Page:Surprising life and adventures of the gentleman-robber, Redmond O'Hanlon (2).pdf/13

13 marched off with their arms, which it seems he and his gang had occasion for.

The government being justly incensed at this proceeding, issued out a proclamation offering a reward for his head.

A captain of foot being informed of one of his haunts, chose out twenty of the most active men in the barrack, who stripped themselves to their waistcoats, and marched out in pursuit of him before break of day, with nothing but their muskets and bayonets, and a little provision in their pockets. In about two hours they invested his castle of defence, but had the mortification to hear him call out from an adjacent hill bidding defiance, for it seems he had warning of their approach. Upon this the military men held a consultation of war. wherein it was resolved to divide themselves into three parties. The captain and ten men were to follow the chace in the centre, and five men on each wing, who were always to keep within a quarter of a mile of the main body. In this manner they followed him until noon. But at length, several of the men beginning to lag, the chace was only maintained by four, who kept so nigh him as to have him in view the greatest part of the day. In the evening he hid himself in a knot of furze, about half a mile from a small village, where several of his friends lived, intending to convey himself thither in the night, expecting that the soldiers would have searched the village before it grew dark; but here he was entirely mistaken, for his pursuers, upon losing sight of him, suspected that he had hid himself, and waited near the place until the whole company came up, and then made a diligent search, but to no purpose. Upon this they held a fresh consultation, not many yards from the place where Redmond lay, and concluded to lie under cover till morning. Redmond overheard the discourse,