380 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



but one remedy, and that lies in a nut-shell. You 

 are one-and- twenty years old, and you have never yet 

 been on the sod — why that one fact would lose you 

 your election — you must fight — my dear boy.* 



" * Fight ! to be sure I will, when Tm insulted.' 



** ' Of course you would, and so would anybody ; 

 but you must fight, and that, too, this very evening.* 



" * Impossible ! how could it be managed ? * 



'* * How ! arrah whihst, Denis ! — maybe ye think 

 I have nothing but law in my head ; you must knock 

 down Bingham ! ' 



'• * Knock down a man who never offended me — with 

 whom 1 have no dispute ? ' 



" * And what does this matter ? The blow will 

 settle that difficulty. But as you are particular, can't 

 ye say some friend of his affronted one of yours — some 

 devil you never heard of will answer — and as John 

 Bingham is a reasonable man, he'd not lose time in 

 asking idle questions.' 



" Accordingly, I followed this excellent advice, struck 

 Bingham on the steps of the court-house, was called 

 out in half an hour, fought in the barrack yard, was 

 there wounded, and won my election." 



From that period Denis Browne rose rapidly into 

 power. His able brother, the late Marquis of Sligo, 

 supported him with all his influence and talent. Denis 

 overcame every obstacle, distanced every competitor, 

 and at last was absolute in authority, dictator for twenty 

 years, and ruled the county during that period with a 

 rod of iron. 



No one was warmer in his friendship or more virulent 

 in his antipathies. These feelings blinded his better 

 judgment, and many of his greatest mistakes arose 



