e invalid, raising himself, in
deep emotion, on his elbow, from his poor straw bed.

"'Vengeance,' said he--'Vengeance, man--he's going to get it. I was out
with the boys on Sunday evening, and at last it's agreed on to visit
him to-morrow night. I'm sure and sartin he'll never escape, for there's
more in for him than taking the farm, and daring them so often as he
did--he shot two fingers off of a brother-in-law of Jem Reilly's one
night that they war on for threshing him, and that's coming home to him
along with the rest.'

"'In the name of God, Jack,' inquired Mick, 'what do they intend to do
to him?'

"' Why,' replied Jack, 'it's agreed to put a coal in the thatch, in the
first place; and although they were afeared to name what he's to get
besides, I doubt they'll make a spatchcock of himself. They won't meddle
with any other of the family, though--but he's down for it.'

"'Are you to be one of them?' asked Mick.

"'I was the third man named,' replied the other, 'bekase, they said, I
knew the place.'

"'Jack,' said his emaciated brother, with much solemnity, raising
himself up in the bed--'Jack, if you have act or part in that bloody
business, God in his glory you'll never see. Fly the country--cut off a
finger or toe--break your arm--or do something that may prevent you from
being there. Oh, my God!' he exclaimed, whilst the tears fell fast down
his pale cheeks--'to go to murder the man, and lave his little family
widout a head or a father over them, and his wife a widow! To burn his
place, widout rhime, or rason, or offince! Jack, if you go, I'll die
cursing you. I'll appear to you--I'll let you rest neither night nor
day, sleeping nor waking, in bed or out of bed. I'll haunt you, till
you'll curse the very hour you war born.'

"'Whist, Micky,' said Jack, 'you're frightening me: I'll not go--will
that satisfy you?'

"'Well, dhrop down on your two knees, there,' said Micky, 'and swear
before the God that has his eye upon you this minute, that you'll have
no hand in injuring him or his, while you live. If you don't do this,
I'll not rest in my grave and maybe I'll be a corpse before mornin.'

"'Well Micky, said Jack, who though wild and unthinking, was a lad whose
heart and affections were good, 'it would be hard for me to refuse
you that much, and you! not likely to be long wid me--I will;' and he
accordingly knelt down and swore solemnly, in words which his brother
dictated to him, that he would not be