“Shiss—­well?  De Hogans must know it?”

“I am aware of that; we couldn’t go on without them.  This running of your’s will soon be over; very well.  You can go to Ahadarra to-morrow and pitch upon a proper situation for a house.  These implements will do.”

“No, dey won’t; I wouldn’t tink to begin at all wid dat ould skillet.  You must get de Hogans to make a new Still, Head and Worm, an’ dat will be money down.”

“Very well; I’ll provide the needful; let Philip call to me in a day or two.”

“Dat Ahadarra isn’t so safe,” said Teddy.  “Fwhy wouldn’t you carry it on here?” and he accompanied the query with a piercing-glance as he spoke.

“Because,” replied Hycy, “I have been seen here too often already, and my name must not in any way be connected with your proceedings.  This place, besides, is now too much known.  It’s best and safest to change our bob, Ted.”

“Dere’s trewt in dhat, anyhow,” said the other, now evidently more satisfied as to Hycy’s motive in changing.  “But,” he added, “as you is now to schange, it ’ud be gooder to shange to some better place nor Ahadarra.”

“I know of none better or safer,” said Burke.

“Ay, fifty,” returned his companion, resuming his suspicious looks; “but no matther, any way you must only plaise yerself—­’tis all the shame to me.”

“Ahadarra it must be then,” said the other, “and that ends it.”

“Vary well, den, Ahadarra let her be,” said Ted, and the conversation on this subject dropped.

The smuggler’s supper now made it’s appearance.  The geese were beautifully done, and as Hycy’s appetite had got a keen stimulus by his mountain walk, he rendered them ample justice.

“Trot,” said Teddy, “sich a walk as you had droo de mountains was enough to sharpen anybody’s appetite.”

Hogan also plied him with punch, having provided himself with sugar for that express purpose.  Hycy, however, was particularly cautious, and for a long time declined to do more than take a little spirits and water.  It was not, in fact, until he had introduced the name of Kathleen Cavanagh that he consented to taste punch.  Between the two, however, Burke’s vanity was admirably played on; and Hogan wound up the dialogue by hinting that Hycy, no matter how appearances might go, was by no means indifferent to the interesting daughter of the house of Cavanagh.

At length, when the night was far advanced, Burke rose, and taking his leave like a man who had forgotten some appointment, but with a very pompous degree of condescension, sought his way in the direction of home, across the mountains.

He had scarcely gone, when Hogan, as if struck by a sudden recollection, observed as he thought it would be ungenerous to allow him, at that hour of the night, to cross the mountains by himself.  He accordingly whispered a few words to his wife, and left them with an intention, as he said, to see Mr. Hycy safe home.