Page:Surprising life and adventures of the gentleman-robber, Redmond O'Hanlon (1).pdf/6

6 Upon this he made prosposals, that whoever paid him half-a-crown per annum, he would indemnify them from robbers of all kinds: but if at any time they neglected to remit him his salary, and run in arrears, they were sure to pay for it. Such as made this bargain with him, had their names registered in his pocket-book, and were so little afraid of losing ally of their goods by robbers, that they thought their effects as safe in the fields as in the house; for if at any time they happened to have any thing stolen, upon application to Redmond, he would make the most diligent search that could possibly be made, through all parts of the kingdom, until he found it and restored it to the owner, and if he failed to find it, always allowed his benefactor two years salary to compensate the loss. But he had so many emis- saries, and such good intelligence, and all other petty rogues were so much afraid of him and his party, that none of them dared to disoblige him ; and besides, every petty robber was served with a copy of the registered names, and had strict orders not to meddle with any thing that belonged to such, but to assist the loser in searching for his goods; so that his friends seldom suffered under his protection. Having once got cold upon some desperate occa- sion, it threw him into a dangerous fever, of which he recovered ; yet the place being damp where he lay, he lost the use of his limbs, and continued a cripple, or lame, for some years. Yet during this time he was preserved among his friends, who had a great esteem for him, and escaped from being ta- ken, though he was proclaimed a tory and a robber, and a reward of 50l. was offered for taking him, which occasioned frequent searches after him. He likewise was punctually paid his salary or tribute all the time, by his benefactors or allies : (except a few who broke the truce, but dearly paid for it after :) though robberies were not so frequent during his