The Dead Boxer / The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two

y the house of Lamh Laudher More was surrounded with an immense crowd, and the whole town seemed to be in a state of peculiar animation

E HAD CHALLENGE

his encounter with the black the preceding night, and while Ellen Neil offered to compensate him for the obloquy she had brought upon his name, he

go home, O'Rorke, and banish the id

I've been banished from my father's house, and treated with scorn by all that

ainly be killed,"

on be killed as livin' in disgrace. I'll thank you, sir, as the head o

ke, reflect a mo

him. "No power on earth will prevent me, sir. So, if you

head, as if conscious of

n your own destruction, the challenge will be

ed Lamh Laudher, "that on to-morro

telligence spread. From the sovereign it passed to his clerk, from the clerk to the other

s reported?" was th

e has challenge

ed his former prowess, and after finding some palliative for his degrading interview with Meehaul Neil, concluded with expressing a firm conviction that he had undertaken a fatal task. When the rumor had reached his parents, the blood ran cold in their veins, and the

l Neil, we know now he's no coward, an' that's enough. We musn't

s he will never come till his name is cleared. Heavens above! For

irit brooded upon the countenances of his own faction. It was resolved that his parents and friends should now

The father, uncovered, and with his gray locks flowing down upon his sho

welcome to your father's heart

, and bowed his head respectfully, but

r dear-not till my

ou refuse me? You are my only son, my only chil

end's. I say, I cannot change my mind, for I've sworn to fight him. And even if I had not sworn, I couldn't, as a man, but do it, for he has insulted them

behind them, now entered, and on hearing that

hat was sed against him. Shawn Oge aroon, you won't refuse me, avillish. What 'ud become of me, avich ma chree, if you fight him? Would you have the mother's heart broken, an' our roof childless all out? We lost o

tears; but his cheek reddened,

art from breakin'; ay, and his gray-haired father's too-he won't k

man. You know," he added, smiling, "there's something in a Lamh Laudher's blow, as well as in the Dead Bo

, with a degree of pride, not unbecoming his y

k my spirits. I'm sworn, an' I'll fight hi

mmovable. His resolution filled them with melancholy, and an absolute sense of death. They left hi

ted; but when he understood from those members of the corporation who waited on him, that Lamh Laudher was the challenger, t

feet long and properly wide-we will give him room enough; tehee! tehee! tehee!-ah! t

he wild and uncouth glee of a sava

ack," said one of the worthy burghers, "t

and blubber lips in a furious grin, whilst the eyes which he fastened on

is it,

that neither you nor any man ought to reckon your chickens before they are hatched. Make money of that;" and after having discharge

from a window of the inn, a circumstance which thrilled all who saw it with an awful certainty of Lamh Laudher's death. He then gave order for the drums to be beaten, and a dead march to be played before him, whilst he walked slowly up the town an

ere Lamh Laudher Oge's aunt lives, and where h

, pausing, "is he wi

tely inquired, and repli

rket crane? I will show this fellow what a poor chance he has. If he is so strong in the

the hands of the man who brought it, he approached the widow's cottage, and sent in a person to apprize Lamh Laudher of his intention to throw it over the house, and to request that he would witness this proof of his strength. Lamh Lau

e's with him! Ha!-the Obeah woman was right-the

never repeat this-I am aware of you; I know you now! Fury! prepare yourself; I say so to both. Ha!" Neither she nor Lamh Laudher had an opportunity of replying to him, for he ran in a mood perfectly sa

ific being in his full strength and fury, with whom he was to wage battle on the following day. Those who wat

e Boxer, "get behind the cab

ing to make the attempt, when a voice from the cro

man; husband your streng

ed, after listening acutely, "fury of hell! a

ion. "The person who spoke is right," said he, "whoever he is. I

s of his soul, than from the color of his skin. His brow, black and lowering as a thunder-cloud, hung fearfully over his eyes, which he turned upon Lamh Laudher when entering the hut, as if he could have struck him dead with a look. Having desired the drums to beat, and the dead march to be resumed, he proceeded alo

all had loved. From the inn, hundreds of the crowd rushed to the church-yard, where they surveyed the newly made grave with shudderings and wonder at the strangeness of the events which had occurred in the course of the day. The death music, the muffled drums, the black flag, the mournful tolling of the sullen bell, together with the deep grave that lay open before them, appeared rather to res

nge. When the crowd had dispersed, he called a waiter, and desired him to inquire if his wife had returned. The man retired to ascertain, and the Boxer walked backwards and forwards in a state of mind easily conceived, muttering curses and vows of vengeance against her and Lamh Laudher. After some minutes he was informed that she had not returned, upon which he gave orders that on the very instant of her appearance at the inn, she should be sent to him. The waiter's story in this instance was incorrect; but the wife's apprehension of his violence, overcame every other consideration, and she resolved for some time to avoid him. He had, in fact, on more than one occasion openly avowed his jealousy of her and O'Rorke, and that in a manner wh