

THE LOVE TOKEN. 317 



increasing groups of men, and some stragglers here and there, running 

 in different directions. Neither of our travellers, however, seemed 

 alarmed ; and the only remark made was by Hennecy -" I think, sir, 

 we had best turn off by the boireen at the foot of the hill. We'll come 

 up wid the boys in betther nor ten minutes from that." Leslie nodded; 

 and, on arriving at the bottom of the glen, between the two fore-men- 

 tioned hills, he turned to the right of the boireen, or narrow passage, of 

 which Hennecy spoke. About three or four hundred yards brought 

 them to a loose and unfastened gate ; and as Hennecy advanced, and 

 was endeavouring to push it back without dismounting in the mud, a 

 man stepped up from behind a ditch, and resting the muzzle of a gun 

 on the top bar, said, in a tone of lagged but calm determination, " Ye 

 don't pass here, gintlemen." 



" We don't pass here!" repeated George Leslie, while he laid his 

 hand on one of his pistols. " By what right, my good man, do you 

 prevent us?" 



" Oh, 'tis all the same as to that," answered the apparent sentinel ; 

 " and ye may put up your pistol ye can't pass here, gintlemen." 



George Leslie was naturally impetuous, and was about to push his 

 horse at the gate, notwithstanding the cry of the man, " I tell ye to 

 keep back," when Hennecy interfered, and having respectfully said to 

 his master, " Lave him to me, sir ; he knows me when the moon will 

 look at my face. Era, Tom Cauty, don't you know me, man ? Don't 

 be talking here, but let us go by in pace. We're going to the captain." 



" Eh, then, Nick Hennecy, is that yourself? Of coorse I'll lave you 

 pass, but I don't know the other man." 



" But I knows him, Tom : he's my master, and a good warrant to be 

 so he is too. Come, make haste, open the gate, man." 



" I cannot, Nick ; I cannot ; 'tis my orders." 



" Era, don't I know your orders ? Be quiet now, Tom, and pacibly 

 let us go by." As Hennecy spoke, he pushed the gate, and beckoning 

 to Leslie, said, (c Come along, sir." 



" I tell you, Nick, 'tis no use for you. I'll lave no one pass here 

 to-night that I don't know." 



" But I tell you, you'll let Mr. Leslie pass." 



" Eh, who? Is it a son of black Sam Leslie's, of Boxton Hill, the 

 man who prosecuted and got him hanged too God rest him! poor 

 Ned Sheedy ! Is it a son of his, Nick ? for if it be him, and you have 

 a regard for the boy, I'd have you take him out of this." 



" Yeh ! Tom, man, he knows what brought him here." 



" I tell you, Mr. Leslie, 'tis best for you to go: you're not safe here. 

 I don't want to say nothing now about your father but your mother, 

 God rest her sowl, was a good woman to the poor, and I'm not the one 

 to hurt her son, but I won't answer for others. I tell you, sir, 'tis best 

 for you to go/' 



Leslie, who, during the preceding colloquy, had cooled and recol- 

 lected that gentleness was here a more useful weapon than a pistol, 

 replied, " My good man, whatever my father is, I am, perhaps, a 

 greater friend to you and your cause than you may imagine. My busi- 

 ness is now with Captain Hardy ; and to assure you that I can mean 

 nothing injurious, I entrust you with my arms, and go defenceless 

 amongst your party." 



Tom Cauty thought for a few seconds, and then turning suddenly to 



