After the soldiers had removed their quarters he had another remarkable escape.
As he now ventured to his own house at night and left it in the morning, he was espied during the dawn by a party of the enemy, who fired at and pursued him.

The fugitive being fortunate enough to escape their search, they returned to the house and charged the family with harbouring one of the proscribed traitors.

An old woman had presence of mind enough to maintain that the man they had seen was the shepherd.

'Why did he not stop when we called to him ?' said the soldier.

'He is as deaf, poor man, as a peat-stack,' answered the ready-witted domestic.