hated Nanny--iv you had seen the
little angel how she stood before me, an' cried out 'shame!' an' held
up the pitcher for me to dhrink, an' helped me to rise, offerin' me the
shelter of her father's house, little dhramin' ov whom she was spakin'
to--you wouldn't have a thought ov hurtin' her--bud--no one--no one
could harm Minny!---she is too sweet, too pure, too like a little
angel!"

"A hair of the child's head shall not be touched!" said the same deep
voice that had before made Nanny start; "bud he, the informher an' the
prosecuthor, must feel our vengeance!"

Nanny was silent--she saw that further parley was useless, and was
obliged to bear with the concession she had already obtained. Meanwhile,
the men having ascertained that it was time they were stirring, hastily
equipped themselves, and prepared to start. When. they were leaving the
house, the stranger, whose voice had so startled her, took her hand, and
though his face was studiously averted, she heard him say solemnly'--

"Nanny, good bye!--my promise I'll keep sacred--the good child shall not
be touched!"

She had not time to utter her thanks, for his hand as hastily
relinquished its hold, and ere she could speak, all were gone, and
she heard the buzz of their voices, as in a group they descended the
mountain.

The bright moonbeams silvered the motionless leaves of the trees that
surrounded Whelan's cottage--there was not a stir within--no light
gleamed from the lattice, and the small thin brook that bubbled through
the long grass a little in its front, seemed to hush its merry song to
a mere low trickling sound, as if in unison with the universal repose. A
dark group of figures stood in the little garden before the door, as if
debating how they should act. Two of them, separated a little from the
rest, conferred together, one of whom was the stranger we have already
noticed, and the other the man we have spoken of as seeming to possess
some command over them all. Suddenly the latter started, and exclaimed
in the quick, sharp tone of command--

"Advance, men, an' smash the door--there's no use in delayin' longer."

An almost instantaneous crash was the answer, and the door flew from its
hinges, and four or five of the men rushed into the cottage, while the
rest kept watch outside. Exclamations of surprise, mingled with harsh,
epithets, were heard within; and then they appeared a second time,
dragging with them the unfortunate and trembling owner, who