The crowd, with Mr.O'Brien, immediately rushed from their position and hung fiercely on the policemen's rear.

Captain Trant ordered a retreat, or those under his command adopted that precaution without his authority.

The armed leaders among the people, Messrs.

MacManus, Stephens and Cavanagh, hesitated to fire on troops flying for their lives.

But they urged the pursuit so rapidly, that, by the time the police took shelter in Mrs.M'Cormick's house, they were hot upon their track.