“No,” they replied; “Go on, and more power!”
At this moment M'Carthy shouted out in loud and powerful tones—“The Cannie Soogah!” and the words were no sooner uttered than Mogue started, a rapid stir and murmur pervaded, the multitude, and almost instantly a most hearty and vociferous cheer awakened the echoes that slept among the neighboring hills. The moment this had subsided, the same voice repeated the name with an addition—“The Cannie Soogah to the rescue—here he is!”
Our facetious friend, for it was he, threw up his hand in a peculiar manner, that made the act understood by all present, with the exception of M'Carthy and Alick Purcel.
“Yes, boys,” he exclaimed, “I am here; and I thank you for your kindness. You have had a full revenge to-night on Purcel and his family; but, as I have been a long time in search of a good wife, I suppose you have no objection that I should take charge of the ladies.”
These words were followed by another astounding cheer, and the Cannie, riding over to the spot where Mrs. Purcel and her daughter stood—for she and Mary had now joined Julia—was about to speak to them, when the report of a pistol was heard, and at the same moment a bullet whizzed past his ear.
“Treachery!” he shouted, “treachery against your commander! Seize upon that person, in the name of Captain Right.”
His words came late; another report followed the first, with an interval of less than a quarter of a minute between them, and instantly our pious friend, who had flattered himself with the prospect of a long and happy life in the possession of Julia Purcel, fell stone-dead to the earth.
“What!” shouted the Cannie, “is this more treachery? But wait, I'll soon cure this.”
He put a horn to his lips as he spoke, and having given it a sharp, quick, and hasty blast, he nodded his head, as much as to say, “Wait a moment.”
“The last shot wasn't threachery anyhow,” exclaimed Jerry Joyce, whose voice Alick immediately recognized; “somebody,” he added, with a significant look, “has ped honest Mogue for his.”