358 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



a dancing-house, where a number of the Sweenies were 

 assembled, with whom he had previously been at feud, 

 and, as might have been anticipated, a quarrel quickly 

 arose. Hennessey, too late, perceived his danger ; 

 but, with that daring determination for which he has ever 

 been remarkable, when the assault began, he made a 

 sudden dash for the door, and overturning all that opposed 

 him, succeeded in escaping. He was, however, closely 

 pursued. From his uncommon activity, he far out- 

 stripped all but one of his enemies. He had nearly 

 reached the river but his enemy was close behind. 

 Intending to disable his pursuer, Hennessey picked up 

 a stone, and, unfortunately, threw it with such fatal 

 precision, that the skull of his opponent was beaten in, 

 and he expired on the spot. 



" Well, this was an unfortunate affair, but it was 

 homicide in self-defence. My father accommodated 

 matters with the Sweenies, and my foster-brother was 

 discharged without a prosecution. 



" A year passed, but the Sweenies had not forgotten 

 or forgiven the death of their kinsman. Hennessey's 

 rambling habits exposed him to frequent encounters 

 with this clan : and one night, when returning late 

 from the fair of Newport, with two or three companions, 

 he came into unexpected collision with a party of his 

 ancient enemies. A scuffle ensued in the struggle 

 he wrested a loaded whip from his antagonist, and 

 struck the unhappy wretch so heavily with his own 

 weapon, that after lingering nearly a month, he died 

 from the contusion. 



" This second mishap occasioned us a deal of trouble ; 

 but Hennessey surrendered, was tried, and acquitted, 

 and we all trusted that his misfortunes were at an end. 



