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

erating his own fate. So true is it that public feeling scruples not to gratify its appetite for excitement, even at the risk or actual cost of human life. His parents and r

ipal support of their declining years, filled them with a gloom and terror, which death, in its common shape, would not have inspired. This savage pageant on the part, of the Dead Boxer, besides being calculated to daunt the heart of any man who might accept his challenge, was a cruel mockery of the solemnities of death. In this

and consequently of the fate to which he had exposed him, than Meehaul Neil. In the course of that day he sent his father to o

owful spirit, "that I will not see him to-day. To-morrow I may, and if

r's name shortened the father's

preparations for the fight, she felt her heart sink, from a consciousness that she had been indirectly the murderess of her lover. Her countenance became ghastly pale, and her frame was seized with a tremor which she could hardly conceal. She would have been glad to have shed tears, but tears were

that I owe my life to him. Still, independently of that, I never heard his voice, that it did not fall upon my heart like the voice of a friend.

inquished an attempt that she felt to be ineffectual. The direction of her husband's attention so unexpectedly to widow Rorke's I cabin, at that moment, and his discovery of her interview with Lamh Laudher, determined her, previously acquainted as she had been with his jealousy, to keep out of his reach, until some satisfactory explanation could be given. Ellen, however, could not rest; her grief had so completely overborne all other considerations, that she cared

't think it would be hard to

but if you happen to see young O'Rorke to-night,

o beware of the Dead Boxer; one that pities and respects his

an, be quick; for there's littl

ed the man, and he whispered h

asked him; "and ma

sen from his knees. Devotion, or piety if you will, as it is in many cases, though undirected by knowledge, may be frequently found among the peasa

come? I would rather you ha

wever, had a dreadful effect upon Ellen, who sat down on a stool, and threw back the hood of her cloak; but the aunt placed a little circular arm-chair for her somewhat nearer the fire. She declined it

Has any thing frightened you? Me

es, locked her hands together, and while her e

Oge-forgive me, before you

love,

you? Your blood is upon

own treasure? How did you ever offend me, my darling? You. know y

John, that he might do you harm, an' afraid to tell you too-an'-an' so you promise me yo

claimed; "the brain of my

Dead Boxer? There's nobody able to

estroyed," said John, "h

n't fight him to-morrow?-if you do-if you

vehemence of her manner. He now snatched her up, and placed her in the little arm-chair alluded to; but she had scarcely been seated i

y in restoring her to life. The tears burst in thick showers from her eyelids, she drew her breath vehemently and rapidly, and, after looking wildly around

the Dead Boxer on the following day. John soothed her, chid her, and even bantered her, as a cowardly girl, unworthy of being the sister of Meehaul Neil, but to her, as well as to all others who had attempted to change his

secret that he had been intensely anxious to learn. Ellen could now delay no longer, and their separation resembled that of persons who never expected to meet again. If Lamh Laudher could at this moment have affected even a show of cheerfulness, in spite of Ellen's d

ple. Carriages and cars, horsemen and pedestrians, all thronged in one promiscuous stream towards the scene of interest. A dense multitude stood before the inn, looking with horror on the death flag, and watching for a glimpse of the fatal champion. From this place hundreds of them passed to the house of Lamh Laudher More, and on hearing that the son resided in his aunt's they hurried towards her cabin to gratify themselves with a sight of the man who dared to wage battle with the D

dher! God be m

t 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 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 t

ll come; and I would now rather see him d

companied 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 La

a slight accident, but I

gh to awaken the dead beneath them; and w

an' I know you'll show them what the Lamh

bout him for a moment,

e; "is there any among y

ung upon the stage, to the no small surprise of all present-it was Meehaul Neil. He

O'Rorke, "I than

o stand by you now as I have. I never knew till this mo

tagonist. The latter immediately stripped, and when he "stood out erect and undaunted upon the stage, although his proportions were

e black, "by what ru

it is best that every man should fight as he p

O'Rorke; "but you have a secret,

ly, youn

Laudher; "an' now I give you warn

" replied the man of color, puttin

gleamed at Lamh Laudher with baleful flashes of intense hatred. The spectators saw, however, that the dimensions of Lamh Laudher gained considerably by his approximation to the black. The dusky color of the

science and activity, parried; at length a blow upon the temple shot him to the boards with grea

me as hard as oak. On meeting again he bounded at the Boxer, and by a single blow upon the eye-brow felled him like an ox. So quickly was it sent home, that the black had not activity to guard against it; on seeing which, a short and exulting cheer rose from the multitude. We are not now giving a detailed account of this battle, as if reporting

huckling hideously, his black visage reddened

's coming-O'Rorke, reme

ot suffer to pass; with the rapidity of lightning he struck the savage on the neck, immediately under the ear. The Dead Boxer fell, and from his ears, nostrils, and mouth the clear blood sprung out, streaking, in a fearful manner, his dusky neck and chest. His second ran to raise him, but his huge woolly head fell from side to side with an appearance of utter lifelessness. In a few minutes, however, he rallied, and began to snort violently, throwing his arms and limbs about him with a quivering energy, such as, in strong men who die unwasted by disease, frequently marks the