Page:Surprising life and adventures of the gentleman-robber, Redmond O'Hanlon (2).pdf/7

7 illness as before, so that he was under the necessity of making his pay maintain him till he was able to go about again.

As soon as he had recovered the use of his limbs, he took the field again, and scoured all the roads in the country, sometimes alone and sometimes with company, and took special care to revenge himself on all those who had neglected to send him his yearly pension when he was out of order; but found himself so closely hunted, that he fixed his head quarters in and about the bog of Allen for a considerable time, where he committed such a number of notorious robberies, that the people were obliged to keep under arms to guard their effects. The government taking this affair again into consideration, a fresh proclamation was issued out offering a reward of 250l. for the taking of him, upon which several attempts were made to secure him, but to no effect; though he was once taken in bed near Clonbullock, but had the good fortune to be rescued by his comrades, as his captors were leading him to Naas gaol.

Though he was very well acquainted all over the kingdom, yet he was loath to venture his carcase any longer in this place, and among strangers, for fear of a second disaster; so he took an opportunity of conveying himself privately to his old quarters on Slygunnin, where he remained some time, and carried on his game, with great success, before his enemies had time to seek him.

Soon after his return, he was in company with some of his associates beyond Armagh, where they met with cornet Montgomery's steward, who having received above 500l. from his master's tenants, on an estate he had in that country, was carrying it home to his own house, near Killevan in the county of Monaghan, where he dwelt. Redmond stood at a little distance all the time of the action, and