A short man stepped from behind the rest. He was remarkable for a hooked beak, eyes too close together, shaded by heavy brows which met in a tuft over his nose. He wore a tight stock with a large silver buckle, hair plainly clubbed, and a silver whistle like a boatswain's attached to a buttonhole by a thong.
'I am Major Sirr,' he snapped, 'and arrest all present in the King's name. Seize those documents!'
Cassidy took a paper from his flapped pocket and tried to swallow it, but the major's men, marking his clumsy movement, pressed his bull-throat till he gave it forth again. How arbitrary is the effect of drink! Some men it renders furious, endowing them with double strength; others it makes dull and stupid, robbing them of the power that they had. Cassidy's giant bulk and tremendous muscles should have stood him in good stead now or never; but he certainly had imbibed a portentous quantity of claret, and the shaking he was getting seemed quite to muddle him.
'Ah now, major dear,' he whimpered, smiling a sickly smile, 'you'd not take it from me and shame a poor colleen? Don't look at her name now! Bad luck to ye! Don't, now!'
''Tis an order signed by the committee of the United Irishmen--no lady's billet,' Major Sirr replied coldly, holding the paper to the candle. 'My friend, I regret to see you in this plight--but I must do my duty.'
Robert, on the first entrance of Sirr's lambs--for such he knew them at once to be, though robed in long gowns--made a rush to the window of the inner room in order to alarm the college, but speedily drew in his head again, for a row of muskets was pointed at him which glinted, pallid, in the light of early dawn.
'Trapped!' he exclaimed, wringing his hands in despair. 'No, not yet!' Then, perceiving that Sirr and his band, expecting no resistance, were busily engaged gleaning together badge, constitution, and list of treasonable toasts, he stole to the discomfited giant--a hero but a moment since--and whispered rapidly, 'Come! A dash at the door, and we can get downstairs. I'll lead you to the campanile. One ring at the bell, and the college will awake!'
Cassidy shook himself and appeared to understand. Flinging aside the two men who loosely held him, he butted forward, upsetting table and lights, and in the confusion and darkness all who barred the passage. Swiftly he rolled, rather than ran, down the steep staircase, closely followed by Robert, and sent sprawling in the doorway a fat old person, who yelped piteously for mercy.
'The junior dean!' ejaculated Robert. 'The dastard! Himself to betray our ancient rights! But come--we'll attend to him later--to the campanile, to rouse the college!'
Sirr's lambs, recovering from their surprise, pursued the fugitives; but a little time was gained by their all tumbling in a heap over the unhappy dean, before he had time to scramble out of the way.