gentry, made his appearance, preceded by the flag. From another point,
the faction of Lamb Laudher fluttering in blood-red ribbons, marched at
a solemn pace towards the church-yard. On arriving opposite his
aunt's, his mother wept aloud, and with one voice all the females
who accompanied her, raised the Irish funeral cry. In this manner,
surrounded by all the solemn emblems of death, where none was dead,
they slowly advanced until they reached the platform. The Dead Boxer,
attended by his own servant, as second, now ascended the stage, where he
stood for a few minutes, until his repeater struck twelve. That moment
he began to strip, which having done, he advanced to the middle of
the stage, and in a deep voice required the authorities of the town to
produce their champion. To this no answer was returned, for not a man of
them could account for the disappearance of Lamh Laudher. A wavy motion,
such as passes over the forest top under a low blast, stirred the
whole multitude; this was the result of many feelings, but that which
prevailed amongst them was disappointment. A second time the Dead Boxer
repeated the words, but except the stir and hum which we have described,
there was not a voice heard in reply. Lamh Laudher's very friends felt
mortified, and the decaying spirit of Lamh Laudher More rallied for a
moment. His voice alone was heard above the dead silence,--

"He will come, back," said he, "my son will come; and I would now rather
see him dead than that he should fear to be a man."

He had scarcely spoken, when a loud cheer, which came rapidly onward,
was heard outside the church-yard. A motion and a violent thrusting
aside, accompanied by a second shout, "he's here!" gave intimation of
his approach. In about a minute, to the manifest delight of all present,
young Lamh Laudher, besmeared with blood, leaped upon the platform.
He looked gratefully at the crowd, and in order to prevent perplexing