“Your villain of a father’s off,” said he, “to betray us; go, an’ folly him; bring him back, an’ he’ll be safe from me:  but let him become a slag agin us, and if I should hunt you both into bowels of the airth, I’ll send yez to a short account.  I don’t care that,” and he snapped his fingers—­“ha, ha—­no, I don’t care that for the law; I know how to dale with it, when it comes!  An’ what’s the stuff about the other world, but priestcraft and lies!”

“Maybe,” said the Big Mower, “Denis is gone to get the foreway of us, an’ to take the horse himself.  Our best plan is to lose no time, at all events; so let us hurry, for fraid the night might happen to clear up.”

“He!” said Meehan, “he go alone!  No; the miserable wretch is afeard of his own shadow.  I only wondher he stuck to me so long:  but sure he wouldn’t, only I bate the courage in, and the fear out of him.  You’re right, Brian,” said he upon reflection, “let us lose no time, but be off.  Do ye mind?” he added to his nephews; “Did ye hear me?  If you see him, let him come back, an’ all will be berrid; but, if he doesn’t, you know your fate!” Saying which, he and his accomplices departed amid the howling of the storm.

The next morning, Carnmore, and indeed the whole parish, was in an uproar; a horse, worth eighty guineas, had been stolen in the most daring manner from the Cassidys, and the hue-and-cry was up after the thief or thieves who took him.  For several days the search was closely maintained, but without success; not the slightest trace could be found of him or them.  The Cassidys could very well bear to lose him; but there were many struggling farmers, on whose property serious depredations had been committed, who could not sustain their loss so easily.  It was natural under these circumstances that suspicion should attach to many persons, some of whom had but indifferent characters before as well as to several who certainly had never deserved suspicion.  When a fortnight or so had elapsed, and no circumstances transpired that might lead to discovery, the neighbors, including those who had principally suffered by the robberies, determined to assemble upon a certain day at Cassidy’s house, for the purpose of clearing themselves, on oath, of the imputation thrown out against some of them, as accomplices in the thefts.  In order, however, that the ceremony should be performed as solemnly as possible, they determined to send for Father Farrell, and Mr. Nicholson, a magistrate, both of whom they requested to undertake the task of jointly presiding upon this occasion; and, that the circumstance should have every publicity, it was announced from the altar by the priest, on the preceding Sabbath, and published on the church-gate in large legible characters ingeniously printed with a pen by the village schoolmaster.