A footman was howling 'Stop thief!' at the top of his voice; but the country fellows were only laughing at his distress, and making all sorts of jokes at the adventure which had just befallen.
'Sure you might have kept him off with your blunderBUSH!' says one fellow.
'Oh, the coward! to let the Captain BATE you; and he only one eye!' cries another.
'The next time my Lady travels, she'd better lave you at home!' said a third.
'What is this noise, fellows ?' said I, riding up amongst them, and, seeing a lady in the carriage very pale and frightened, gave a slash of my whip, and bade the red-shanked ruffians keep off.

'What has happened, madam, to annoy your Ladyship ?' I said, pulling off my hat, and bringing my mare up in a prance to the chair window.
The lady explained.

She was the wife of Captain Fitzsimons, and was hastening to join the Captain at Dublin.

Her chair had been stopped by a highway-man: the great oaf of a servant-man had fallen down on his knees armed as he was; and though there were thirty people in the next field working when the ruffian attacked her, not one of them would help her; but, on the contrary, wished the Captain, as they called the highwayman, good luck.
'Sure he's the friend of the poor,' said one fellow, 'and good luck to him!' 'Was it any business of ours ?' asked another.

And another told, grinning, that it was the famous Captain Freny, who, having bribed the jury to acquit him two days back at Kilkenny assizes, had mounted his horse at the gaol door, and the very next day had robbed two barristers who were going the circuit.
I told this pack of rascals to be off to their work, or they should taste of my thong, and proceeded, as well as I could, to comfort Mrs.
Fitzsimons under her misfortunes.