Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-11-23
MICKY HOPKINS.

summer resort of Kilkee. Kilkee at the time of which We are writing was not the fashionable place it has since become. IL consisted of few scattered houses, not more than 10 in number, and one more prctentious than its fellows that r@jOiced in the title of ''hotcl."
 It was a wild night in the early winter of 1S4S when our narrative opens. Six men were crouching under promontory to the left of the bay, known as George head, and were clinging firmly to the un- deriving rocks to save themselves from be- ing washed away by the waves that ever and anon broke over them.
 '.Shc's moighty long widout showin her lights said one, who appeared to be the leader
 ''Musha, but 'tis pity!' responded the man addressed. 'Tis foine noight to land the guns. Here, Micky Hopkins, we've got cats eyes an can see in the dark. Can yc make out if there's any Ioight out thCr ahcad:"
 The parsonage called Micky Hopkins climbed n little higher on the ledge and pCercd eagerly forward into the night. He was n man of about 45 years old, of small but powerful build, notwithstanding round shoulders which amounted to n de for1nity. His hands were huge, with long muscular fingers. resembling the talons of tigers paw. \ bullet head, coarse mouth. with thick and sensual lips, de cided cast in one watcry gray eye, a low forehead and long matted rcd hair hang ing down upon the defOrmed shoulders, short, bowed legs and long splay feet made up Il tout ensemble that was as rcpulsive as the soul of the man himself. But he was keen and sagaciOus, and, having q ready and fluent tongue, together with q smaItcring uf education and the reputa ton of being a good patriot, he exercised no small influence over the ignorant sim pie minded. truthful fishermen and vii IaGCTs on the wild western coast of Clare.
 After few minutes spent in pcerine into the obScurity of the night he called out, with low, cackling laugh:
 ''YiS, wis; there 'tis! There's the loight Shure enough. Here comes tho boat now. Bycs, get together an look out for her"
 Soon n light was seen rising on the crest of the wave and then being hidden only tc rise again. The little group gathered to- gcthcr close to where a small sandy beach juttcd down between the cliffs. On came the boat, and, borne on the breast of an incoming pillow. it was cast up almost in Ia the arms of the cxpcctant men. Six wooden cases were handed out by the crew and hurricdly carried away.
 Wild nuight, captain said the leader
 
 arrivals. a tall, slim person with dark eyes, aQuilirc nose, long, raven hair and a huge imperial.
 Yes, 0 O'Rourke, you lat it is, - replied the stranger, T have seldom seen such weather between Baltimore and the Irish coast. but it's good for our purpose, Jim. I have over D. .UOu stand of arms in the Sea Swallow out there. and I guess will have rarul pretty we'll distributed over the CIar. Cork and Kerry coast by Monday if thv>,. dark nights and wild weather last. What news have you got: Is the govern rucnt watching Ills, do you think:
 Not they" said O'ROurke, ''Micky Hopkins has fooled thim all roiGht. They take all he says for gospel. Ic see, his name helps him. He lets on to thim that he's kapin track of us for thim, an whin- ever We are goin to do anything we send Micky to tell the sogCrs to watch out for Us in a place ten moilCs away from where we arc going to go Cntnircly!"
 The captain laughed, and his task of landing the arms being accomplished turned flis boat's bow once moro toward the ocean, and under the steady pull of eight strong arms it disappeared in the darkness.
 It was early morning, and Major Robert Singleton, commander of the little British garrison in the town of kilrush, was just turning over in bCd to enjoy the delight of 4O winks of second sleep before rising for parade, when q knock came at his bed room GuSr.
 Who's thcrc:" he demanded, with sleepy pctulancc-
 Phase. yer honor, major, there's that humpy back down stairs that you always said you was to see whin he called" said his handmaid-
 "Oh, show him up!" answered the ma jor, jumping out of bed with an alacrity in strange keeping with his usual digni- fled department.
 Shuflling feet were heard ascending the stairs, and soon Micky Hopkins stood in the doorway, hat in hand, and stIaining lis hump in his bows of reverence.
 Come in, Micky," said the major cheer fully. Then, lowering his voice, he added, Well, what about the guns:"
 Well, major, all the guns are come now. The last cargo landed last nOight. will ladc the sogcrs down b. the sacret r7ay We have for gettin to the cave whin sver ye give me the wurd.''
 Do you thing they suspect you at all Micky:' inquired the major. Not me, Sor. Shure they think 'tis me that's fOolin you all the time. But they'll foind out to their cost tonight, an yell have to take care of me and me family after that, major
 Don't you fear Micky," said the ma jOr. The English government never for gets its friends
 The midnight moon was shrouded in z cloudy pail over Georges head. The wind | swept in frpm the sea, moaning as if bear. | ing the souls of drowned mariners to eter. nal doom. A bclated sea gull, like whirl | ing snowflake in the dark, occasionally circled around the cliffs stern brow. The waves splashed calmly 100 feet below All else was wrapped in silence. Creeping slowly and tcdiously by mar. tow, rugged pathway down the side of thu | cliff to the saore were 30 armed men, leS l by short, squat hunchbacked little fel low. Each of the 30 men wore the ret uniform of England. Their guide Wa dressed in his ordinary fishcrman's clothes | ''Jist turn the corner cliff to the roight, he stopped to whisper to the officer in com mand. Thin ye will see the mouth O | the cave. Run roight in, an twinty fee | ahead ye will come to a door Batter it in an yc havG<he chickens an the eggs | He then climbed up the steep face of tn cliff with the agility of n monkey. The soldiers crept on, formed in frun of the cave, rushed down the passage burst open the door at its end and cal | tured 16 unsuspecting fishermen who wer in the act of drilling by the dim light c several rush lamps that disclosed man stands of apns lying around. A short, desperate struggle, and the men, with handcuffs on their wrists, wer marched out to the coast guards boat that had crept up unseen on the other sid of the headland. The arms found in tn cave were piled in with the prisoners.
 
 Major Singleton was angry, and whel Major Singleton was angry those abou him generally knew it. l Micky Hopkins stood crouching like