But why should I speak so, since I am ignorant of your name, as well as of everything whatsoever concerning you?
As to the other two persons, I cannot understand why they should attempt to murder me, as I am not conscious of having given offence to, any person." "You have never given offence to them," replied the stranger; "but unfortunately this, part of the country's in such a state of feelin' at the present time, that it's as aisy to find one man to murdher another as it would be to get a man to shoot a dog.

No, sir; you never offended these men, but they were set on to take your life by a man who hates you." "Well, since you have been on more than one occasion so generous to me, can you not let me know who that person is ?" "No, sir; that man has a hundred--ay, ten hundred eyes through the counthry--in the shape of spies--and five times as many hands any time he may wish for them.

You may thank a friend of yours for sendin' me to save your life this night.

Your family have been friends to him and to me too, although you don't know it.

As for me, I go with him heart an' hand in puttin' down the tithes, but I'll always save the life of a friend, if I can; and indeed I have been forced to shoot these two men, in ordher to save yours to-night.