from my father's Christmas dhrink; but no matther for
that--I hope we'll never do worse. So, as I was sayin', you must bear me
out as well as you can, when I'm brought before the Dilegates to-morrow,
for challengin' and strikin' a brother.* But, I think, you'll stand by
me, boys?"

* Those connected with illegal combinations are sworn
to have no private or personal quarrels, nor to strike
nor provoke each other to fight. He and Mike were
members of such societies.

"By the tarn-o'-war, Frank, myself will fight to the knees for you."

"Faith, you may depend on us, Frank, or we're not to the fore."

"I know it, boys; and now for a piece of fun for this night. You
see--come, Lanty, tare-an'-ounkers, drink, man alive--you see, wid
regard to Peggy Gartland--eh? what the hell! is that a cough?"

"One o' the horses, man--go an."

"Rody, did Darby More go into the barn before you came out of it?"

"Darby More? not he. If he did, I'd a seen him surely."

"Why, thin, I'd kiss the book I seen him goin' towards the barn, as I
was comin' into the stable. Sowl, he's a made boy, that; an' if I don't
mistake, he's in Mike Reillaghan's intherest. You know divil a secret
can escape him."

"Hut! the prayin' ould crathur was on his way to the Midnight Mass; he
thravels slow, and, of coorse, has to set out early; besides, you know,
he has Carols, and bades, and the likes, to sell at the chapel."

"Thrue, for you, Rody; why, I thought he might take it into his head
to watch my motions, in regard that, as I said, I think him in Mike's
intherest."

"Nonsense, man, what the dickens 'ud bring him into the stable loft?
Why, you're beside yourself?"

"Be Gor, I bleeve so, but no matther. Boys, I want yez to stand to me
to-night: I'm given to know for a sartinty that Mike and Peggy will be
buckled to durin' the Hollydays. Now, I wish to get the girl myself; for
if I don't get her, may I be ground to atoms if he will."

"Well, but how will you manage? for she's fond of him."

"Why, I'll tell you that. I was over there this evenin', and I
understand that all the family is goin' to the Midnight Mass, barrin'
herself. You see, while they are all gone to the 'mallet-office,'* we'll
slip down wid a thrifle o' soot on our mugs, and walk down wid her to
Kilnaheery, beyant the mountains, to an uncle o' mine; an' affcher that,
let any man marry her who chooses to run the risk. Be the contints o'
the book, Atty, if you don