At all events, they are very handy to us here, for they slip out by turns and bring us almost every thing we want--and not one of them ever opened his lips as to the existence of this _spelunca_." The meal of the poor things was abundant, but they soon gave over, and in a few minutes they tumbled themselves into their heather beds, and were soon sunk in their innocent slumbers.
"Now, gentlemen, that we have eaten a better meal than we could expect in this miserable place, thanks to the kindness of our faithful flocks, what do you think of a sup of what's in the keg?
Good eating deserves a drop of mixture after it, to aid in carrying on the process of digestion! Father Hennessy, what are you at ?" he exclaimed, addressing an exceedingly ill-looking man, with heavy brows and a sinister aspect.
"You forget, sir, that the management of the keg is my duty, whenever I am here.

You are the only person here who violates our regulations in that respect.

Walk back and wait till you are helped like another.

Do you call that being spiritually inclined?
If so, there is not a doubt of it but you ought to be a bishop; and if you come to that, I'll stake my credit on it that you'll never let much wind into your stomach so long as you can get plenty of the solids and fluids to keep it out." "I'm weak in the stomach," replied Hennessy, with a sensual grin, "and require it." "But I say," replied Father Maguire, "that it would require stronger proof than any your outward man presents to confirm the truth of that.
As for bearing a load either of the liquids or solids aforesaid, I'll back your bit of abdomen there against those of any three of us." Cups and noggins, and an indescribable variety of small vessels that were never designed for drinking, were now called into requisition, and a moderate portion of the keg was distributed among them.

Reilly, while enjoying his cup, which as well as the others he did with a good deal of satisfaction, could not help being amused by the comical peculiarity of their disguises.
The sinister-looking clergyman, whom we have named Hennessy, subsequently became a spy and informer, and, we may add, an enemy equally formidable and treacherous to the Catholics of the time, in consequence of having been deprived of his clerical functions by his bishop, who could not overlook his immoral and irregular conduct.