The Tithe-Proctor: The Works of William Carleton, Volume TwoCarleton, William
General
The Tithe-Proctor: The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
After some preliminary preparation a light was struck, a candle lit,
around which a certain number stood, so as to expose it to as little
chance of observation as possible. A man then above the middle size,
compact and big-boned, took the candle in one hand, and brought it
towards a long roll which he held in the other. He wore a white hat with
a low crown, had large black whiskers which came to his chin, and ran
besides round his neck underneath. The appearance of this man, and of
those who surrounded the dim light which he held was, when taking their
black unnatural faces into consideration, certainly calculated to excite
no other sensations than those of terror mingled with disgust.
“Now,” said he, in a strong rich brogue, “let every man fall into rank
according as his name is called out; and along with his name he must
also repate his number whatever it may be, up until we come to a
hundred, for I believe we have no more muskets. Where is Sargin Lynch?”
“Here I am,” replied that individual, who enjoyed a sergeant's pension,
having fought through the peninsular campaign.
“Take the lists then and proceed,” said the leader; “we have little time
to lose.”
Lynch then called over a list until he had reached a hundred; every man,
as he answered to his name, also repeated his number; as for instance,
“Tom Halloran.”
“Here--one!”
“Peter Rafferty!”
“Here--two!” and so on, until the requisite number was completed, and
every man as he responded fell also into rank.
Having thus got them into line, he gave them a rather hasty drill; and
this being over, hundred after hundred went through the same process
of roll-call and manoeuvre, until the task of the night was completed,
so-far, at least, as that particular duty was concerned. Other duties,
however, in more complete keeping with their wild and demon-like
appearance, were still to be performed. Short rolls were called, by
which selections for the assemblage of such as had been previously
marked down for the robbery of arms, were made with considerable
promptitude. And, indeed, most of those to whom, such outrageous and
criminal attacks wera assigned, seemed to feel flattered by being
appointed to the performance of them.
At length, when these matters were, arranged, and completed, the whole
body was ordered to fall into rank, and the large-man, who acted as
leader, walked for a times up and down in front of them, after which,
as nearly opposite their centre as possible, he deliberately knelt
down, and held his two open palms across each other for some seconds, or
perhaps for half a minute.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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