Go now, give the pistols to Lanigan, and tell him to reload them steadily." We leave them now, in order that we may follow the sheriff and his party, who went to secure the body of the Red Rapparee.

This worthy person, not at all aware of the friendly office which his patron, Sir Robert, intended to discharge towards him, felt himself quite safe, and consequently took very little pains to secure his concealment.

Indeed, it could hardly be expected that he should, inasmuch as Whitecraft had led him to understand, as we have said, that Government had pardoned him his social trangressions, as a _per contra_ for those political ones which they still expected from him.

Such was his own view of the case, although he was not altogether free from misgiving, and a certain vague apprehension.

Be this as it may, he had yet to learn a lesson which his employer was not disposed to teach him by any other means than handing him over to the authorities on the following day.