human
I didn't see the six all at once. The first whom I did see was Pat Carroll, and his brother Terry, and Tim Brady. They were up there just where the lane has turned down from the steamboat road. I had gone down to the big sluice gates before anyone had noticed me, and there were Tim and Terry smashing away at the gate hinges, up to their middles in mud; and Pat Carroll was handing them down a big crowbar. Terry, when he saw me, fell flat forward into the water, and had to be picked out again.
gpt
Did they say anything to threaten you?
human
Tim Brady said that I was all right, and was a great friend of Father Brosnan's. Then they whispered together, and I heard Terry say that he wouldn't go against anything that Father Brosnan might say. Then Pat Carroll came and stood over me with the crowbar.
gpt
Did he threaten you?
human
He didn't do it in a threatening way; but only asked me to be hand and glove with them.
gpt
He had been very intimate with him, said the father.
human
All this calamity has come of his intimacy. He has changed his religion and ceased to be a gentleman.
gpt
What did you say? asked the Captain,
human
I said that I would. Then they made the sign of a cross, and swore me on it. And they swore me specially to say nothing up here. And they swore me again when they met down at Tim Rafferty's house in Headford. I intended to keep my word, and I think that you ought to have let me keep it.
gpt
But there were three others whom you saw,
human
There was Con Heffernan, and a man they call Lax, who had come from Lough Conn beyond Castlebar.
gpt
He's not a man of this county.
human
I think not, though I had seen him here before. He has had something to do with the Landleaguers up about Foxford.
gpt
I think I have a speaking acquaintance with that Mr. Lax, said the Captain; and everybody could perceive that the tone of his voice was altered as he spoke about Mr. Lax.
human
And who was the sixth?
gpt
There was that old man, papa, whom they call Terry. But he wasn't doing anything in particular.
human
He is the greatest blackguard on the estate,
gpt
But we will confine ourselves to the five, said the Captain,
human
I can't remember what they were all doing. How is a fellow to remember them all? There were those two at the hinges, and Pat Carroll was there pulling his brother out of the water.
gpt
Terry was Pat's brother?
human
They are brothers,
gpt
And then they went on, and took no notice of me for a time. Lax came up and scowled at me, and told me that if a word was said I should never draw the breath of life again.
human
But he didn't do anything?
gpt
I don't remember. How is a fellow to remember after so many months?
human
Why didn't you tell the truth at the time? said his father angrily. Another tear stood in each of the poor boy's eyes, and Edith got closer to him, and threw her left arm round his waist.
gpt
You are spoiling him by being so soft with him,
human
He is doing the best he can, Mr. Jones, said the Captain.
gpt
Don't be harsh with him now. Well, Florian, what came next?
human
They bade me go away, and again made me swear another oath. It was nearly dark then, and it was quite dark night before I got up to the house. But before I went I saw that there were many others standing idle about the place.
gpt
Do you remember any particularly?
human
Well, there was another of the Carrolls, a nephew of Pat's; and there was Tony Brady, Tim's brother. I can't at this moment say who else there were.
gpt
It would be as well to have as many as we do know, not to prosecute them, but to ask them for their evidence. Three or four men will often contradict each other, and then they will break down. I think we have enough now. But you must remember that I have only questioned you as your friend and as your father's friend. I have not taken down a word that you have said. My object has been simply that we might all act together to punish a vindictive and infamous outrage. Pat Carroll has had nothing to get by flooding your father's meadows. But because your father has not chosen to forgive him his rent, he has thought fit to do him all the injury in his power. I fear that there are others in it, who are more to blame even than Pat Carroll. But if we can get hold of this gentleman, and also of his friend Mr. Lax, we shall have done much.
human
You needn't mind following me here, Hunter,
gpt
I wouldn't be too sure, sir.
human
You may be sure in Mr. Jones's house. And no one in the country has any idea of committing murder on his own behalf. I am safe till they would have had time to send for someone out of another county. But we shall be back in Galway to-morrow.