Isaac, I'll flog the marrow out of
them."

"You have heard, Mr. Kavanagh," continued Mr. Johnston, as they went
along, "of the burning of Moore's stable and horses, the night before
last. The fact is, that the magistrates of the county are endeavoring to
get the incendiaries, and would render a service to any person capable,
either directly or indirectly, of facilitating the object, or stumbling
on a clew to the transaction."

"And how could I do you a sarvice in it, sir?" inquired Mat.

"Why," replied Mr. Johnston, "from the children. If you could sift them
in an indirect way, so as, without suspicion, to ascertain the absence
of a brother, or so, on that particular night, I might have it in my
power to serve you, Mr. Kavanagh. There will be a large reward offered
to-morrow, besides."

"Oh, damn the penny of the reward ever I'd finger, even if I knew the
whole conflagration," said Mat; "but lave the siftin' of the children
wid myself, and if I can get anything out of them you'll hear from me;
but your honor must keep a close mouth, or you might have occasion to
lend me the money for my own funeral some o' these days. Good-morning,
gintlemen." The gentlemen departed.

"May the most ornamental kind of hard fortune pursue you every day you
rise, you desavin' villain, that would have me turn informer, bekase
your brother-in-law, rack-rintin' Moore's stables and horses were burnt;
and to crown all, make the innocent childre the means of hanging their
own fathers or brothers, you rap of the divil! but I'd see you and all
your breed in the flames o' hell first." Such was Mat's soliloquy as he
entered the school on his return.

"Now, boys, I'm afther givin' yez to-day and to-morrow for a holyday:
to-morrow we will have our Gregory;* a fine faste, plinty of poteen,
and a fiddle; and you will tell your brothers and sisters to come in
the evening to the dance. You must bring plinty of bacon, hung beef,
and fowls, bread and cabbage--not forgetting the phaties, and sixpence
a-head for the crathur, boys, won't yez?"

The next day, of course, was one of festivity; every boy brought, in
fact, as much provender as would serve six; but the surplus gave Mat
some good dinners for three months to come. This feast was always held
upon St. Gregory's day, from which circumstance it had its name. The
pupils were at liberty for that day to conduct themselves as
they pleased: and the consequence was, that they became generally
intoxicat