United States or Suriname ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
M'Keown was decidedly the best back on the losing side that day, and his defence near goal splendid. He is not, however, particularly careful in his returns, and sometimes kicks over his own lines when hard pressed, but there can be only one opinion as to his genuine ability in close tackling he can do it to perfection.
"What did he mane? I'll tell you that. The man is Bonyparty, which manes, when put into proper explanation, the right side; that is, the true cause. Larned men have found that out." That part of it where Ned M'Keown resided was peculiarly beautiful and romantic.
His evidence, however, was rather injurious than favorable to the prisoner; and although not in any way influencing the sentence, was believed by the populace to have mainly contributed to its severity. Such was, in substance, the singular story which was now told before the court, told without any effort at concealment or reserve; and to the proof of which M'Keown was willing to proceed at once.
't is himself cares little about them!" showed they had no lack of confidence in the piper. "Your name is M'Keown, sir?" said the lawyer, with that abruptness which so often succeeds in oversetting the balance of a witness's self-possession. "Yes, sir; Darby M'Keown." "Did you ever go by any other than this?" "They do call me 'Darby the Blast' betimes, av that 'a a name."
"You were a United Irishman, Mr. M'Keown, I believe?" rejoined the counsel, with a frown of stern intimidation. "Yes, sir; and a White Boy, and a Defender, and a Thrasher besides. I was in all the fun them times." "The Thrashers are the fellows, I believe, who must beat any man they are appointed to attack; isn't that so?" "Yes, sir."
An eager and animated discussion ensued, in which my advocate was assisted by the advice of some senior counsel; and again the point was ruled in my favor, and Darby M'Keown was desired to mount the table.
It was Darby M'Keown, and he brought me nothing less precious than De Meudon's pocket-book, which had been taken from me, and had been picked up by him on the road. A few minutes later Bubbleton lost a sum at cards to Crofts; knowing he could not pay, I passed a note quietly to him. When Bubbleton had gone, Crofts held up the note before me. It was a French note of De Meudon's!
My influence was sufficient to procure the liberation of M'Keown; and my interference in his behalf mainly contributed to procure for Fortescue the royal pardon. The world, as the phrase is, went with me; and the good luck which attended every step I took and every plan I engaged in was become a proverb among my neighbors.
Though well knowing, from past experience, in what part of the assembly the person he sought would probably be, he seized the occasion to scrutinize the features of the various persons, whom under no other pretence could he have examined. "It's not on the bench, sir, you need look for him," said the lawyer, as M'Keown remained for a considerable time with his eyes bent in that direction.
The examination lasted three hours; and at its conclusion, every fact I stated had received confirmation from Darby's testimony, down to the moment when we left the barrack together. "Now, M'Keown," said the lawyer, "I am about to call your recollection, which is so wonderfully accurate that it can give you no trouble in remembering, to a circumstance which immediately followed the affair."
Word Of The Day