"Excuse me, doctor," replied the lieutenant, faintly, "but I hardly know what I am saying, I feel so weak. Get me into the carriage as quick as possible, and take me to the barracks where I can be quiet."
"We'll do that, Wattles; but it's a great pity that you don't know who your friends are. Come along with yer carriage, ye blackguard, and don't stop there looking behind ye, as though ye were a light-house."
The latter portion of the doctor's remarks was addressed to the driver of the vehicle, who, instead of paying any attention to the words of O'Haraty, was gazing, with an anxious glance, towards the city.
"What is the spalpeen looking at?" demanded the doctor, angrily. "Come here with the horses, and waste no more time."
"I see a cloud, as though a party of horse was galloping this way, and kicking up a dust. I'm suspicious that it's the police, and divil a bit do I want to be put into limbo for being concerned in the duel," cried the driver, making preparations to turn his horses.
"Are ye certain that it's the police?" demanded O'Haraty, eagerly.
"Yes, I'm certain; for now I can see over the bushes, and distinguish their blue coats. Every one for himself, and the devil take the hindmost. I'm off, sure."
The fellow turned his animals' heads, and started towards the opening, but a loud threat from O'Haraty caused him to stop for a moment--and only for a moment.
"Curse ye for a cowardly villain!" yellen the doctor. "If yer don't stop this instant, I'll drive a piece of cold lead through yer thick skull."
He drew from his breast pocket a rifle pistol as he spoke, and aimed it at the runaway.
The driver looked over his shoulder, and seemed half inclined to obey, but the sound of approaching horses stirred him into life. He struck his animals a smart blow with his whip, and they sprang forward; but as they did so, the doctor raised his pistol, sighted hastily, and fired.
The fellow's hat fell to the ground, and with a yell of triumph at his lucky escape, the driver continued on, and in a few minutes would have been beyond reach; but just at that instant my noble dog--the hound which I had left under lock and key at Smith's house--bounded towards me and covered my face with his kisses.