The Sauk Centre herald., 1898-03-17

dlt1on OF doing battle Tor their rights
when they were assailed, an event OF
frequent occurrence in Ireland in Che
fourteenth century.
O'Hanlon had succeeded his father in
the lands of the monks, and being
brought up in the neighborhood Of the
priory the fathers had impaired to him
such an education as comported with
the lay condition to know. He was con-
sequently superior to his fellow chief
tains in many respects and possessed a
chiyalrous spirit known to few Of the
Irish at that early period
1t happened that O'Hanlon had been
one evening fishing in the bay some
months before the night on which our
story opens, when his companions de-
scried a party, among which were wo-
men, leaving De Bourgeois castle and
straying along the beach. The careless
group had no sooner been discovered by
the Irish than it was resolved to inter-
cept them should they allow the twi-
light to set in during their walk. With
this intention they lay upon their oars
and watched their intended victims
leave gradually behind them the pro-
tecting presence Of the strong castle of
De Bourgho.
The English, unconscious of their
danger, continued their walk until the
growing darkness warned them that
they should return to the castle. They
retraced their steps for some distance
accordingly and had almost half way
returned when a low whistle was given
upon the beach, and they found them
selves surrounded with armed men. The
fishing party had cautiously approached
the shore and succeeded in their design
OF intercepting them. When they first
made their appearance to the affrighted
group, three of De Bourgho's soldiers,
who had accompanied his lady and her
attendants, attempted to give battle,
but the number of their opponents was
too great and after short struggle the
whole party were made prisoners
Nothing could exceed the joy of the
Irish at the success of their design, and
many projects for the conveyance of the
prisoners in their limited number of
boats were mooted by different members
OF their rude council. Each, however,
was liable to some fatal objection, until
at length one of the savage kerns sug-
gested murder. O'Hanlon held short
paddle in his hand, which he had been
recently using in the boat, and stroke
from that weapon which felled him to
the earth was tho only reply that greet
ed the author of the proposal.
The three soldiers were left bound |
hand and foot on the beach, and the |
females embarked in the curraghs. |
O'Hanlon assisted in rowing the one |
which contained the countess and had |
given instructions to his companion in |
IN undertone at the moment of their
leaving the shore The effect of these
Instructions was soon visible, for as the
hight advanced and the darkness grew
more intense the distance betwixt the
'urragh of O'Hanlon and those of his
elbows became wider and wider, until
It length by some secret and preconcert-
I'd signal both rowers at once lay upon
heir oars, and the strong breeze drifted
hem swiftly up the bay:
They were soon in the still water, be-
eatn the castle of De Bourgho, and
ulling lightly and silently to the shore,
nd the moment the boat touched the
AID O'Hanlon told it's fair occupants
hat they were at liberty and assisted
hem to the land. He then pushed off
without staying for speech afd made
gay quickly along the beach, till rum
ing at length upon the shore he struck
is sword through the wickerwork and
ide of which the curragh was compos-
d. The water gurgled up through the
reach, and she quickly filled and sank.
The two Irish were now without the
means Of taking again to the bay and
TODD celebrating with each other how
o proceed. De Bourgho's followers,
hey knew, must ere now have marked
he delay of the countess party and
we're, no doubt, securing the country in
ii directions in pursuit. Their chief
are, then, was to keep clear of any of
hese searching parties, and with this
,urpose they determined to take the
most unfrequented paths through the
woods. They had scarcely started, how
ver, through the forest with this de-
ermination when the moon, which had
,een for some hours struggling with a
leavy atmosphere, burst brightly
through and revealed the face of the
,ay, the dark pine covered mountains
nd the castle of Carrickfergus in the
distance. And it revealed more than
hese. A party of the followers of De
l. ! IL ]
he curragh to the beach, and the mo-
nent they could recognize in the moon
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