Year: 1859

each side could, without risk TO themselves,
DESTROYED a dozen armed boats attempting
to force an entrance, by only hurting down
the loose masses Of rock which surmOunt-
ed the granite wall that oyerhung, with
fearful threatening, the dark waves below.
1t required the utmost stretch OF pllotage
to guide the brig along this narrow way,
for the rigging Of the vessel almost touch
ed the opposite rocks; but within, the cove
afforded complete shelter. Here was also
a cave, the Joint effort OF nature and art,
in which the cUutraband cargo was slowed
in safety till the prorer time arrived for
transporting it in safety to the different
places of destination The mouth Of this
cave was oyerfowed at high water, and
led by gentle ascent to vault strewn
with the finest sand; and the interior re-
ceiyed light and air from fissure in the
rock above, to which art had given fun
nel-like shape. This cove was the brig 5
place Of conceament, and this cove the
safe retreat Of the smugglers, and the de-
pository of their store, where they could set
the harpies of the revenue at complete de-
fiance.


Atlength Dennis @ O'Sulliyan reached the
goal of his desperate career. One night
in the month of October, he prepared to
escort a quantity of French brandy to
neichboring town. About ten pack horses
conveyed the Illicit liquor, and his party
consisted of twelve stout fellows, who often
before achieved service Of danger. But
a person in the confidence of one of the
party, who got intimation Of this midnight
excursion, was induced, by the hope of re-
ward, to betray the route of the smuggle lers
to one Puxley, a revenue officer. The
road led through a rocky district and upon
arriving at particular pass in which the
road wound around the edge of a precipi-
tous descent where the rough rocks rose
above, and the mountain torrent toamed
and fretted its winding course below, the
moon suddenly showed her rough round
orb emerging from the sea, shedding her
first faint light on the smugglers; tlnged
the purple cliffs that rose above them with
a silver shade Then was human form OBJ
served to rise above the tall rocks that over
hung the narrow way-he bore in his hand
a long gun-his height seemed above the
usual statute of men, as he drew up his





and bid the smugglers stand and surrender
in the Kings name.


"And who art thou" said O'Sullivan
" that presumest to offer that audaclous
commando"


g am,' said he "a revenue officer; ]
wish to apprise you Of your present situa-
ton, and thereby to prevent the etfusion Of
blood. The road is lined with soldiers
your retreat is cut otf-and you rush for
ward to certain destruction. | again re-
quest that you Will submit to the kings
mercy"


After a moments consultation with his
followers, the leader of the gang answer
ed


" We know the tender mercics Of your
king and none of my party are yet ambi
tous Of gracing a gibbett; we are well
armed, and the boldest of your soldiers
may rue our unerring aim. At the worst
it is but to die-and better to die like men
than to basely Weld without a struggle"


q our blood then be upon your own
heads infatuated men," said PuXley, retir-
ing beyond the cliff.


| In proportion to the magnitude of their
danger did the reckless bravery Of these
desperate men appear. They rushed for
ward, with wild piercing shout, in front
Of the horses, which might otherwise have
served to screen them from the fire OF the
military. The next brief moment brought
them in view of the soldiers, who poured
an i'll directed fire upon them, for not a
man fell. The smugglers fired in return
the soldiers recoiled-they pursued the al
vantage till the guns of the opposing par
ties met muzzle to muzzle. In that hour
Of strife, Puxley, the revenue officer, who
the moment before evinced so laughable
an anxiety to prevent the flow of human
blood, and who did not mingie in the fray
but lay crouched on a ledge Of the rock,
presented his long gun at O'SuIliyan, and
fired with sure and murderous aim. The
fatal ball pierced his side, and as he felt the
mortal stroke, he sprang from the ground
to a considerable height, then descending
in The struggle Of death, he reeled to the
earth-and as his head met the flinty rock;
the butt end Of a musket in some ruilian
hand, unnecessarily scattered his brains
about When his party saw their leader
fall, they resigned all thoughts of main
tanning the fray; with one wild effort they
broke through the enemy, and escaping
under favor cf tie night, left their leader
and two others of their party dead, while
the military had six killed, and as many
more desperately wounded.


The remains OF Dennis O'Sullivan were
conveyed to his mothers house; and as the
woe struck woman poured her mental des-
pair over the remains Of her unfortunate
son, in the ouoNE which is usual at these
mournfal occasions-she besought heaven
that the wild fox ofthe hill would lap the
hearts blood Of her orphans murderer, and
the raven Of the valley flap her sable wing
over his Iifeless carcase This dreadful
imprecation reached the ears OF Puxley -
with cruel revenge he assembled party
that surrounded the house Of the wretcheI
woman and set il on fire. As the flames
rose through the roof, one more compass
sionate than the rest, suffered the almost
sutfocated lnhabItant 70 escape through a
window. \ eat was tie only living thing
that remained inside, and as the deYouriur
flames cut Oft every place Of refuge, the
screams of the moor animal which Sfrop.,I, /.