Page:Surprising life and adventures of the gentleman-robber, Redmond O'Hanlon (2).pdf/22

22 had no other way left. When old Johnston and his men came near, they observed that Redmond had stript off his clothes and tied them on his back, with which he took to the river, and swam down, mostly under water, for above two hundred yards. This prevented him from receiving the shot of his pursuers, until out of danger. And what was as remarkable as this, when Mr Johnston set his dog after him to seize him, the dog snapt at the coat, and at the same time Redmond turned about and took hold of him by the throat, and dragged him along with him under water, till he drowned him quite; for Redmond was a good swimmer. In a little time he gained the bank on the other side of the river, then dressed himself, and fled directly to Island Magee near Belfast, where he lurked privately for a year or more, till he thought the country had forgotten him, and then came up to the county of Armagh to make new adventures, but did not reign long.

He was now under more apprehensions of danger than ever, and appeared but seldom publickly abroad. Yet, though he was somewhat advanced in years, he fell desperately in love with an innkeeper’s daughter, a very beautiful young woman, whom he prevailed upon, by entreaties and valuable gifts, after a long suit, to yield to his lustful embraces, upon a kind of sham marriage. However, he was very fond of her, and spent most of his time in her company, until her father hearing who he was, and what reward was offered for his apprehension, endeavoured to get her to betray him. But it was all to no purpose; for it only gave Redmond warning to conceal himself with more caution. At length one Douglas, a minister of the established church, in the parish where the young woman mostly resided, knowing she was brought up a protestant, and that Redmond only went to