"
Turning his back on the priest, O'Connell faced the crowd:
"You have taken your oath. Would you perjure yourselves at this old
man's bidding? See where the soldiers come. Look--and look well at
them. Their uniforms stand for the badge of tyranny. The glint of
their muskets is the message from their illustrious sovereign of her
feeling to this part of her kingdom. We ask for JUSTICE and they
send us BULLETS. We cry for 'LIBERTY' and the answer is 'DEATH' at
the hands of her soldiers. We accept the challenge. Put yer women
and childhren behind you. Let no man move."
The men hurriedly placed the women and children so that they were
protected from the first onslaught of the soldiery.
Then the men of St. Kernan's Hill, armed with huge stones and
sticks, turned to meet the troops.
Mr. Roche, the resident-magistrate, rode at their head.
"Arrest that man," he cried, pointing to O'Connell.
An angry growl went up from the mob.
Father Cahill hurried to him:
"Don't interfere with them, Mr. Roche. For the love of heaven,
don't. There'll be murder here to-day if ye do."
"I have my instructions, Father Cahill, and it's sorry I am to have
to act under them to-day."
"It isn't the people's fault," pleaded the priest; "indeed it
isn't.
Pages:
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47