The guns were still levelled, the fingers of the men on the triggers, when Smellpriest shouted out, “Ground arms!  By —–­,” says he, “here is a new case; this fellow has spunk and courage, and curse me, although I give the priests a chase wherever I can, still I am a soldier, and a man of courage, and to shoot down a priest in the worship of God would be cowardly.  No, I can’t do it—­nor I won’t; I like pluck, and this priest has shown it.  Had he taken to his heels, by —–­, he would have had half a dozen bullets in his rear; but, as I said, I like pluck, and on that account we shall pass him by this time.  To the right about.  As to the clerk, by —–­, he has shown pluck too, but be hanged to him, what do we care about him?”

We must say a word or two here about Smellpriest.  He was, in the true sense of the word, a priest-hunter; but yet, with all his bigotry, he was a brave man, and could appreciate courage wherever he found it.  The reader already knows that his range of persecution was by no means either so wide or so comprehensive as that of the coward Whitecraft.  He was a dashing, outspoken fellow, with an equal portion of boisterous folly and mischief; whereas Whitecraft was a perfect snake—­treacherous, cruel, persevering in his enmity, and unrelenting in his vengeance.  Such was the difference in the character of these two worthies.

After Smellpriest had drawn off his men, the bishop concluded the ceremony of the mass; but when he turned round to announce its conclusion in the words, ite, missa est, there was not a soul before him, the terrified congregation, as we have said, having all betaken themselves to flight.  Reilly then assisted him to unrobe, and placed the vestments, the chalice, pix, and every thing connected with the ceremony, in a pair of saddle-bags, which belonged to the parish priest, whose altar was then closed, as we said, by proclamation.

Reilly and the bishop then proceeded to the farmer’s house, Reilly carrying the saddlebags, and as they went along the following conversation took place between them: 

“My lord,” said his companion, “if I might presume to advise you, I think it would be more prudent for you to retire to the Continent for a time.  This ferocious captain, who, subdued by the sublime tenor of your conduct, spared you on this occasion, may not under other and less impressive circumstances, exercise a similar forbearance.”

“But, my dear Reilly,” replied the bishop, in a tone of deep melancholy, “I am not in circumstances to go to the Continent; I am poor; most of my available money I have distributed among the unhappy people, until I am now nearly as poor as themselves; but, independently of that, I do not think it would be right to abandon the charge which God has entrusted to my keeping.  The shepherd should not desert his flock, especially in the moment of danger, when the wolves ire abroad.”

“But, my lord,” replied Reilly, “under the present circumstances of the country your residence here can be of no service to them.  The chapels are all closed, and public worship forbidden by law.  This cannot, and, I hope, will not, last long; but in the meantime, think if it be not wiser in you to go for a time into what I may call a voluntary exile, than be forced into banishment by a cruel edict of the law, as you will be if you should be discovered.”