A BRAVE RESISTANCE. 165 



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 murderer'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 insensibility, was covered with the blood and encom- 

 passed by the breathless bodies of his intended mur- 

 derers. 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." 



