consequence of their connection
with such systems, many of the civil duties of life cannot be performed
without perjury on the one hand, or risk of life on the other, and that
the whole principle of the combination is founded upon hatred, revenge,
and a violation of all moral obligation?

"Well, then," said their leader, "as your minds is made up, boys, follow
me as quickly as you can, an' don't spake a word in your own voices."

They approached the hall-door, with the exception of six, who stood
guarding the front windows of the dwelling-house and kitchen; and, to
the Dandy's astonishment, the whole party, amounting to about eighteen,
entered the house without either noise or obstruction of any kind.

"By Japurs," thought he to himself, "there's thraichery there, any how."

This now to the Dandy was a moment of intense interest. Though by no
means a coward, or a young fellow of delicate nerves, yet his heart beat
furiously against his ribs, and his whole frame shook with excitement.
He would, in truth, much rather have been engaged in the outrage, than
forced as he was, merely to look on without an opportunity of taking
a part in it, one way or the other. Such, at least, were his own
impressions, when the report of a gun was heard inside the house.

_Dhar an Iffrin_, thought he again, I'll bolt in an' see what's
goin' an--oh _ma shaght millia mattach orth_, Flanagan, if you spill
blood--Jasus above! Well, any how, come or go what may, we can hang him
for this--glory be to God!

These reflections were very near breaking-forth into words.

"I don't like that," said one of the guards to another; "he may take
the girl away, but it's not the thing to murdher any one belongin' to a
dacent family, an' of our own religion."

"If it's only the Bodagh got it," replied his comrade, who was no other
than Micky Malvathra, "blaizes to the hair I care. When my brother
Barney, that suffered for _Caam Beal_ (crooked mouth) Grime's business,
was before his thrial, hell resave the taisther the same Bodagh would
give to defind him."

"Damn it," rejoined the other, "but to murdher a man in his bed! Why,
now, if it was only comin' home from a fair or market, but at midnight,
an' in his bed, begorra it is not the thing, Mickey."

There was now a pause in the conversation for some minutes; at length,
screams were heard, and the noise of men's feet, as if engaged in a
scuffle upon the stairs, for the hall-door lay open. A light, too