, 1863-02-26
Hunting a Murdarer.

write, gentleman had been shot down at bis own
gate in Tipperary. Everybody knew that the
murderer was lurking somewhere in my neghbor-
hood IN the hope Of obtaining passage to Amer
lea. An unusually large reward had BEEN offered
for his apprehension, and the police wtre securing
the country night and day. in every direction.
One fine summer evening had returned from
long days fishing in the bay, and was smoking
farewell pipe before turning 10 for the night, when
heard the tramp of horses feet on the gravel
outside, followed BY sharp ring at the bell guests
come and go at all hours in Ireland and are always
welc me whenever we have anything for them %
eat, which does not invariably happen in some Of
the out-0fthe-way places. On this occasion, how
ever l was tolerably well provided, and Il was with
no small delight recognized the well-known voice
Of Frank Butler, constabulary officer and one OF
my Oldest friends.
When we had seen the horse made up, 70 splen-
did hunter, which had carried its master nearly
sixty miles that day. and sat down to supper,
noticed that Frank looked more tired and careworn
than had ever seen him before. 1t was not long
until the cause came out.
"YOu have heard Of this murder, Of course,
Harry" be said; "Ihat Is what brought me over
tonight II occurred in my district, and the gen.
tleman was an intimate friend. wOuld have dined
with him that day, but was called suddenly on
duty, and sent an apology at the last moment. /
was told since that he walked down to bis avenue
gate to meet me. His hand was on the latch when
the villain fred from behind tree, and he did not
bring bis life to the ground You know this coun-
Try Well!" he added, abruptly.
$50 WE'LL that il the fellow is lying out any
where within five miles, l think eau undertake
to put you on his track" .. -...--..
Frank sprang from his chair and walked hur-
riedly through the room. 81 would give my right
arm TO be face to face with him. Hurry. II you
had seen poor C--s vile; her weary, hopeless
face has been haunting me ever since; ] can never
rest until the murderer is TAKEN and have certain
information that he Is lying ont somewhere. Ev.
cry house has been searched over and ov,r again.
but cannot think Of bringing you into the busi-
ness. Tine victim Is enough If il were known,
you would be a marked man."
a Make your mind easy on that score. Frank.
Not one Of the fellows here will touch hair Of
my head, especially in a strangers quarrel. My
life is in mOst Of their leases. and the heir-ataw
Is not such favOrite that they would shoot me to
bring him In. So now to business. will get
the ordnance map, and we can trace out the plan
Of our campaign"
Our task was not diaicult one, after all; the
ground to be searched was limited and tolerably
open, consisting chiefly Of bog, mountain and
shore, with every foot Of which was acquainted.
pointed out to Frank each days work on the
piles, three days would be amply sufficient to beat
Il all.
had a brace Of young settlers in training at the
time, aud, to prevent suspicion, it was agreed we
should go out as Il dog-breaking was our only
object accordingly early the following morning,
well provided with all the etceteras for such work,
we started on our first days hunt. 1t proved u
blank; but the second day showed us that our
game was on foot and not far OF. In little
wooded glen we came upon several artfuly con-
cealed lairs, which were evidently lately occupied,
and in one Of them picked up an old pistol fint
that had been thrown away and replaced, as there
was some paper lying beside il, from which small
piece had been torn rs IL to cover q new flint. We
tracked footsteps for q considerable distance IRON
il until they were lost in heathery bog, and, dark
ness coming on were forced to give up the search.
i don't think either Of Us slept much that night.
When went to Franks room, in the morning, he
was already dressed
"One word, Harry" he said, "before we go.
This man Is armed to the teeth, and swears he will
not he taken alive. These fellows seldom die game
when run toearth, but he cannot be worse off, and
may keep his word. Promise me. il there is any
fighting. you will act as reserve, and leave me to
deal with him alone"
l did promise, with some mental reservations,
and we started There was long days work be-
fore rs all the likely places we had come across
in our previous search had to be visited. some Of
them miles apart. Franks senses seemed prefer
naturally sharpened. No trace, however slight,
escaped his notice. A red Indian could hardly
have displayed more sagacity in following up his
enemys trail. 1t was then for the first time that
l learned how exciting man-hunt becomes under
certain circumstances.
Towards evening we reached q mountainous
last hope There was only one face Of it, over the
saa, where man would be likely to conceal himself
That side was composed Of q number Of per endi-
cular cliff, separated from each other by green
platforms, vaFyin in breadth from one to ten feet
but oil slOping dOwnwards at considerable angle,
so as to make the footing rather precarious. The
cliffs gradually increased in height until the lowest
which went right down, for about 100 feet, into
the Atlantic ocean.
While taking hurried cast through some bro
ken ground. we met q little boy herding cattle.
He could not speak English, but we managed to
ascertain that q stranger bad given him penny
the day before to run down the hill for lighted
turf; when he returned, the man was gone, and be
bad not seen him since.
The scent was getting bot, and our spirits rose
as we commenced to search the sea side Of the
mouniain. There were caves in several Of the
platforms. and these we agreed to search together
| They were very narrow, scarcely admitting one
person abreast and il was nervous work feeling
our way Onwards, not knowing the moment when
the darkness would be Illuminated by the fash Of
pistol. which must have proved q death signal
for one or the other. Frank always insisted on
going FIRST and omitted no possible precaution, cx-
amining the outside carefully for tracks, and send
| ing the dugs forward. The latter. however, were
50 tired, after three days continuous work, as to
be of little use.
We had reached the hist shelf but one; and as
| Il contained no caves. and was nearly oil visible