United States or Slovenia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The man viewed the money, looked at him for a moment, burst into tears, and hurried away, without saying a word, to procure food for himself and his children. Our readers need not imagine for a moment that the scenes with which we have endeavored to present them, in,the wretched hut of Trailcudgel, are at all overdrawn.
Here are thirty shillings in silver but you must allow me to' keep this note." We need not describe anew the scene to which poor Trailcudgel introduced him.
"Trailcudgel," said Sir Thomas to him one day that he had sent for him in a fury, "by what right and authority, sirra, did you dare to cut turf on that part of the bog called Berwick's Bank?"
"I know, sir, you have ever found them obsequious and slavish and ready to abet you in many acts which I regret that you ever committed. There is the case of that unfortunate man, Trailcudgel, and many similar ones; were they not as active and cheerful! in bearing out your very harsh orders against him and others of your tenantry, as if they I had been advancing the cause of humanity?"
"You did, sir; this note was in his possession; and I fear you have murdered him I besides. You must come with me," and as he spoke, our friend, Trailcudgel, saw two pistols, one in each hand, levelled at him. "Get on before me, sir, to the town of Ballytrain, or, resist at your peril." Almost at the same moment the two pistols, taken from Sir Thomas Gourlay, were levelled at the stranger.
Having thrown out these few preparatory observations, we request our readers to follow us to the wretched cabin of a man whose nom de guerre was that of Jemmy Trailcudgel a name that was applied to him, as the reader may see, in consequence of the peculiar manner in which he carried the weapon aforesaid.
Trailcudgel, on leaving his cabin, cared not whither he went; but, by one of those instincts which direct the savage to the peculiar haunts where its prey may be expected, and guides the stupid drunkard to his own particular dwelling, though unconscious even of his very existence at the time like either, or both, of these, he went on at as rapid a pace as his weakness would permit, being quite ignorant of his whereabouts until he felt himself on the great highway.
"All's wrong," shouted the other in a voice so deep, hoarse, and terrible in the wildness of its intonations, that no human being could recognize it as that of Trailcudgel; "all's wrong," he shouted; "I demand your money! your life or your money quick!" "This is highway-robbery," replied Sir Thomas, in a voice of expostulation, "think of what you are about, my friend."
"Divil a lie in that," added another; "there's no mistakin' the true blood." "Who is he," asked a third "Does nobody know him?" "Troth," said the other, "it doesn't signify a traneen who or what he is; whether he's gentle or simple, I say that the whole country ought to put their heads under his feet." "Why so, Jemmy Trailcudgel," asked a fourth; "what did he do for the counthry?"
As it was, he found himself instantly in the ferocious clutches of Trailcudgel, who dragged him from the horses, as a tiger would a bull, and ere he could use hand or word in his own defence, he felt the muzzle of one of his own pistols pressed against his head.
Word Of The Day