Read Online Stars and Stripes in Peril by Harry Harrison - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Harry Harrison
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will work together in deciding what must be done and how to go about doing it. And I ask you to give your solemn word that nothing heard here shall be repeated outside this room."
"You have our word and our pledge," Meagher said, and the others murmured agreement. "There are informers in the Fenian ranks, both here and abroad, I am unhappy to say. Before you came, Gus, we were looking for new ways to organize our resistance movement, to make a plan that will put paid to all those that would sell their homeland for British gold. I think that you can guide us in this quest."
"I certainly can. I think that you and I—and young O'Higgins here—can discuss details right after this meeting."
There was much strong talk after that, while the punch bowl was well attended and filled more than once. When the punch was gone, and the officers ready to leave, Surgeon Reynolds called for silence.
"I have written a poem for Mother Ireland, that I was going to dedicate to the Fenian cause. Instead I dedicate it to our new commanding officer and our new comrade, Andy O'Higgins."
Silence fell as he took a sheet of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. He read;
"When concord and peace to this land are restored,
And the union's established forever,
Brave sons of Hibernia, oh, sheathe not the sword;—
You will then have a union to sever."
This was greeted with shouts and grim nods of approval. The war with the South might be over. But for these dedicated officers the war with Britain never would be ended until Ireland was sovereign and free. They filed out into the night but Meagher, Fox and O'Higgins stayed behind: Meagher closed and locked the door behind them.
"That punch is a bit too sweet for my taste," he said. "We'll have a wee dram of something more authentic." He unlocked a cabinet and took out a stone crock. "Poteen. My lips are sealed as to how it reached me here but, upon my honor as an officer and a gentlemen, and a general now as well, I can assure you that it is the real thing."
He poured two tin cups full and pushed them over to Fox and O'Higgins who sniffed warily at the transparent spirit. "Slainte!" Meagher said, upending the crock on his arm in a practiced gesture, and drank deep. And sighed happily. "Lovely stuff."
The others were not as sure as he was. O'Higgins's eyes opened wide when he drank and he put the cup carefully back onto the table. Fox had a coughing fit that only ceased when Meagher pounded him on the back.
"Takes a bit of getting used to," he said. "Now, Gus, how can the Fenian circle be of aid to you?"
"Information, as I said. It is the life-blood of military intelligence. I understand that there are many Irish working in England and Scotland?"
" 'Tis the sad truth," Meagher said, nodding in agreement. "Ours is a poor country, kept poorer by those who rule. The Irish have always crossed the waters to earn a living—and send money to their families who must stay at home. It was even worse in the forties, when the famine came. Oh the thousands that starved in agony! Those with the means went abroad. Many came here to the land of freedom, but even more went to England and stayed on. Many a navvy you will meet there is an Irishman."
"By 'navvy' you mean someone who works building the canals?" Fox asked.
"In the beginning, yes, they called them navigators because they dug their way across the length and breadth of England. But the name stuck to them even when the canals were finished. Now they work on the railroads, on the building sites and the shipyards. Wherever a man can earn a few bob by the sweat of his brow."
"And they stay in touch with their families still?" O'Higgins asked. "I'm afraid that after my grandfather went to South America we fell out of touch with Ireland."
"You sailed a powerful distance and that is understood. But, yes, the Irish in England and Scotland stay in touch with home. When young lads cross the water seeking their fortune they are made welcome by those already
"You have our word and our pledge," Meagher said, and the others murmured agreement. "There are informers in the Fenian ranks, both here and abroad, I am unhappy to say. Before you came, Gus, we were looking for new ways to organize our resistance movement, to make a plan that will put paid to all those that would sell their homeland for British gold. I think that you can guide us in this quest."
"I certainly can. I think that you and I—and young O'Higgins here—can discuss details right after this meeting."
There was much strong talk after that, while the punch bowl was well attended and filled more than once. When the punch was gone, and the officers ready to leave, Surgeon Reynolds called for silence.
"I have written a poem for Mother Ireland, that I was going to dedicate to the Fenian cause. Instead I dedicate it to our new commanding officer and our new comrade, Andy O'Higgins."
Silence fell as he took a sheet of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. He read;
"When concord and peace to this land are restored,
And the union's established forever,
Brave sons of Hibernia, oh, sheathe not the sword;—
You will then have a union to sever."
This was greeted with shouts and grim nods of approval. The war with the South might be over. But for these dedicated officers the war with Britain never would be ended until Ireland was sovereign and free. They filed out into the night but Meagher, Fox and O'Higgins stayed behind: Meagher closed and locked the door behind them.
"That punch is a bit too sweet for my taste," he said. "We'll have a wee dram of something more authentic." He unlocked a cabinet and took out a stone crock. "Poteen. My lips are sealed as to how it reached me here but, upon my honor as an officer and a gentlemen, and a general now as well, I can assure you that it is the real thing."
He poured two tin cups full and pushed them over to Fox and O'Higgins who sniffed warily at the transparent spirit. "Slainte!" Meagher said, upending the crock on his arm in a practiced gesture, and drank deep. And sighed happily. "Lovely stuff."
The others were not as sure as he was. O'Higgins's eyes opened wide when he drank and he put the cup carefully back onto the table. Fox had a coughing fit that only ceased when Meagher pounded him on the back.
"Takes a bit of getting used to," he said. "Now, Gus, how can the Fenian circle be of aid to you?"
"Information, as I said. It is the life-blood of military intelligence. I understand that there are many Irish working in England and Scotland?"
" 'Tis the sad truth," Meagher said, nodding in agreement. "Ours is a poor country, kept poorer by those who rule. The Irish have always crossed the waters to earn a living—and send money to their families who must stay at home. It was even worse in the forties, when the famine came. Oh the thousands that starved in agony! Those with the means went abroad. Many came here to the land of freedom, but even more went to England and stayed on. Many a navvy you will meet there is an Irishman."
"By 'navvy' you mean someone who works building the canals?" Fox asked.
"In the beginning, yes, they called them navigators because they dug their way across the length and breadth of England. But the name stuck to them even when the canals were finished. Now they work on the railroads, on the building sites and the shipyards. Wherever a man can earn a few bob by the sweat of his brow."
"And they stay in touch with their families still?" O'Higgins asked. "I'm afraid that after my grandfather went to South America we fell out of touch with Ireland."
"You sailed a powerful distance and that is understood. But, yes, the Irish in England and Scotland stay in touch with home. When young lads cross the water seeking their fortune they are made welcome by those already
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