TUBBER TURNER. 357 



detached groups of men began to assemble, 

 without any attempt at concealment, in and 

 about the suburbs of Bally shannon, and 

 proceeded ultimately in a body to the sand- 

 hills on the south shore of the estuary, the 

 same place whence the last attack was made. 

 Due information of all these suspicious ap- 

 pearances was conveyed to the police-barrack 

 at Kildoney, and our friend the Stipendiary, 

 as sharp as twenty needles, roused up and 

 despatched a few of his men to the opposite 

 point of the estuary, which, as you know, 

 is distant from his station about a couple of 

 miles, and about half a mile more to sea- 

 ward of the place where, on the opposite 

 shore, the people were assembled. This was 

 somewhere about eleven o'clock. Shortly 

 after our boys filled a large boat with men, 

 intending, apparently, to pass, under cover 

 of the darkness, towards Hector's station ; 

 but, as soon as they came near the point, 

 the Peelers opened their fire, which was 

 duly returned, though without loss on either 

 side. This was kept up till the boat had 

 ascertained pretty accurately the number of 

 the defenders, when it was driven back. 

 Soon after this the party, being joined by 



