“‘I’ m the rantin’ cannie soogah’—­

“God save you, neighbor! you forgot to wash your face this mornin’.”

“That’s its natural color,” replied M’Carthy, willing, now that he was out of all danger, to have a banter with his well-known friend the pedlar.

“If you take my advice then,” said the pedlar, “you’ll paint it white—­it’s a safer color in daylight at any rate.  I’m thinkin’ now, that if you met a party of peelers on pathrole, they might give you a resate for turnin’ the same color red and white; however, glunthoma, (* Hear me) if you have any design upon the Cannie Soogah, I can only tell you that I never carry money about me, and even if I did, I have a couple o’ friends here that ‘ud standby me; ay, in throth, three o’ them, for I have brother to this fellow (showing the pistol) asleep in my breast here, and he doesn’t like to be wakened, you persave; so whoever you are, jog on and wash your face, as I said, and that’s a friend’s advice’ to you.”

“Why, Cannie Soogah, is it possible you don’t know me?”

“Throth I’ve been just thinkin’ that I heard the voice before, but when or where is more than I can tell.”

“Not know your friend Francis M’Carthy?”

“Eh, Mr. Francis M’Carthy! and, Lord o’ life, Mr. M’Carthy, how do you come to have a black face?  Surely you wouldn’t belong to this business—­black business I may call it—­that’s goin’?”

“Well, I should hope not, Cannie; but, for all that, you see me with a black face—­ha!—­ha!—­ha!”

“I do indeed, Mr. Frank, and, between you and me, I’m sorry to see it.”

“You will not be sorry to hear, however, that my black face saved my life last night.”

“Arra thin, how was that, sir, if it’s a fair question?”

M’Carthy then gave him a brief, and by no means a detailed account of the danger he had passed.

“Well,” said the other, “everything’s clear enough when it’s known; but, as it’s clear that you have enemies in the neighborhood, I think the wisest thing you could do would be to lave it at wanst.”

“Such, in fact, is my determination,” replied M’Carthy; “no man, I believe, who is marked ought to remain in the country; that is, when he has no local duties that demand his presence in it, as I have not.”

“You are right, sir; start this very day if you’re wise, and don’t give your enemies—­since it appears that you have enemies—­an opportunity of doin’ you an injury; if they missed you twice, it’s not likely they will a third time; but tell me, Mr. M’Carthy—­hem—­have you no suspicion as to who they are?”

“Not exactly; indeed I cannot say I have; the whole matter is shrouded in the deepest mystery.  I am not conscious of having offended or injured any one, nor can I guess why my life should be sought after; but sought after unquestionably it is, and that with an implacable resentment that is utterly unaccountable.”