When they kill kings, and cut off heads like turnip-tops, it's no place for strangers." "They do say the French will be this length before long," said I, recalling some of the talk I had heard at his honour's table.
He eyed me sharply.
"They do, do they?
And how come you to know it ?" "Sure, it's common talk," said I; "and more by tokens, they've sent their guns before them." "The less you talk about what you don't understand the better," said the officer, looking glum; "but I'd give any one a hundred pounds to tell me where they put the arms when they land them." Here I thought it wise to be silent.

I could have earned a hundred pounds easily that afternoon.
When we reached Rathmullan, a sergeant was down on the pier awaiting Captain Lestrange.
"There's wild work going, captain," I heard him say; "the boys are getting to a head, and every mother's son of them with a gun in his hand.

The troop's been ordered over to Letterkenny, and they're away already to watch the fun.

Begging your pardon, captain, you must take your dinner in the saddle this day." The captain took this news, especially the end of it, bravely, and tossed me down a shilling.
"Good-bye, my lad; and carry my respects to your young mistress." And he strode away to the inn where the horses waited, and in a few minutes was clattering at full speed down the road that leads to Letterkenny.
Now, thought I, was my chance, with a favouring breeze, to slip down the lough and carry out my purpose of speaking the _Cigale_.
I would spend my shilling, or part of it, in drinking his Majesty's health, by which time it would be dusk enough to enable me to pass Knockowen unobserved.
In the inn, however, I found a great disturbance going on; so much so that I was crowded behind the door, and forced to stay there, first because I must, and presently because I would.

What the trouble was I could not at first ascertain; but it soon came out that at Sheep Haven a gang of smugglers had been trapped, and their skipper swung at his own yard-arm.