church-yard, where a platform had already been erected beside the grave.
Against the railings of the platform stood the black coffin intended for
Lamh Laudher, decorated with black ribbons that fluttered gloomily in
the blast. The sight of this and of the grave completed the wonder and
dread which they felt. As every fresh mass of the crowd arrived, low
murmurs escaped them, they raised their heads and eyes exclaiming--

"Poor Lamh Laudher! God be merciful to him!"

As the morning advanced, O'Rorke's faction, as a proof that they were
determined to consider the death of their leader as a murder, dressed
themselves in red ribbons, a custom occasionally observed in Ireland
even now, at the funerals of those who have been murdered. Their
appearance passing to and fro among the crowd made the scene with all
its associations absolutely terrible. About eleven o'clock they went
in a body to widow Rorke's, for the purpose of once more attempting
to dissuade him against the fight. Here most unexpected intelligence
awaited them--_Lamh Laudher Oge_ had disappeared. The aunt stated that
he had left the house with a strange man, early that morning, and that
he had not returned. Ere many minutes the rumor was in every part of the
town, and strong disappointment was felt, and expressed against him in
several round oaths, by the multitude in general. His father, however,
declared his conviction that his son would not shrink from what he had
undertaken, and he who had not long before banished him for cowardice,
now vouched for his courage. At the old man's suggestion, his friends
still adhered to their resolutions of walking to the scene of conflict
in a body. At twenty minutes to twelve o'clock, the black flag was
removed from the inn window, the muffled drums beat, and the music
played the same dead march as on the days of uttering the challenge.
In a few minutes the Dead Boxer, accompanied by some of the neighboring