ond--very right. Third: Honor thy father and
thy mother--you understand that, Mick? It means that you are bound
to--to--just so--to honor your father and your mother, poor woman.'

"'My father--God be good to him!--is dead near fourteen years, sir,'
replied Mick.

"'Well, in that case, Mick, you see all that's left for you is to honor
your mother--although I'm not certain of that either; the Commandments
make no allowance at all for death, and in that case why, living or
dead, the surest way is to respect and obey them--that is, if the
thing were'nt impossible. I wish we had blind George M'Girr here, Mick;
although he's as great a rogue as ever escaped hemp, yet he'd beat the
devil himself at a knotty point.'

"'His breath would be bad about a dying man,' observed Mick.

"'Ay, or a living one,' said Vesey; 'however, let us get on--we were at
the Third. Fourth: Thou shalt do no murder.'

"At the word murder, Mick started, and gave a deep groan, whilst his
eyes and features assumed a gaunt and hollow expression, resembling that
of a man struck with an immediate sense of horror and affright.

"'Oh! for heaven's sake, sir, stop there,' said Doran, 'that brings to
my mind the business I had with you, Mr. Johnston.'

"'What is it about?' inquired Vengeance, in his usual eager manner.

"'Do you mind,' said Mick, 'that a paper was stuck one night upon your
door, threatening you, if you wouldn't lave that farm you're in?'.

"'I do, the blood-thirsty villains! but they knew a trick worth two of
coming near me.'

"'Well,' said Mick, 'a strange man, that I never seen before, came into
me last night, and tould me, if I'd see you, to say that you would get a
visit from the boys this night, and to take care of yourself.'

"'Give me the hand, Mick,' said Vengeance,--'give me the hand; in spite
of the priests, by the light of day you're an honest fellow. This night
you say, they're to come? And what are the bloody wretches to do, Mick.
But I needn't ask that, for I suppose it's to murder myself, and to burn
my place.

"'I'm afeard, sir, you're not far from the truth,' replied Mick; 'but,
Mr. Johnston, for God's sake don't mintion my name; for, if you do, I'll
get myself what they were laying out for you, be bumed in my bed maybe.'

"'Never fear, Mick,' replied Vengeance; 'your name will never cross my
lips.'

"'It's a great thing,' said Mick, 'that would make me turn informer: but
sure, only for your kindness and the goo