Page:Minnie's Bishop and Other Stories (1915).djvu/117

 No man in Ireland cares to be mixed up with the police if he can help it.

"Is it a still you're after?" said Peter Reilly. "For if it is"

Everybody sympathizes with the illicit distiller. The trade is highly beneficial to a public which appreciates cheap spirits. Mr. Benson had knowledge enough of the minds of the people to protest at once that he had no intention of seizing a still. Peter Reilly looked round his friends with a slow, searching gaze. His eyes left them and rested on Mr. Benson. Then, passing Mr. Benson, they surveyed the road which led to the harbour. Matty Hynes stood about fifty yards up the road, watching for Benson. Peter Reilly saw him and understood at once what the boat was wanted for.

"If it's to seize the Geraghtys' beasts," he said, "that you're wanting to go to Inishbee, you'll get no boat."

"And why not?" said Mr. Benson.

"Because they'd have it smashed to bits on you with the stones they'd be pelting into her. Believe you me, your honour, them Geraghtys in Inishbee is terrible wild. Thomas is the worst of them. He'd think very little of knocking a hole the size of your head in a boat if he had it in his mind that she was after him to be doing harm. It'll be better for you to leave them fellows alone. What's the loss of the money to Matty Hynes? He can afford it. We'd be willing to oblige your honour in the matter of a