Paddy Finn | Page 8

major's
rein. At the same time a short but strongly-built ruffian, with a
humpback, sprang towards me, evidently intending to drag me off my
horse, or to haul the animal away, so that I might be separated from my
companion.
"Keep close to my side, Terence," he said in a low voice. "Out with
your pistol, and cover that villain approaching."
At the moment, as he spoke, his sword flashed in the sunlight, and with
the back of the blade he struck up the weapon of his assailant, which
exploded in the air. He was about to bring down the sharp edge on the
fellow's head, when a dozen others, with shrieks and shouts, rushed
towards us, some forcing themselves in between our horses, while
others, keeping on the other side of the major, seized his arms at the
risk of being cut down. Several grasped his legs and stirrups. His horse
plunged and reared, but they nimbly avoided the animal's heels. Two of

the gang held the horse's head down by the reins, while an attempt was
made to drag the rider from his seat. They doubtless thought if they
could master him, that I should become an easy prey. Their object, I
concluded, was to make us prisoners, rather than to take our lives,
which they might have done at any moment by shooting us with their
firearms. Still our position was very far from an agreeable one. My
uncle, who had not spoken another word, firmly kept his seat,
notwithstanding the efforts of the ruffian crew to pull him off his saddle.
In the meantime, the hunchback, whose task, it seemed, was to secure
me, came on, fixing his fierce little eyes on my pistol, which I fancied
was pointed at his head.
"If you come an inch further, I'll fire," I cried out.
He answered by a derisive laugh, followed by an unearthly shriek,
given apparently to unnerve me; and then, as he saw my finger on the
trigger, he ducked his head, as if about to spring into the water. The
pistol went off, the bullet passing above him. The next instant, rising
and springing forward, he clutched my throat, while another fellow
caught hold of my rein.
CHAPTER THREE.
WE MEET WITH FURTHER ADVENTURES.
In spite of my uncle's skill as a swordsman, and the pistols, on which I
had placed so much reliance, we were overpowered before we could
strike a blow in our own defence, and were completely at the mercy of
our assailants. The major, however, all the time didn't lose his coolness
and self-possession.
"What are you about to do, boys?" he asked. "You have mistaken us for
others. We are travellers bound to Cork, not wishing to interfere with
you or any one else."
"We know you well enough, Major McMahon," answered the leader of
the gang. "If you're not the man we want, you'll serve our purpose. But
understand, we'll have no nonsense. If you come peaceably we'll not

harm you; we bear you no grudge. But if you make further resistance,
or attempt to escape, you must take the consequences; we care no more
for a man's life than we do for that of a calf." The ruffian thundered out
the last words at the top of his voice.
"Who are you, my friend, who talk so boldly?" asked the major.
"If you want to know, I'm Dan Hoolan himself, and you may have
heard of my doings throughout the country."
"I have heard of a scoundrel of that name, who has murdered a few
helpless people, and who is the terror of old women; but whether or not
you're the man, is more than I can say," answered the major in a
scornful tone.
"Blood and 'ounds, is that the way you speak to me?" cried Hoolan, for
there could be no doubt that he was the notorious outlaw. "I'll soon be
after showing you that it's not only women I frighten. Bring these
fine-coated gentlemen along, boys, and we'll set them dangling to a
branch of Saint Bridget's oak, to teach their likes better manners. Och,
boys, it'll be rare fun to see them kick their legs in the air, till their
sowls have gone back to where they came from."
I fully believed the outlaws were going to treat us as their leader
proposed.
"You dare do nothing of the sort, boys," said my uncle.
"You know well enough that if you ill-treat us there will be a hue and
cry after you, and that before many weeks have passed by, one and all
of you will be caught and gibbeted."
"That's more aisy to say than to do," answered Hoolan.
"Bring them along, boys; and mind you don't let them escape you."
"Sorra's the chance