The Convict and the Soldier

by John P F Lynch

  Michael explained briefly and this calmed his uncle.

  Lieutenant Hall was unaware of the depth of the Irish feeling towards the English, and was puzzled at the man’s aggressive behaviour.

  Jack Keogh thanked the officer for helping his nephew and niece and apologised for his initial attitude towards him.

  Lieutenant Hall saw his sergeant approaching and he advised them he had to leave as they were late now, and it would be dark before they reached their barracks. He waved goodbye to Michael and Jack and then turned to Maeve. They looked at each other and bid their farewells each silently hoping they would meet again.

  Michael and Maeve retired to Uncle Jack’s home. It had been a long day, eventful and tiring, but Michael and Maeve made the most of it. They sat around the warm fire and chatted away, answering questions about their father and Aunt Jane and how the farms were producing. They in turn asked after Uncle Jack and his family’s health and the boat yard business. All was fine and the day finished with a delightful meal of fresh fish with potatoes and corn, followed up with a cup of hot tea. After dinner Maeve went to bed early.

  Michael and his uncle remained up, talking of the progress of the boat yard. The business was good but at times the government officials became difficult. Bribes had had to be paid to one or two of them or else they would have created trouble with his workforce, some of which he had been forced to employ by the all-powerful and notorious Vandeleur family.

  “Any chance of you coming back to work in the next couple of weeks?” asked Uncle Jack. “There’s two new boats to build.”

  As his father’s farm had been sown, the sheep cleaned and the general repairs carried out, Michael agreed to be back at the boatyard ready for work. He thanked the Lord that he had an uncle with a good business. The Keoghs could not complain about their good fortune. Michael sat quietly thinking of the past.

  He recalled, in 1837 at seven years old, he had been sent to Kilrush to his Uncle Jack’s home to be schooled. Jack was a boat builder and could afford to see Michael educated and then apprentice him as a shipwright. His uncle’s house was larger and sturdier than the farm. It had smooth plastered walls, four rooms, a thatched roof and two lofts, one of which was where he slept. It was much larger than the farm’s two rooms and mud and rock walls. His move to Kilrush was a complete change of lifestyle to Michael.

  He missed his mother, father and brothers and had rarely seen his new sister, Maeve, after her birth, but Aunt Anne and James, their son, also aged seven, made him very welcome. He soon became a member of the family. His schooling had consisted mainly of arithmetic, and reading and writing, both Gaelic and English. The Gaelic lessons were taught both secretly and privately by the local priest. The priest had a small wooden church back from the road. It had been built in the days of the Penal Laws when churches were not to be visible to all and sundry.

  Michael had found town life interesting and it enabled him to make friends, such as Barry Daniher, the son of a ship’s captain, who sailed mainly in Irish waters. They had sat next to each other at school at one of the several long table with long bench seats and scratched away on their slates with nails. They had even helped each other in some school fights. He enjoyed school even though the punishment for misdeeds was cruel — a leather strap on the fingers in winter was very painful.

  When he turned ten, he went to the shipyard after school and helped in the shaping of the timbers and had gradually been taught the rudiments of the shipwright craft, so that when he left school he would be productive, although still learning.

  The ships his uncle made were mostly small vessels, suitable for trading in the estuaries and local ports. They carried a mix of passengers, livestock, farm produce and trade goods. The ships had only the upper deck and two or three split cargo holds. Generally they had only a foresail and mainsail. Michael would often sail on board the ships being delivered to new owners, sometimes with Captain Daniher, and eventually learnt to sail and navigate between the local Irish ports.

  Life had been uncomplicated and carefree under his uncle’s mentoring. Michael caroused with his friends and had even saved some money.

  He remembered all of these days with his uncle and his family with fondness. It was now late in the evening and time to sleep, ready to return home early the next morning.

  ¶

  Next morning, everyone was up bright and early. Michael and Maeve were ready for their long trip back to their homes. Breakfast consisted of corn, bread and a cup of milk. They fed the donkey, which had been stabled from the weather, and strapped on the cart. They bid farewell and thanked their uncle for his hospitality before heading north down the main road, waving until they vanished over the hill. They passed the outskirts of the town and the Government offices from where the British authorities ruled the country in every aspect of Irish life. Its large paddock was full of gigs, carts and drays of all kinds with their owners queued already for its opening and the due process to be administered.

  Out of the corner of his eye Michael saw two constables looking at him, pointing and nodding. He looked straight ahead and tried not to feel intimidated, more for Maeve’s sake than his own.

  They rode over to him, greeting him with “Good morning.”

  Michael acknowledged their greeting without stopping. They rode on but they left him with the feeling he would see more of them in the future. They continued north for some hours before stopping at a small store to eat and to feed the donkey. The weather was kind with a gentle wind and the blue sky appeared every so often through soft white clouds.

  The road still had Irish ‘unfortunates’ heading into Kilrush carrying their meagre belongings, or pushing a small barrow. If only the Corn Law had been rescinded earlier and the corn had been allowed to remain in Ireland, how different would this scene be now?

  Michael and Maeve arrived home late afternoon with their purchases. They delighted both Aunt Jane and their father with the success of their trip. They all agreed it had been a pleasant family visit and passed on the news from Uncle Jack’s family. Michael did not share with them the incident with the constables as it would only worry his aunt on their next visit to market.

  After they had finished relating all their news, Michael said, “Uncle needs some help at the boatyard, so I’ve agreed to go back for a while. I’ll be leaving in the next two weeks.”

  His father and aunt said nothing, only nodded their acceptance. Michael’s father had expected that Michael would be soon be returning to Kilrush.

  For the next several days, Michael busied himself around the farms looking for jobs to do, to ensure that he had done his best to assist both his father and aunt, as he now felt responsible for them. He asked Maeve if she could put up some curtains and improve his father’s home interior. It had been deteriorating ever since his mother’s death. It needed a woman’s touch. Michael killed a lamb, butchered the carcass, tanned the hide and melted down the fat. He made some candles by pouring the tallow into some tins with a stick wrapped in a cloth in the middle of the tin.

  He felt content and now spent time walking Laddie, the dog, for a few hours each day. The dog was obedient and the words ‘Sit,’, ‘Seek’ and ‘Set’, together with a hand signal would get an immediate response. After much difficulty he managed to teach him to ‘Guard.’ The dog would stand, growling, and show his teeth. He would miss Laddie when he returned to Kilrush.

  ¶

  Michael and his father awoke to the dog barking furiously. Michael lit a candle and picked up his father’s shillelagh, calling out, “Who is it?”

  A voice answered, “I need help. The constables are after me!” Michael opened the door and stepped back, letting the man enter the room. He appeared exhausted and almost fell onto a stool when sitting down.

  They looked at each other, sizing each other up.

  Can I trust this man? Michael thought. He asked, ”Why are you being chased?”

  The stranger answered, “I escaped from the constables after they arr
ested me for assault. I hit a constable who tore up my pamphlets. Can you hide me for a day or so?”

  “I can’t hide you here. We only have these two room,.” Michael looked at him closely and asked, “What did these pamphlets say?”

  The man pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Michael.

  Michael read it aloud. “All Free Irishmen are called to a meeting of the Free Ireland Party at the junction of the Kilkee and Kilrush roads on the first Saturday of January at Noon.” He paused. “You will probably be charged with sedition as well,” said Michael.

  “No matter, I’ll be transported or hanged regardless, if I’m caught.”

  Michael paced the floor. He knew the risks associated with assisting rebels. If caught, he would be sent to be transported to a penal settlement and his family would be persecuted.

  “What’s your name?”

  “I think it is best if you do not know,” the stranger replied. “But what is yours?”

  “Michael Keogh and this is my father, Edmund,” he answered.

  Michael made up his mind. “I am willing to trust you. I just hope my judgment is correct.” Michael told his father to go back to bed and to forget everything that had happened tonight. He then put on his jacket and said to the stranger, “Follow me.”

  The two men and the dog walked out into the night. Michael turned north, heading towards the large limestone rocks silhouetted in the moonlight. The night was cool and calm and they were able to walk quickly. He kept looking over his shoulder and watched the dog to see if it was reacting to anything he may not have noticed. If the stranger was guilty of his said offences, the authorities would certainly be looking for him.

  They continued walking for an hour until they came to a rock about six feet high, surrounded by several smaller rocks of four feet diameter. Michael said, “Take off your boots and climb to the top of the large rock and lift back the bracken. You will see a hole that you will be able to slide into. You only need to slide down five or six feet, release the bracken to allow it to fall back and you will be in a cavern big enough to sleep in. It is part of a long cave but you will still have some moonlight entering. Stay there until I return tomorrow night.”

  ¶

  Noon the next day, the dog started barking furiously. This was unusual as their home was set back and out of sight of the road. People only came for a reason, not by accident.

  Michael heard the hoof beats and the clink of saddle irons.

  “Come out now! Hurry!”

  Michael stepped out into the yard and saw several constables led by the senior constable he had clashed with at the docks. They stared at each other for a few moments.

  The senior constable said, “Where is he? He came this way. We know he’s here.”

  Michael asked, “Who are you talking about? There is only my father and myself. Search the house if you wish.”

  The senior constable signalled his men to search the house. They soon returned, shaking their heads. He looked at Michael and said, “He is in this area and we will find him. Then we will be back for you.” The senior constable turned and rode back to the road with his constables trailing behind him in single file.

  Michael wondered who this rebel was and why he was wanted so desperately by the authorities. He then decided that the rebel must be moved, but to where and how? He started to rationalise what to do. The rebel must leave Ireland, but from where to where? From Galway or Cork? He had sailed to Galway several times on delivery trips on new ships. A few ships sailed to America from there. The majority of ships to America sailed from Cork. Perhaps that would be the port on which the authorities would focus and carry out most of their search.

  Each time Michael had visited Galway there had always been American sailing vessels at anchor in the harbour. Galway would be a better chance for the stranger not being discovered. Once the rebel was aboard an American ship he would be safe from the British authorities. Michael made the decision. But how to move and hide him? He knew the Kilrush docks inside and out. He could move him at night to the docks and then leave from Kilrush to Galway. Decision one was made. But the big problem was to get him from the Burren to the Kilrush Docks. He needed to have a complete plan to convince the rebel before he went to the cave later that night.

  Michael looked out the window and he spotted Aunt Jane’s cart. Could this be the answer to the problem of moving the rebel? The cart was about six feet long and five feet wide. The axle was bolted onto two large blocks and these blocks in turn were bolted to the box of the cart. Could a man be stowed on the top of the axle? Michael guessed the rebel was about five feet six inches in height. If he made some straps for the rebel to fit his arms and legs into and he rested his buttocks on the axle, it might work. He could fill the cart with hides which would hang over the sides providing more coverage as well.

  He walked up the hill and down to Aunt Jane’s cottage to start to fit the straps. It did not take long. He then loaded the unwashed sheep skins into the cart and left some hanging over the sides. All that had to be done was to hitch the donkey to the cart. Decision three now made.

  Michael now had his plan. He busied himself collecting a food package of corn cobs, turnips, some cured meat and water. He decided to get some sleep and leave when the moon was high. He slept soundly but was awoken by the dog shuffling around the room and quietly whining. He peered through the window and could see nothing, but he believed the dog knew something was amiss.

  He had made up his mind and was determined to get some sustenance to the rebel tonight. But he needed to be careful. He picked up the food, opened the door and closed it, leaving the dog behind. He headed up towards the road, the opposite direction from the cave. He could sense he was being observed but he kept walking. He had nearly reached Aunt Jane’s cottage when he heard her young black bitch yap and run down to him. He picked her up, turned at right angles and continued to walk in a circle into the Burren with the wind in his face.

  After a few minutes, Michael heard a dog bark. He had guessed correctly. The constables were following him with dogs. He hid behind a boulder and waited until they came in sight. When they were almost on him, he let the bitch go. She took off in a direct line for home. The police dogs got her scent and took off after her in the dark with the constables trying to both keep the dogs quiet and not fall over the rocky ground. The bitch, which was in season, took shelter in a deep dry rock fence, safe from the dogs. Their bewildered keepers were looking for a person hiding in the rocks; they couldn’t see the bitch!

  The moon was suddenly hidden by cloud. This gave Michael a chance to move into the shadows of several large rocks bordering on a section of bracken. He then moved into a gap between a rock and some of the vegetation and remained motionless, looking out across the clearing. He stayed like this for around ten minutes and, seeing no movement, he started walking again towards the cave. It took him almost half an hour but he reached there safely.

  Michael climbed the rock, pulled back the bracken and dropped down to the cave floor.

  “I was starting to get hungry. I’m pleased that you are back. It’s a bit lonely here,” said the rebel.

  Michael had left the bracken pulled back and they could see each other in the dim night light. He explained his plan to get the rebel first to Kilrush then to Galway and finally to America. “You’ll need to bargain with a captain of one of he American ships, but I think it will work.”

  The rebel said, “I can get money in Galway or New York; that will not be a problem. All American ships have at least one Irishman in their crew. I’m sure he would go ashore and meet with my fellows. When can we leave?”

  “Now,” said Michael.

  The two men walked quickly to Aunt Jane’s cottage. Dawn was breaking with a dull cloudy day promising the possibility of a little rain. The roads would probably get greasy but hopefully no bogs would confront them on the Kilrush road. Michael quickly hitched the donkey and together they walked to his father’s house.
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  His father was standing at the doorway fully dressed, a determined look on his face. He had guessed what Michael had planned. “Michael, I’ll be doing the driving. The constables will give you a hard time and you will both be caught,” said Michael’s father. His logic could not be argued with; he was right.

  The rebel crawled under the cart and slipped into the straps.

  “Alright?” asked Michael.

  “Aye,” said the rebel. Michael started walking and was about two hundred yards up the track before his father got the donkey moving at a slow pace.

  Michael mused, With the low clouds it will be quite dark by the time we arrive at the docks.

  There was a following wind and they travelled for two hours before they saw anyone and that person happened to be a friend of his father. The friend decided he would travel alongside them. Michael was comfortable with this.

  After another hour they could see a group of people gathered near a small cottage. There were several constables and a squad of soldiers in attendance. It was a dreaded eviction about to take place. These events were the scourge of Western Ireland and had made the Irish populace hate the English.

  Michael was still two hundred yards in front of the cart and made a point of ensuring the constables saw him. He stopped near them looking at the officers doing the eviction. These constables had been in the group at the dock. They made a few remarks and approached Michael, commenting on Maeve. He eyed them but was not drawn into an answer.

  By this time the cart had passed and was heading to Kilrush at its normal pace. Michael then heard a voice call his name and, turning, he saw Lieutenant Hall walking over to him.

  He greeted him. “Good morning, Michael, my compliments to you. May I enquire as to your sister’s health?”

  “Good morning, Lieutenant. My sister is in good health and I shall pass on your regards.”

  Michael and the Lieutenant moved away from the crowd. Lieutenant Hall lowered his voice and said, “I find these evictions deplorable but I have to stand here and watch. This is an abomination of both our societies. I have advised my father and he is trying to raise the issue in Parliament, but it may take years to change these laws. I pray something is done soon.”