hot?--let us see?"

He stooped down, and on examining the Wound by the light of the moon,
perceived at once that it was not all imagination and evil conscience.
He consequently forced him to his legs, then bound up the wound with the
fellow's handkerchief just as he had done his own, and in a few minutes
they were able to resume their journey, slowly, it is true, and on the
part of Ratigan, whose wound was the more serious, with a good deal of
difficulty and pain, notwithstanding his hardihood.

In the meantime, M'Carthy was soon overtaken by the friendly Whiteboy,
whose speed; of foot was indeed extraordinary. On seeing, the dagger
in his pursuer's hand--for such he deemed him to be--he had prepared
himself for resistance, the fact being, than in consequence of their
blackened faces, and the state of perturbation and excitement in which
he felt himself, he was in no condition to recognize any of the party
unless by their voices.

"Don't be alarmed," exclaimed the stranger, approaching him, "I have
saved your life for this night most likely, by takin' the, life of them
that intended to murder you."

"I certainly feel," replied M'Carthy, "that I owe my life to you, and I
know not what return I can make you for it. But why should I speak so,
since I am ignorant of your name, as well as of everything whatsoever
concerning you? As to the other two persons, I cannot understand why
they should attempt to murder me, as I am not conscious of having given
offence to, any person."

"You have never given offence to them," replied the stranger; "but
unfortunately this, part of the country's in such a state of feelin' at
the present time, that it's as aisy to find one man to murdher another
as it would be to get a man to shoot a dog. No, sir; you never offended
these men, but they were set on to take your life by a man who hates
you."

"Well, since you have been on more than one occasion so generous to me,
can you not let me know who that person is?"

"No, sir; that man has a hundred--ay, ten hundred eyes through the
counthry--in the shape of spies--and five times as many hands any time
he may wish for them. You may thank a friend of yours for sendin' me to
save your life this night. Your family have been friends to him and to
me too, although you don't know it. As for me, I go with him heart an'
hand in puttin' down the tithes, but I'll always save the life of a
friend, if I can; and indeed I have been forced to shoot these