acMurrachu
of the Hill stole our crock a while back, and he buried it under a thorn
bush. I can bring you to the place if you don't believe me."

"Very good," said Shawn. "Come on with me now, and I'll clout you if you
as much as wriggle; do you mind me?"

"What would I wriggle for?" said the Leprecaun: "sure I like being with
you."

Hereupon the sergeant roared at the top of his voice.

"Attention," said he, and the men leaped to position like automata.

"What is it you are going to do with your prisoner, Shawn?" said he
sarcastically. "Don't you think we've had enough tramping of these roads
for one night, now? Bring up that Leprecaun to the barracks or it'll be
the worse for you--do you hear me talking to you?"

"But the gold, sergeant," said Shawn sulkily.

"If there's any gold it'll be treasure trove, and belong to the Crown.
What kind of a constable are you at all, Shawn? Mind what you are about
now, my man, and no back answers. Step along there. Bring that murderer
up at once, whichever of you has him."

There came a gasp from the darkness.

"Oh, Oh, Oh!" said a voice of horror.

"What's wrong with you?" said the sergeant: "are you hurted?"

"The prisoner!" he gasped, "he, he's got away!"

"Got away?" and the sergeant's voice was a blare of fury.

"While we were looking at the Leprecaun," said the voice of woe, "I must
have forgotten about the other one--I, I haven't got him--"

"You gawm!" gritted the sergeant.

"Is it my prisoner that's gone?" said Shawn in a deep voice. He leaped
forward with a curse and smote his negligent comrade so terrible a blow
in the face, that the man went flying backwards, and the thud of his
head on the road could have been heard anywhere.

"Get up," said Shawn, "get up till I give you another one."

"That will do," said the sergeant, "we'll go home. We're the
laughing-stock of the world. I'll pay you out for this some time, every
damn man of ye. Bring that Leprecaun along with you, and quick march."

"Oh!" said Shawn in a strangled tone.

"What is it now?" said the sergeant testily.

"Nothing," replied Shawn.

"What did you say 'Oh!' for then, you block-head?"

"It's the Leprecaun, sergeant," said Shawn in a whisper--"he's got
away--when I was hitting the man there I forgot all about the Leprecaun:
he must have run into the hedge. Oh, sergeant, dear, don't say anything
to me now--!"

"Quick march," said the sergeant, and the four men moved on through the