“If you have prayers to say, you had better say them now,” cried the leader of the outlaws.
“It’s time to speak to you now, Dan Hoolan,” said my uncle, as if he had not heard the last remark. “Whether you really intend to hang us or not, I can’t say; but if you do, vengeance is sure to overtake you. To kill an old man would be a dastardly deed, but doubly accursed would you be should you deprive a young lad like this of his life. If you have no pity on me, have regard to your own soul. There’s not a priest in the land who would give you absolution.”
“Hould there, and don’t speak another word,” shouted Hoolan. “I have given you the chance of praying, and you wouldn’t take it, so it’s yourselves will have to answer for it. Quick, boys, bring them along.”
Our captors were leading us forward, and, as I had no wish to lose my life, I was looking out for an opportunity of obeying my uncle’s instructions, when, with a strength which those who held him could not have supposed he possessed, knocking down one on either side, he threw himself upon Hoolan, who, not expecting such an attack, was brought to the ground. At the same moment the major, drawing a knife which the ruffian had in his belt, held it as if to strike him to the heart. The hunchback, seeing the danger of his leader, regardless of me, rushed forward to his assistance; when, finding myself at liberty, I darted towards my horse, which was held by one only of the men, who, eagerly watching the strife, did not observe me. Twisting his shillelah from his hands, and snatching the reins, I was in a moment in the saddle; but I had no intention of deserting my uncle. Firmly grasping the shillelah, I laid it about the heads of the men who were on the point of seizing the major. Hoolan, however, was completely at his mercy; and had they ventured to touch him, one blow of the knife would have ended the villain’s life, though probably his companions would have revenged his death by shooting us the moment after. But just then loud shouts were heard in the distance, and a party of men on horseback, whom no one had observed, were seen galloping at a tearing rate towards us.
“Hoora! hoora! Tim Phelan’s gained his cause!” shouted a horseman. “He’s proved an alibi, and been set free by the judge.”
Our captors, on hearing the shouts, turned to greet the new-comers, forgetting for the moment their previous intention and their leader, who lay on the ground, the major still holding his knife at his throat. Presently, who should I see riding out from the crowd but Larry Harrigan himself.
“Thunder and ’ounds!” he exclaimed. “What were they going to do to you? Shure I never thought they’d have ventured on that.”
He now came up to Hoolan with my uncle bending over him.
“Spare his life, major dear,” he exclaimed. “He never intended to kill you; and if you’ll let him go I’ll tell your honour all about it by and by.”
“Is this the case, Dan Hoolan?” asked my uncle. “On your soul, man, did you not intend to put your threat into execution?”