see him dead than that he should fear to be a man."

He had scarcely spoken, when a loud cheer, which came rapidly onward,
was heard outside the church-yard. A motion and a violent thrusting
aside, accompanied by a second shout, "he's here!" gave intimation of
his approach. In about a minute, to the manifest delight of all present,
young Lamh Laudher, besmeared with blood, leaped upon the platform.
He looked gratefully at the crowd, and in order to prevent perplexing
inquiries, simply said--

"Don't be alarmed--I had a slight accident, but I'm not the worse of
it."

The cheers of the multitude were now enough to awaken the dead beneath
them; and when they had ceased, his father cried out--

"God support you, boy--you're my true son; an' I know you'll show them
what the Lamh Laudher blood an' the Lamh Laudher blow is."

The young man looked about him for a moment, and appeared perplexed.

"I'm here alone," said he; "is there any among you that will second me?"

Hundreds immediately volunteered this office; but there was one who
immediately sprung upon the stage, to the no small surprise of all
present--it was Meehaul Neil. He approached Lamh Laudher and extended
his hand, which was received with cordiality.

"Meehaul," said O'Rorke, "I thank you for this."

"Do not," replied the other; "no man has such a right to stand by you
now as I have. I never knew till this mornin' why you did not strike me
the last night we met."

The Dead Boxer stood with his arms folded, sometimes looking upon the
crowd, and occasionally glaring at his young' and fearless antagonist.
The latter immediately stripped, and when he "stood out erect and
undaunted upon the stage, although his proportions were perfect, and his
frame active and massy, yet when measured with the Herculean size of the
Dead Boxer, he appeared to have no chance.

"Now," said he to the black, "by what rules are we to fight?"

"If you consult me," said the other, "perhaps it is best that every man
should fight as he pleases. You decide that. I am the challenger."

"Take your own way, then," said O'Rorke; "but you have a secret,
black--do you intend to use it?"

"Certainly, young fellow."

"I have my secret, too," said Lamh Laudher; "an' now I give you warning
that I will put it in practice."

"All fair; but we are losing time," replied the man of color, putting
himself in an attitude. "Come on."

Their seconds stood back, and both advanced to the middle