The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-04
THE PRIEST HUNTER,
An Irish Tale of the Penal Times.
By M. ARcHDEAcoN, ESQ.
(Centinued.l
CHAPTER XIX.


The parties in front and rear of the house
had, as was before said, been utterly foiled
and the report of few shots in the distance
now announced that the party of dragoons
and, summoned by the firing, were approach.
HThis has been an unfortunate nights bust
ness, and one little reckoned on" said Frank;
the more useless risk we shall avoid, as the
dragons will reach us speedily, know from
the direction of their Shots"
Let us have o parting whack at the ould
william, captain, Jewell afther all he cost us, if
twas only for poor Ned's sake" eagerly ex-
claimed q rapparee, whose brother had been
severely wounded in the attack.
Ffolliot is done for any how" said Fergus,
who had just joined the party in front. "Afther
all the loss the ould william cost us, poor Harry
German put his blade through him, though he
lost his own life by id-God help unfortunate
Sally whin tomorrow comes"
Then said Frank, earnestly, Eve have
neither time nor business to remain an instant
longer-hark to that" The report of pistol
was heard sharply In the direction of the hall,
SO as to prove thatthe drawer of the trigger
was at no considerable distance from them
Frank now again applied The whistle tn. his
mouth, and moved with his companions to the
rear, well to unite with the party there,
because it afforded the most sheltered way of
retreat, he said in low but earnest tone ::
Now, boys, let scatter instantly-and
wish heartily We had not come at all Tonight
as, from the direction the party is coming in, to
arms from the gable again, and the more sail
we carry the better
"We'il give them light to know their friends
by, any how, by the 'ternal, if the divel was at
the back door," swore the rapparee that had
before spoken.
Entreaty to him to desist, and not further
endanger the lives of himself and others, was
useless. He clambered over a wall, with the
position of which he seemed to be well
quainted and with the desperate man, 1T was
the work of few minutes to fly across an adj
GnI1- In eli cfArr
of cotter's cabin-snatch a half-burned coal
from the hearth before the terrified occupants
could recover breath to accost him-retrace
his path-with powerful effort burst open
the door of an Clubhouse used as q wool store,
and, blowing the coal for an instant, lay it on
the heaped wood. The infammable material
instantly ignited; the fire spread smoulderingly
for moment-then the flames rose-burst
through the door and fastened on the board
windows, which were instantly in blaze.
There CHANGED, too, to be adjoining to the wool
store . pile of laths and boards intended for
some addition to the rear of the house; and,
the fire communicating with these, O. rushing
and roaring flame arose at once, with burst
of terrific grandeur into the night air, con-
trasting fearfully with the tender light of the
summer heaven all around.
"Hurra~ wildly exclaimed the rapparee, as
he Qazed on his work for q moment, previous to |
following his retreatiny comrades.
There mad been but a few random shots, as |
was before observed, in the front or rear of |
Ffolliot's Grove, as the defenders would not |
themselves in a position to fire effectually at |
those beneath, and they were too few in num-
beers to venture sallying out on their attackers |
But when the figures of the retreating Kappa |
rees were discovered, by the flame light, NOV
ing through the plantation, which they should |
necessarily. pass in order to avoid the ap-
proaching drag oons, a volley was fired at them
by all the efficient defenders The consequence
Of this discharge was that Frank was grazed
in the arm and Thummaush beg (who had been
strictly watched through all the danger and
81 IF 4 ha hon ND Panarvad than
once, by Frank, from meeting his death from
three or four of the party when they saw their