In the meantime, whilst the four other dogs were fighting furiously in the water, Shawn, having felt exhausted, was obliged to lie on his back and float, in order to regain his strength.
A little before this contest commenced, the black mask and a number of the pursuing party were standing on the edge of the lake looking on, conscious of the impossibility of their interference.
“Is there no stout man and good swimmer present,” exclaimed the mask, “who will earn the fifty pounds I have offered for the capture of that man?”
“Here am I,” said a powerful young fellow, the best swimmer, with the exception of Shawn-na-Middogue, in the province. “I am like a duck in the water; but upon my sowl, so is he. If I take him, you will give me the fifty pounds?”
“Unquestionably; but you know you will have the government reward besides.”
“Well, then, here goes. I cannot bring my carbine with me; but even so—we will have a tug for it with my skean.”
He threw off his coat and barrad, and immediately plunged in and swam with astonishing rapidity towards the spot where Shawn and the dogs—the latter still engaged in their ferocious contest—were in the lake. Shawn now had regained considerable strength, and was about to despatch the enemies of his brave defenders, when, on looking back to the spot on the margin of the lake where his pursuers stood, he saw the powerful young swimmer within a few yards of him. It was well for him that he had regained his strength, and such was his natural courage that he felt rather gratified at the appearance of only a single individual. “Shawn-na-Middogue,” said the young fellow, “I come to make you a prisoner. Will you fight me fairly in the water?”
“I am a hunted outlaw—a tory,” replied Shawn, “and will fight you the best way I can. If we were on firm earth I would fight you on your own terms. If there is to be a fight between us, remember that you are fighting for the government reward, and I for my life.”
“Will you fight me,” said the man, “without using your middogue?”
“I saw you take a skean from between your teeth as I turned round,” replied Shawn, “and I know now that you are a villain and a treacherous ruffian, who would take a cowardly advantage of me if you could.”