There I boldly reported what I knew, and in my mistress’s name bade the sergeant in charge send half-a-dozen armed men to protect the house. The sergeant answered that all his men were away, and that unless they returned soon he would have no one to send.
Then I demanded a brace of guns, and a promise that, failing any others, he would come himself. To this he agreed that he certainly would, and bade me keep my own counsel and not alarm the women. As to Martin, I would do well, he said, to make sure of him before he could do any harm. He gave me the guns done up in a truss of straw to avoid detection, and with this clumsy parcel slung across the mare’s back I trotted home.
As I came near the avenue I noticed a skulking figure step quickly behind the trees, and guessed this was probably the messenger who had promised to come over to warn Martin of what was in store. I doubted whether I ought not to attack him there and then. But had I done so I might have given an alarm, and lost my guns into the bargain. So I pretended to see nothing, and passed on, whistling to myself, up to the house.
The afternoon was already well advanced before I dismounted in the stable-yard. Martin, as I expected, stood there waiting for me. It was as much his object to get me disposed of as it was mine to dispose of him. My only chance was to seem to know nothing, and keep a sharp look-out on him.
“You’re fond of riding,” said he with a sneer; “it’s worth a ride to Fahan to fetch a truss of straw when there’s plenty in the stable.”
“There’s more than straw in this,” said I, lifting it up and carrying it up to the house. “Man, dear, it’s full of guns.”
He was not to be taken in by chaff like that, he said. And indeed he fully believed, as I hoped he would, that I was making a fool of him.
“Since you don’t believe me, you might carry it indoors for me, while I put up the mare,” said I, risking a little more to make sure of him.
“You may carry your own litter,” said he, “and hold your tongue over it.”
So I carried the truss into the kitchen, and laid it in the corner there, and presently returned to the yard.