" "I tell ye, Joe, he's willing enough to be shut of him entirely, av he knew how." "Oh yes, Pat, I dare say he'd be willing any poor boy'd knock him on the head, and so be rid of him; and av that he who did do it, did be hung for it, what matther in life to him? That may do very well for Masther Thady, but by the powers, it'll not do for me!" "Well, you can be spaking to him yourself to-morrow." "Yes, but you must be getting him jist to come out, and spake to us; jist dhraw him out a bit, you know." "Well then, boys, I've said as much to the Masther already, and he expects to meet you up there." "That's the sort, Pat! and av he'll but join us, divil a fear at all for Captain Ussher. Come, my boys, we'll dhrink the gentleman's health, as would be only dacent and proper of us, seeing the great throuble he's at with us." "But where'll ye get the whiskey, Joe?" said Corney; "I don't think mother Mulready 'll be too quick giving you thrust." "That's thrue any way; which of ye's got the rint among yer? come, Pat, fork out for once." "Is it for all of ye? I'll stand a glass for myself, and one for Joe." "Well, Jack," said Corney, "you and I 'll have a dhrop together; you shan't say I let you go away dhry."