“Just as we left I heard that a company of foot and a troop of cavalry were to be sent from Galway to search every hut and hiding-place in the district, and I suppose that it was this that drove him down here.  He has red hair and beard; and it is this partly, and partly no doubt the fellow’s murderous character, that has gained him the name of the Red Captain.  He is a prize worth taking, and if we can lay hands on him and his band together we shall have done better work than if we had unearthed a hundred illicit stills.  At any rate we will lose no time.  I will write a letter at once to the revenue officer at the coast-guard station.  I shall mention no names, but say that we hope to make an important capture to-morrow morning on the cliffs here, and asking him to send a well-armed boat at daylight, with instructions to stop and arrest any boat that may put out from the shore.  If the revenue cutter happens to be lying off his station, or within reach of a messenger, I will tell him to have her off the shore if possible.”

Captain O’Connor at once wrote the letter.  “Sergeant Morris,” he said, when the non-commissioned officer came in, “I want you to take this letter yourself to Lieutenant Adcock at the coast-guard station in the cove three miles along to the east.  It is of the highest importance.  I want you to see the officer yourself and obtain an answer from him.  Take a man with you, and carry your side-arms.  Don’t go along the cliff, but keep to the road till you come to the lane that leads direct to the village in the cove.  Just tell the landlord to come here, will you?”

“Landlord,” he said, when the host appeared, “I want you to lend a couple of long greatcoats and two hats or caps of any kind.  I am sending two of my men off on a mission, and I don’t want them to be noticed.  It does not matter how old the coats are so that they are long.”

“I will get them your honor.  I have one that will do, and will borrow the other for you in no time.”

“You see, sergeant, I don’t want your presence in the village to be noticed.  You know how these fellows hang together.  The sight of two soldiers in uniform there would be sure to attract attention.  Choose a man you can rely on to play his part cleverly.  I tell you to take your side-arms, because I happen to know that there are men about who, if they suspected your mission, would not have the least hesitation in knocking you on the head.  This is no question of finding a still, sergeant, but of making the capture of one of the most desperate bands in the country; and it is well worth taking the utmost pains and precaution to insure everything going well.”

“I understand, sir.  I will take Pat Hogan with me; he has plenty of the brogue, and can talk the language too.  So if any one should speak to us as we go along he can do the talking, and no one will suspect that we are not a couple of countrymen.”