In a moment Angela had dismounted and halted the soldiers.

As she bent down over him O'Connell swooned again from pain.
The procession went on.
As they neared her brother's house, stragglers began to follow curiously.

Sad looking men and weary women joined the procession wonderingly.

All guessed it was some fresh outrage of the soldiers.
Little, ragged, old-young children peered down at the body on the litter and either ran away crying or joined in listlessly with the others.
It was an old story carrying back mutilated men to the village.

None was surprised.