304 THE RIVER. 



preparations had been duly completed, and 

 that worthy had seated himself in a con- 

 tented mood with half-an-inch of black pipe 

 between his teeth, " it struck me yesterday, 

 when you were favouring us with all that 

 blarney about the county Mayo boys, that 

 you knew yourself a good deal more about 

 that business of Hector's than you were 

 pleased to tell us." 



" Maybe I did," said Pat, in a stage 

 whisper. 



"So I thought," said the Parson; "and 

 maybe you were one of the party your- 

 self?" 



" Sure, thin, your riverence, it's I that 

 was, and a purty business we had of it." 



" And were those nice boys with you 

 that we saw before the magistrates yes- 

 terday ?" 



" Av coorse they wor, every mother's sowl 

 of them." 



"And that fellow Micky Eowan, who 

 cross-examined the sergeant so cleverly — 

 Counsellor Micky you should call him — 

 was he there?" 



" Sure, your riverence, and was not he 

 our captain ? And a rale bowld boy he is." 



