“Captain, it’s bad news I have for ye,” said Terrence.  “The brandy is all gone, and divil a bit o’ whiskey can be had for love or money.”  This was alarming to Captain Bones; but Terrence suggested that three miles away lived a farmer Condit, whose cellar abounded with kegs of apple jack and cider.  Condit was a rabid republican and would not give a Briton a drop if he were dying for it; but, if the captain would be taken into his confidence, he had a little scheme to propose which had a trifle of risk in it, just enough to give spice to it.

His plan was nothing more than to dress in citizen’s clothes, enter the cellar after night and carry away some, if not all, of the kegs of apple jack.

Captain Bones, who enjoyed a frolic, thought the plan an excellent one.

But he begged to allow the first lieutenant to become a party to the frolic.  This was just as Terrence wished, for he had intended to suggest the first lieutenant himself.  It was agreed that on Saturday night next, the three, dressed in citizen’s clothes, were to go to the home of the farmer, enter his cellar and secure enough apple jack and hard cider to alleviate the thirst of Captain Bones, during his stay in the neighborhood.

Farmer Condit, the day before the intended burglary, received a very mysterious letter in a very mysterious manner.  It read as follows: 

“Farmer Condit:  Saturday night your house is to be robbed.  I am one of a band of robbers who are to rob you.  I was forced to join them or be killed, and will have to go with them that night.  Have a few constables ready to seize them.  They will not fight; but let the man in tall, peaked, brown hat, white trousers and gray coat escape, for that is me.  If you could let me escape and seize the others, you would set at liberty a poor fellow creature, who warns you at the risk of his life.

Your friend.”

On the night in question, Terrence wore a tall, peaked brown hat, with black band.  He also wore white trousers and a gray coat.  The three set off in a cart which Terrence hired to bring back the treasure.  It was dark before they commenced their journey, for the officers did not want the men to know of the affair.

They reached the farm house of Mr. Condit and prepared to enter it and begin operations.  The cart and mule were left under some trees.  It was now ten o’clock, and the house was quite dark.  Slowly they crept up to it, Terrence asking himself if the farmer had heeded his warning.  Like many farm-house cellars, there was a trap door opening on the outside.  To this cellar door they made their way.  Terrence, who was accustomed to such affairs, had provided himself with a lantern, which he was to light when they entered the cellar.

They descended the steps and had scarcely reached the floor, when footsteps were heard descending a flight of steps from the inside of the house.