Now as he stood before Father Cahill and looked him straight through with his piercing eye, shoulders thrown back, and head held high, he looked every inch a born leader of men, and just for a moment the priest quailed.

But only for a moment.
"Not a member of my flock will attend yer meetin' to-day.

Not a door will open this day.

Ye can face the constabulary yerself and the few of the rabble that'll follow ye.

But none of my God-fearin' people will risk their lives and their liberty to listen to you." O'Connell looked at him strangely.