About twelve o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 29th day of July, he was apprised of the approach of a body of police, under command of Captain Trant.

Simultaneously with the appearance of the police, an indiscriminate crowd, composed for the most part of women and boys with a few armed men, ranged themselves around him.

They occupied an eminence in front of the road by which the police approached.

Another road crossed this at right angles, and Captain Trant, instead of leading his men directly against Mr.O'Brien's position, denied along the cross-road to the right hand--that which led to the Widow M'Cormick's.

The motive of this manoeuvre was obvious.
Either from personal cowardice, or from cool judgment, he determined to await further reinforcements, and, meantime, to secure some place of shelter and defence.