“Ay, and so would you, if you knew the life we lead.”

“That might be,” replied his brother, “if I didn’t happen to think of the death you die.”

“As to that,” said Michael, “we have all made up our minds; shooting and hanging will get nothing out of us but the death-laugh at our enemies.”

“Ay, enemies of your own making,” said Barney; “but as to the death-laugh on the gallows, remember that that is at your own expense.  It will be what we call on the wrong side of the mouth, I think.  But in regard of these nightly meetings of yours, I would have no objection to see one of them.  Do you think I would be allowed to join you for an hour or two, that I might hear and see what you say and do?”

“You may, Barney; but you know it isn’t every one that would get that privilege; but in ordher to make sure, I’ll spake to Shawn about it.  Leave is light, they say; and as he knows you’re not likely to turn a spy upon our hands, I’m certain he won’t have any objection.”

“When and where will you meet next?” asked Barney.

“On the very spot where Shawn struck his middogue into the body of Masther Charles,” replied his brother.  Shawn has some oath of revenge to make against Woodward, because he suspects that the villain knows where poor Granua Davoren is.”

“Well, on that subject he may take his own coorse,” replied Barney; “but as for me, Michael, I neither care nor will think of the murdher of a fellow-crature, no matther how wicked he may be, especially when I know that it is planned for him.  As a man and a Christian, I cannot lend myself to it, and of coorse—­but this is between ourselves—­I will put Mr. Woodward on his guard.”

Those were noble sentiments, considering the wild and licentious period of which we write, and the dreadfully low estimate at which human life was then held.

“Act as you like,” replied Michael; “but this I can tell you, and this I do tell you, that if, for the safety of this villain, you take a single step that may bring Shawn-na-Middogue into danger, if you were my brother ten times over I will not prevent him—­Shawn I mean—­from letting loose his vengeance upon you.  No, nor upon Rathfillan House and all that it contains, you among the number.”

“I will do nothing,” replied Barney, firmly, “to bring Shawn or any of you into danger; but as sure as I have a Christian soul to be saved, and my life in my body, I will, as I said, put Mr. Harry Woodward upon his guard against him.  So now, if you think it proper to let me be present at your meeting, knowing what you know, I will go, but not otherwise.”

“I feel, Barney,” said his brother, “that my mind is much hardened of late by the society I keep.  I remember when I thought murder as horrible a thing as you do, but now it is not so.  The planning and the plotting of it is considered only as a good joke among us.”

“But why don’t you lave them, then?” said Barney.  “The pious principles of our father and mother were never such as they practise and preach among you.  Why don’t you lave them, I say?”