I have long had my eye on her, I can tell you, and it'll cost me a fall, or I'll have her yet." "You had better," replied Fergus Reilly, for such was his name, "neither make nor meddle with that family afther this night.

If you do, that terrible relation of mine will hang you like a dog." "How will he hang me like a dog ?" asked the Rapparee, knitting his shaggy eyebrows, and turning upon him a fierce and gloomy look.
"Why, now, Randal, you know as well as I do," replied the other, "that if he only raised his finger against you in the country, the very people that harbor both you and us would betray us, aye, seize us, and bind us hand and foot, like common thieves, and give us over to the authorities.
But as for himself, I believe you have sense enough to let him alone.
When you took away Mary Traynor, and nearly kilt her brother, the young priest--you know they were Reilly's tenants--I needn't tell you what happened: in four hours' time he had the country up, followed you and your party--I wasn't with you then, but you know it's truth I'm spakin'-- and when he had five to one against you, didn't he make them stand aside until he and you should decide it between you?
Aye, and you know he could a' brought home every man of you tied neck and heels, and would, too, only that there was a large reward offered for the takin' of you livin' or dead, and he scorned to have any hand in it on that account." "It was by a chance blow he hit me," said the Rapparee--"by a chance blow." "By a couple dozen chance blows," replied the other; "you know he knocked you down as fast as ever you got up--I lave it to the boys here that wor present." "There's no use in denyin' it, Randal," they replied; "you hadn't a chance wid him." "Well, at all events," observed the Rapparee, "if he did beat me, he's the only man in the country able to do it; but it's not over, curse him--Ill have another trial with him yet." "If you take my advice," replied Reilly, "you'll neither make nor meddle with him.

He's the head o' the Catholics in this part of the country, and you know that; aye, and he's their friend, and uses the friendship that the Protestants have towards him for their advantage, wherever he can.

The man that would injure Willy Reilly is an enemy to our religion, as well as to every thing that's good and generous; and mark me, Randal, if ever you cross him in what he warned you against this very night, I'll hang you myself, if there wasn't another livin' man to do it, and to the back o' that again I say you must shed no blood so long as I am with you." "That won't be long, then," replied the Rapparee, pulling out a purse; "there's twenty guineas for you, and go about your business; but take care, no treachery." "No," replied the other, "I'll have none of your money; there's blood in it.

God forgive me for ever joinin' you.