n to do
important and serious work. The funds of the organization were nearly
always at the lowest ebb, and during this period of his life Mat had to
pass through privations that could only be endured by a man of
passionate purpose and unselfish aims. Many and many a time he had not
the money wherewith to buy a railway ticket. His clothes were often
ragged, and he frequently had to walk twenty miles in a day in shoes
that were almost soleless. The arrangement usually was for the members
of one circle to supply him with the money that would take him to the
next town; and though he saw many instances of abject cowardice and
hideous selfishness at this period--especially when the suspension of
the _Habeas Corpus_ Act left the liberty, and to some extent, the life
of every man at the disposal of the police. He also witnessed many
proofs of heroic courage and noble devotion.

At length the time came when everybody expected the blow to be struck at
British tyranny, and the star of Irish liberty to arise. Mat, owing to
his fiery and impatient temperament, naturally belonged to that section
of the Fenian Brotherhood which demanded prompt action, and still in the
age of illusions and of blinding rage, he would admit no difficulties,
and feared no obstacles. Mat had sworn in hundreds of members. He had
passed through the town of Ballybay on the memorable night when an Irish
regiment, as it was leaving for other quarters, cheered through the town
for the Irish Republic, and some of the men on whom he relied most
strongly were in high authority in the police force. He knew nothing of
the almost total want of arms, taking it for granted that all the wild
boasts of the supplies from America and other sources were founded on
facts. He was one of the deputation that finally waited upon the leaders
in Dublin to hurry on the struggle.

He went down to Ballybay on the night of the 17th of March, 18--, which
had been fixed for the rising. The head centre of the province had
arranged to meet the men there that night with arms. The Ballybay
Barracks were to be surrendered to them through one of the sergeants who
belonged to the Brotherhood; and it was hoped that by the evening of the
next day, the green flag would float over the castle which for three
centuries had been garrisoned by the soldiers of the enemy.

Two hundred men met at the trysting place, close to the "Big Meadows."
They were kept waiting for some time; impatience began to s