Willy Reilly eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 610 pages of information about Willy Reilly.

Willy Reilly eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 610 pages of information about Willy Reilly.
arguing ingenuity and invention, but his eyes, which were small and treacherous, glared—­whenever he became excited—­with the ferocity of an enraged tiger.  His shoulders were broad, his chest deep and square, his arms long and powerful, but his lower limbs were somewhat light in proportion to the great size of his upper figure.  This, however, is generally the case when a man combines in his own person the united qualities of activity and strength.  Even at the period we are describing, when this once celebrated character was forty years of age, it was well known that in fleetness of foot there was no man in the province able to compete with him.  In athletic exercises that required strength and skill he never had a rival, but one—­with whom the reader will soon be made acquainted.  He was wrapped loosely in a gray frieze big-coat, or cothamore, as it is called in Irish—­wore a hat of two colors, and so pliant in texture that he could at any time turn it inside out.  His coat was—­as indeed were all his clothes—­made upon the time principle, so that when hard pressed by the authorities he could in a minute or two transmute himself into the appearance of a nun very different from the individual described to them.  Indeed he was such a perfect Proteus that no vigilance of the Executive was ever a match for his versatility of appearance, swiftness of foot, and caution.  These frequent defeats of the authorities of that day made him extremely popular with the people, who were always ready to afford him shelter and means of concealment, in return for which he assisted them with food, money, and the spoils of his predatory life.  This, indeed, was the sagacious principle of the Irish Robbers and Rapparees from the beginning to rob from the rich and give to the poor being their motto.

The persons who accompanied him on this occasion were three of his own gang, who usually constituted his body-guard, and acted as videttes, either for his protection or for the purpose of bringing him information of such travellers as from their known wealth or external appearance might be supposed worth attacking.  They were well-made, active, and athletic men, in whom it would not be easy to recognise any particular character at variance with that of the peasantry around them.  It is unnecessary to say that they were all armed.  Having satisfied himself as to the identity of master and man, with a glance at his companions, the Rapparee said,

“What on earth brought you and Andy Cummiskey here, noble squire?  Oh! you lost your way Andy says.  Well now,” he proceeded, “you know I have been many a day and night on the lookout for you; aye, could have put daylight through you many and many a time; and what do you think prevented me?”

“Fear of God, or of the gallows, I hope,” replied the intrepid old man.

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Willy Reilly from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.