Many private meetings they held among themselves upon those important matters, at which Dandy Duff and Ned M’Cormick attended, as was their duty; and well was it for them the part they took in defeating Bartle Flanagan, and serving the Bodagh and his family, was unknown to their confederates.  To detail the proceedings of their meetings, and recount the savage and vindictive ferocity of such men, would be pacing the taste and humanity of our readers a bad compliment.  It is enough to say that a fund was raised for Flanagan’s defence, and a threatening notice written to be pasted on the Bodagh Buie’s door—­of which elegant production the following is a literal copy:—­

“Buddha Bee—­You ‘ave wan iv our boys in for abjection an’ rubbry—­an’ it seems is resolved to parsequte the poor boy at the nuxt ’Shizers—­now dhis is be way av a dalikit hint to yew an’ yoos that aff butt wan spudh av his blud is spiled in quensequence av yewr parsequtin’ im as the winther’s comin’ on an’ the wether gettin’ cowld an’ the long nights settin’ in yew may as well prapare yewr caughin an’ not that same remimber you’ve a praty dother an may no more about her afore you much shoulder.

“Simon Pettier Staeught.”

This and several others of the same class were served upon the Bodagh, with the intention of intimidating him from the prosecution of Flanagan.  They had, however, quite mistaken their man.  The Bodagh, though peaceable and placable, had not one atom of the coward in his whole composition.  On the contrary, he was not only resolute in resisting what he conceived to be oppressive or unjust, but he was also immovably obstinate in anything wherein he fancied he had right on his side.  And even had his disposition been inclined to timidity or pliancy, his son John would have used all his influence to induce him to resist a system which is equally opposed to the laws of God and of man, as well as to the temporal happiness of those who are slaves to the terrible power which, like a familiar devil, it exercises over its victims under the hollow promise of protection.

PART VIII.  AND LAST.

As the Bodagh and his son took the usual legal steps to forward the prosecution, it was but natural that they should calculate upon the evidence of Dandy Duffy, Ned M’Cormick, and Alick Nulty.  John O’Brien accordingly informed them, on the very night of the outrage, that his father and himself would consider them as strong evidence against Bartle Flanagan, and call upon them as such.  This information placed these young men in a position of incredible difficulty and danger.  They knew not exactly at that moment how to proceed consistently with the duty which they owed to society at large, and that which was expected from them by the dark combination to which they were united.  M’Cormick, however, begged of John O’Brien not to mention their names until the day after the next, and told him if he could understand their reason for this request, he would not hesitate to comply with it.