HOUSE ATTACK. 133 



mirable self-possession, he remained steady until the murderer 

 drew the trigger, and the ball passed him without injury. 

 But the flash from the gun unfortunately disclosed the place 

 of his ambush, and then commenced a desperate struggle. 

 The robber, a powerful and athleti ruffian, closed and seized 

 his victim round the body : there was no equality between the 

 combatants with regard to strength ; and although the old 

 man struck often and furiously with his knife, the blows were 

 ineffectual, and he was at last thrown heavily on the floor, 

 with the murderer above him. Even then, at that awful 

 moment, his presence of mind saved this heroic gentleman. 

 He found that the blade of the knife had turned, and he 

 contrived to straighten it upon the floor. The ruffian's hands 

 were already on his throat the pressure became suffocating 

 a few moments more, and the contest must have ended ; 

 but an accidental movement of his body exposed the mur- 

 derer's side : the old man struck with his remaining strength 

 one desperate blow the robber's grasp relaxed and, with 

 a yell of mortal agony, he fell dead across his exhausted 

 opponent ! 



" Horror-struck by the death-shriek of their comrade, the 

 banditti wanted courage to enter that gloomy chamber which 

 had been already fatal to so many. They poured an irregular 

 volley in, and leaping through the open window, ran off, 

 leaving their lifeless companions behind. 



" Lights and assistance came presently the chamber was 

 a pool of gore and the old man, nearly in a state of insen- 

 sibility, w r as covered with the blood, and encompassed by the 

 breathless bodies, of his intended murderers. He recovered, 

 however, to enjoy for years his well-won reputation, and to 

 receive from the Irish Viceroy the honour of knighthood, which 

 never was conferred before upon a braver man/' 



" I know a melancholy contrast to this gallant story," said 

 my cousin; "it occurred not many years ago in an adjoining 

 county. I heard it detailed in a court of justice as well as 

 privately from the lips of the unfortunate gentleman, and I 

 never shall forget his nervous agony, as he gave me a partial 

 narrative of the outrage." 



" Oh ! let us have the particulars, Julius ; next to a good 

 ghost- story, a cruel burglary is delightful." 



"In 181 ," said my kinsman, " a gentleman with his 

 family left Dublin, and removed to an extensive farm he 



