sorrow, was possessed of no artillery; they resolved, therefore, to leave those ingeniously-constructed packages behind them, and to retire with the more serviceable spoils they had gathered.  While the search was proceeding, the Fenian sentries, with revolvers ready in their hands, stood guard over the gunners, and prevented anyone—­young or old—­from quitting the room.  They spoke kindly to all however, chatted with the women, and won the affectionate regards of the youngsters by distributing money among them.  One of these strange visitors became so familiar as to tell one of the women that if she wished to know who he was, his name was Captain Mac—­a piece of information which did not strike her at the time as being of any peculiar value.  When the party had got their booty safely removed from the building, this chivalrous captain and his four assistant sentries prepared to leave; they cautioned the gunners, of whom there were three at this time in the building—­one having entered while the search was proceeding—­against quitting the fort till morning, stating that men would be on the watch outside to shoot them if they should attempt it.  So much being said and done, they bade a polite good evening to her Majesty’s gunners and their interesting families, and withdrew.

The heroic garrison did not venture out immediately after they had been relieved of the presence of the Fenian party; but finding that a few charges of powder were still stowed away in a corner of the fort, they hurried with them to the top of the building and commenced to blaze away from the big gun which was there in situ.  This performance they meant as a signal of distress; but though the sounds were heard and the flashes seen far and wide, no one divined the object of what appeared to be nothing more than an oddly-timed bit of artillery practice.  Next morning the whole story was in every one’s mouth.  Vast was the amusement which it afforded to the Corkonians generally, and many were the encomiums which they passed on the dashing Irish-Americans and smart youths of Cork’s own town who had accomplished so daring and clever a feat.  Proportionally great was the irritation felt by the sprinkling of loyalists and by the paid servants of the crown in that quarter.  One hope at all events the latter party had, that the leader in the adventure would soon be “in the hands of justice,” and one comforting assurance, that never again would the Fenians be able to replenish their armoury in so easy and so unlawful a manner.

Four days afterwards there was another “sensation” in Cork.  The Fenian collectors of arms had made another haul!  And this time their mode of action surpassed all their previous performances in coolness and daring.  At nine o’clock in the morning, on the 30th of December, eight men, who had assumed no disguise, suddenly entered the shop of Mr. Henry Allport, gunmaker, of Patrick-street, and producing revolvers from their pockets, covered him and his