Chapter 10 : The Feast
Patrick and Marie moved closer to the house. The music grew louder and it sounded wonderful. They looked through one of the windows into 'a large room that seemed to be full of light' It was full of men and women dressed in 'lovely. brightly coloured clothes.
Patrick felt he was in heaven. They were dancing round and round to the sweet music. For a moment, Patrick wondered if he was dreaming. This was the most 'magical place' he had ever seen. He could not help but wondered where all this 'shining, happy people had come from'.
Marie took hold of his arm and signalled to him that he should folllow her. All the time Patrick kept thinking about the 'happy dancers.' For a few minutes, he forgot all about the 'horror of the world around him.' This place was ' pure paradise.' It was clean, bright world without disease.
Suddenly, Marie led him to an open window. Inside the room was a long table. Four servant girls were cleaning the table after after a luxurious meal. As soon as the servant girls left the room, Marie and Patrick went in through the window.
Marie began to stuff food into her mouth and into her pockets. Marie pushed a half-eaten chicken into Patrick's mouth. Patrick had never tasted chicken before. Marie stuffed cakes into her mouth and began to fill a bag with leftover food. Patrick hide a loaf inside his shirt.
Suddenly, Marie heard a noise. She immediately pulled Patrick down and crawled under the table. They sat there in 'absolute silent.' The servant girls were now inside the room again. They were talking loudly ablut the ball and the cost of the beautiful gowns worn by the ladies.
The door opened again. Patrick and Marie could hear men's voices. Marie was very frightened. She was shaking. They had stolen food from a rich man's house. If caught, they could go to prison. Patrick took hold of both of Marie's hands and held them until she stopped shaking.
As soon as the room ws empty, Patrick and Marie ran to the window and climbed out. They ran back to the spot where they had climbed the high wall. Now, they were safe. All they had to do now was to climb over it again.
Suddenly, Patrick realised the wall was too high for them to climb. Marie found a solution by climbing over Patrick's shoulders. She managed to pull herself onto the top of the wall. Marie leaned down and extended her arms to help Patrick to climb over.
She nearly fell off but Patrick managed to grab the top of the wall with one hand and pull himself up. They quickly ran down the road. They laughed in great relief. They fond a cosy place under some bushes and fell asleep. Their stomach were full.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Potato People - C9 : House of Lights
Chapter 9 : House of Lights
Patrick and Marie walked all day. Marie told him about her life. Her family had come to Ireland many years ago. Now they were all dead. She also claimed to have a grandmother who knew Pharoah, an Egyptian king. Patrick did not know much about Egypt and he did not want to argue with her.
It was getting dark. Patrick was getting hungry. He asked her about the place which she claimed had something to eat. Marie told him that it was not far. Patrick had to keep quiet and do exactly as she told him when they got there.
Patrick was very happy to have Marie for company. He no longer felt alone in the world. Marie was full of life and had a wonderful smile. Her teeth were like pearls. She also had the biggest, dark eyes he had ever seen. She was so different from the tired and hungry people of Skullgoraph.
They reached a small forest. Inside were a lot of tall, thin and very hungry people. Marie was smart and alert. She picked up a thick piece of wood and asked Patrick to do the same. She told Patrick they must protect themselves from starving people who sometimes behaved like cannibals.
Patrick held on tightly to his stick. Patrick was uneasy at the thought of people being cannibals and eating each other. He was very relieved to reach the end of the forest and were once again out in the open.
They continued to walk for a few more miles. They came to a high stone wall which ran alongside the road. They reached an 'impressive iron gate.' It was the mansion of a rich English Lord. This enormous mansion had hundreds of windows and it was brightly lighted.
A 'glittering coach' pulled by six horses stopped at the gate. Two servants jumped off the back of the coach and opened the gate so the coach could pass through. Marie grabbed Patrick's hand and they walked along the wall. They stopped at a spot where a small tree was growing.
Marie surprised Patrick by climbing up the three and pulling herself up onto the top of the wall quickly. Patrick climbed up in the same way. It was a moonlit night. Patrick could see that the house was surrounded by a large park. It was full of flower beds, rows of bushes and beautiful old trees.
Patrick could hear strange, beautiful music coming from the house and it fascinated him. Suddenly, Marie jumped from the wall into the park. She asked Patrick to follow her to find their dinner. She did not wait for his answer. She went straight to the house.
Patrick was stunned. He could not let Marie go off on her own. She might need his help. He also jumped into the park and quickly followed Marie towards the house of lights.
Patrick and Marie walked all day. Marie told him about her life. Her family had come to Ireland many years ago. Now they were all dead. She also claimed to have a grandmother who knew Pharoah, an Egyptian king. Patrick did not know much about Egypt and he did not want to argue with her.
It was getting dark. Patrick was getting hungry. He asked her about the place which she claimed had something to eat. Marie told him that it was not far. Patrick had to keep quiet and do exactly as she told him when they got there.
Patrick was very happy to have Marie for company. He no longer felt alone in the world. Marie was full of life and had a wonderful smile. Her teeth were like pearls. She also had the biggest, dark eyes he had ever seen. She was so different from the tired and hungry people of Skullgoraph.
They reached a small forest. Inside were a lot of tall, thin and very hungry people. Marie was smart and alert. She picked up a thick piece of wood and asked Patrick to do the same. She told Patrick they must protect themselves from starving people who sometimes behaved like cannibals.
Patrick held on tightly to his stick. Patrick was uneasy at the thought of people being cannibals and eating each other. He was very relieved to reach the end of the forest and were once again out in the open.
They continued to walk for a few more miles. They came to a high stone wall which ran alongside the road. They reached an 'impressive iron gate.' It was the mansion of a rich English Lord. This enormous mansion had hundreds of windows and it was brightly lighted.
A 'glittering coach' pulled by six horses stopped at the gate. Two servants jumped off the back of the coach and opened the gate so the coach could pass through. Marie grabbed Patrick's hand and they walked along the wall. They stopped at a spot where a small tree was growing.
Marie surprised Patrick by climbing up the three and pulling herself up onto the top of the wall quickly. Patrick climbed up in the same way. It was a moonlit night. Patrick could see that the house was surrounded by a large park. It was full of flower beds, rows of bushes and beautiful old trees.
Patrick could hear strange, beautiful music coming from the house and it fascinated him. Suddenly, Marie jumped from the wall into the park. She asked Patrick to follow her to find their dinner. She did not wait for his answer. She went straight to the house.
Patrick was stunned. He could not let Marie go off on her own. She might need his help. He also jumped into the park and quickly followed Marie towards the house of lights.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Potato People - C8 : The Egyptian Girl
Chapter 8 : The Egyptian Girl
Patrick came to a fork in the road about a mile outside the town. One road led to the town of Cork. The on led back to inland. All the people were heading towards the port. Patrick was hungry. He sat down by the side of the road. He pull out a crust of bread to eat.
Suddenly he heard a voice. He saw a girl standing some distance away from him. The girl had a dark face and black hair. She was a Gipsy girl about his age. Patrick offered to share bread with her.
The girl was very grateful. She said, "You must have been sent by an angel, I was so hungry." She told Patrick her name was Marie and she was a Gipsy princess. She claimed that her family came from Egypt and used to live in a pyramid.
Patrick thought that a pyramid was 'a kind of house' in Egypt. Marie was indignant. She said a princess did not live in a house. She described a pyramid as 'an enormous castle with a pointed roof and no windows.' There were 'magic candles' in Egypt that burn all day and night in the pyramid.
Patrick was quite fascinated by her. He had never talk to a real Gipsy before. However, he had heard some nasty things about them. He heard that Gipsy stole and cheated people. They evenstole babies. His mother told him not to believe all these stories as Gipsies were only 'poor travelling people.'
PAtrick was homeless now and he wanted to know what it was like to travel round the world. Marie told him that she had been all over the big world and it was 'full of wonderful things.' She wanted to travel for the rest of her life.
Suddenly, she grabbed Patrick's hand and volunteered to read his future. As his hand was very dirty, she spat into his palm and wiped the dirt away until his palm was 'almost clean.' She predicted the folowing for Patrick :
i)He would be going on a long, long journey
ii)He would find what he was looking for.
iii)She saw 'gold' as well as 'danger'.
iv)He would never return to Ireland.
v)He would settle down in a new home far across the sea.
vi)He would become a soldier with a blue uniform and ride a big, white horse.
vii)He would marry a princess and live happily in big, beatiful house.
Patrick did not know how to respond to Marie's predictions about his future life. He remembered his mother telling him that Gipsies had 'strange, magical powers.' Suddenly, Marie jumped to her feet and laughed and laughed. Patrick did not realizse that Marie was laughing at his seriousness. She was just having a little fun with him.
Patrick had no idea why Marie was laughing. She looked happy and Patrick had not heard anyone laugh for a long time. She told Patrick that she was on her way to the sea and asked whether he would be coming with her. She also knew of a place where they could get something to eat. 'A feast fit for a king.' Marie laughed again and Patrick decided to follow her.
Patrick came to a fork in the road about a mile outside the town. One road led to the town of Cork. The on led back to inland. All the people were heading towards the port. Patrick was hungry. He sat down by the side of the road. He pull out a crust of bread to eat.
Suddenly he heard a voice. He saw a girl standing some distance away from him. The girl had a dark face and black hair. She was a Gipsy girl about his age. Patrick offered to share bread with her.
The girl was very grateful. She said, "You must have been sent by an angel, I was so hungry." She told Patrick her name was Marie and she was a Gipsy princess. She claimed that her family came from Egypt and used to live in a pyramid.
Patrick thought that a pyramid was 'a kind of house' in Egypt. Marie was indignant. She said a princess did not live in a house. She described a pyramid as 'an enormous castle with a pointed roof and no windows.' There were 'magic candles' in Egypt that burn all day and night in the pyramid.
Patrick was quite fascinated by her. He had never talk to a real Gipsy before. However, he had heard some nasty things about them. He heard that Gipsy stole and cheated people. They evenstole babies. His mother told him not to believe all these stories as Gipsies were only 'poor travelling people.'
PAtrick was homeless now and he wanted to know what it was like to travel round the world. Marie told him that she had been all over the big world and it was 'full of wonderful things.' She wanted to travel for the rest of her life.
Suddenly, she grabbed Patrick's hand and volunteered to read his future. As his hand was very dirty, she spat into his palm and wiped the dirt away until his palm was 'almost clean.' She predicted the folowing for Patrick :
i)He would be going on a long, long journey
ii)He would find what he was looking for.
iii)She saw 'gold' as well as 'danger'.
iv)He would never return to Ireland.
v)He would settle down in a new home far across the sea.
vi)He would become a soldier with a blue uniform and ride a big, white horse.
vii)He would marry a princess and live happily in big, beatiful house.
Patrick did not know how to respond to Marie's predictions about his future life. He remembered his mother telling him that Gipsies had 'strange, magical powers.' Suddenly, Marie jumped to her feet and laughed and laughed. Patrick did not realizse that Marie was laughing at his seriousness. She was just having a little fun with him.
Patrick had no idea why Marie was laughing. She looked happy and Patrick had not heard anyone laugh for a long time. She told Patrick that she was on her way to the sea and asked whether he would be coming with her. She also knew of a place where they could get something to eat. 'A feast fit for a king.' Marie laughed again and Patrick decided to follow her.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Potato People - C7 : Bread
Chapter 7 : Bread
Peter and Patrick stopped outside a baker's shop in the market place. Peter took out a shiny new, penny. He invited Patrick in to have a nice big, juicy meat pie. Inside the shop Patrick felt like he was in heaven.
Peter was a 'friendly, jolly man'. The baker was a 'very large, round man' with a 'red face and thick, black hair'. The baker was also getting ready to leave Ireland. He would like to sail for America or Canada or Australia or even China.
The baker lamented that things were going from bad to worse. They had already gone through three years of hunger and starvation. All the people wanted to do now is to escape. All the shopkeepers could not sell their things for people had no money to buy. Only the sick and the very old left behind. Everyone else had left Ireland.
The baker asled Peter whether he would be interested to buy his shop. Peter had no money to buy the shop. He planned to sailed to America. The baker hoped to meet Peter in New York one sunny day. He planned to be the best baker in the whole city.
The street outside the baker's shop was very crowded. There were many heavily armed soldiers everywhere. 'Hungry people' with 'desperate faces' were walking up and down the streets. There was an eerie and strange atmosphere in town.
Patrick was glad to leave the town. Peter and Patrick found a place to sleep under some bushes. The next day, it was raining heavily. The little girl was coughing badly. Peter decided to take the girl back to town to see a doctor or to a hospital. Peter and Patrick wished each other good luck and parted company with a promise from Peter, "I'll see you in America, Patrick".
Peter and Patrick stopped outside a baker's shop in the market place. Peter took out a shiny new, penny. He invited Patrick in to have a nice big, juicy meat pie. Inside the shop Patrick felt like he was in heaven.
Peter was a 'friendly, jolly man'. The baker was a 'very large, round man' with a 'red face and thick, black hair'. The baker was also getting ready to leave Ireland. He would like to sail for America or Canada or Australia or even China.
The baker lamented that things were going from bad to worse. They had already gone through three years of hunger and starvation. All the people wanted to do now is to escape. All the shopkeepers could not sell their things for people had no money to buy. Only the sick and the very old left behind. Everyone else had left Ireland.
The baker asled Peter whether he would be interested to buy his shop. Peter had no money to buy the shop. He planned to sailed to America. The baker hoped to meet Peter in New York one sunny day. He planned to be the best baker in the whole city.
The street outside the baker's shop was very crowded. There were many heavily armed soldiers everywhere. 'Hungry people' with 'desperate faces' were walking up and down the streets. There was an eerie and strange atmosphere in town.
Patrick was glad to leave the town. Peter and Patrick found a place to sleep under some bushes. The next day, it was raining heavily. The little girl was coughing badly. Peter decided to take the girl back to town to see a doctor or to a hospital. Peter and Patrick wished each other good luck and parted company with a promise from Peter, "I'll see you in America, Patrick".
Potato People C6 - On The Road
Chapter 6 : On The Road
Patrick walked on the muddy track for three miles until he reached the main road that led to Cork. The road to the port of Cork was full of tired and hungry people. Patrick found himself walking next to Peter O'Connor who was carrying a sleeping child on his back. He was lso dreaming of starting a new life in America.
Peter had money paid by the landlord for leaving the land. He had enough money to buy tickets for himself and the child. Peter found the child three days ago in a farmhouse. All the people in the house were dead with fat rats crawling around them. Peter could not leave the little girl all alone by herself. H took her with him and called her Mary, his wife's name.
Peter's family was dead. Mary was a comfort to him but a child never said a word or uttered a sound. Patrick found this very strange. Peter smiled and said that he had seen many people like this in his travels. They had all seen 'terrible, unspeakable things and some of them had lost the power and will to speak'. The experience had been too traumatic.
Beggars lined up the streets to beg for money in the towns and village they passed through. Finally, they reached a 'rich looking town' called Killkaddy. It was a market day. The stalls were selling clothes, boots, shoes and books but no potatoes..
There was a large building filled with sacks of wheat. It was guarded by two armed of soldiers from the outside. A large wagon, pulled by four horses and filled with sacks of wheat was moving slowly away from the building. Two soldiers were sitting on the wagon. They were looking nervously at the hungry people on the street.
Patrick walked on the muddy track for three miles until he reached the main road that led to Cork. The road to the port of Cork was full of tired and hungry people. Patrick found himself walking next to Peter O'Connor who was carrying a sleeping child on his back. He was lso dreaming of starting a new life in America.
Peter had money paid by the landlord for leaving the land. He had enough money to buy tickets for himself and the child. Peter found the child three days ago in a farmhouse. All the people in the house were dead with fat rats crawling around them. Peter could not leave the little girl all alone by herself. H took her with him and called her Mary, his wife's name.
Peter's family was dead. Mary was a comfort to him but a child never said a word or uttered a sound. Patrick found this very strange. Peter smiled and said that he had seen many people like this in his travels. They had all seen 'terrible, unspeakable things and some of them had lost the power and will to speak'. The experience had been too traumatic.
Beggars lined up the streets to beg for money in the towns and village they passed through. Finally, they reached a 'rich looking town' called Killkaddy. It was a market day. The stalls were selling clothes, boots, shoes and books but no potatoes..
There was a large building filled with sacks of wheat. It was guarded by two armed of soldiers from the outside. A large wagon, pulled by four horses and filled with sacks of wheat was moving slowly away from the building. Two soldiers were sitting on the wagon. They were looking nervously at the hungry people on the street.
Potato People - C5 : Ashes and Smoke
Chapter 5 : Ashes and Smoke
Patrick went back to the village. Smoke was still rising, from the ruins. The village appeared to be empty. There was nothing to show the people he had known all his life had existed. There was only ashes and smoke.
Patrick saw Sean sitting by the well. He was holding his rusty axe in his arms 'like a baby'. There was a 'wild, desperate look' in his eyes. That strange look frightened Patrick.
Sean told Patrick to leave and never come back to Skullgoraph. He wanted Patrick to leave Ireland and go to America. Patrick must not forget what had happened to them. Sean would get money for both of them.
Sean had to be alone to finish some business before leaving. Patrick was to go to Cork and wait in an inn called the 'Three Cats'. Sean would join him at the end of the month. If Sean did not come, Patrick must go to America on his own.
Sean reminded Patrick, "Don't forget what happened here in Skullgoraph. I want you to remember it for all time". Patrick walked away. He felt a strange feeling of excitement. He was about to begin a great adventure. He knew his life would never be same again.
Patrick went back to the village. Smoke was still rising, from the ruins. The village appeared to be empty. There was nothing to show the people he had known all his life had existed. There was only ashes and smoke.
Patrick saw Sean sitting by the well. He was holding his rusty axe in his arms 'like a baby'. There was a 'wild, desperate look' in his eyes. That strange look frightened Patrick.
Sean told Patrick to leave and never come back to Skullgoraph. He wanted Patrick to leave Ireland and go to America. Patrick must not forget what had happened to them. Sean would get money for both of them.
Sean had to be alone to finish some business before leaving. Patrick was to go to Cork and wait in an inn called the 'Three Cats'. Sean would join him at the end of the month. If Sean did not come, Patrick must go to America on his own.
Sean reminded Patrick, "Don't forget what happened here in Skullgoraph. I want you to remember it for all time". Patrick walked away. He felt a strange feeling of excitement. He was about to begin a great adventure. He knew his life would never be same again.
Potato People - C4 : Stone Heart
Chapter 4 : Stone Heart
The soldiers formed a line in the centre of the village. Mr. Graystone's men began to start work. First, they threw everything out of the cottages. They made a huge mountain in the middle of the village with all the things from the cottages. Then, they began to destroy all the cottages. They pulled all the doors out and made a big fire with them. Next, they destroyed the straw-roofs.
Patrick watched theh men empty his own home. The only furniture he had was an old table, two chairs and a chest with some of his father's clothes. His family members were all dead. Patrick did not feel too sad in parting with his belongings.
It was a heart-rending sight. Almost all the women and children were crying. Many of the men were crying like children. Mr. Graystone's men carried on working like they were deaf and blind. The men showed no compassion to the villagers' grief. They all have hearts of stone.
The destruction of the cottages went on all day into the evening. The men could only watched helplessly. There was no fight in them. As a boy, Patrick had been told old stories about the brave men of Skullgoraph who fight the Vikings who invaded Ireland. But now they could do nothing to save the village.
The soldiers did not enjoy their 'work'. As soon as they were given the order to stand at ease, the soldiers spent their time smoking and talking. They talk to each other in low voices. They could feel the grief of the villagers who had just lost their homes.
Old mother O'daughertytook handfuls of straw and tried to repair the roof of her cottage. It was hopeless. Big Finn laughed at her futility. He grabbed her by the arm and began to drag her away.
Suddenly, two soldiers jumped up and stop him. One of the soldiers shouted at Big Finn and warned him not to disturb the old folks and children. Big Finn let the old woman go. He stared hard at the two soldiers. Patrick was afraid a fight would start.
The tall muscular sergeant ordered the soldiers back. He went over to the old woman. He helped her to sit on an old chair. He felt very sorry for her.
It was late evening. The sun was sinking in the west behind the hills. There were still many cottages standing. Mr. Graystone gave the order to burn them to save time. The little village was soon burning from end to end. It was very sad sight.
Patrick saw the look of horror on the faces of some of the soldiers. There was certainly 'no glory' in burning people's homes. One soldier took his helmet off and collected some money for mother O'Daugherty. Another soldier gave her a piece of bread and a lump of cheese.
At once, some of the children ran to mother O'Daugherty to beg for food. She gave all the food to the children. She had nothing left for herself.
Pstrick leaned back against the tree and watched the cottages burning. He was very depressed. He closed his eyes to shut off the actual sight. He felt he had 'fallen down to hell'.
When Patrick finally opened his eyes, everything was over. Mr. Graystone was smiling broadly. He was very pleased. He told the people they were given only two days to leave Lord Egham's ;and. They were not to return.
It began to rain heavily. However, it was not heavy enough to put out the flames. Patrick walked back to the old oak tree. He slept there until sunrise. He had nowhere else to go.
The soldiers formed a line in the centre of the village. Mr. Graystone's men began to start work. First, they threw everything out of the cottages. They made a huge mountain in the middle of the village with all the things from the cottages. Then, they began to destroy all the cottages. They pulled all the doors out and made a big fire with them. Next, they destroyed the straw-roofs.
Patrick watched theh men empty his own home. The only furniture he had was an old table, two chairs and a chest with some of his father's clothes. His family members were all dead. Patrick did not feel too sad in parting with his belongings.
It was a heart-rending sight. Almost all the women and children were crying. Many of the men were crying like children. Mr. Graystone's men carried on working like they were deaf and blind. The men showed no compassion to the villagers' grief. They all have hearts of stone.
The destruction of the cottages went on all day into the evening. The men could only watched helplessly. There was no fight in them. As a boy, Patrick had been told old stories about the brave men of Skullgoraph who fight the Vikings who invaded Ireland. But now they could do nothing to save the village.
The soldiers did not enjoy their 'work'. As soon as they were given the order to stand at ease, the soldiers spent their time smoking and talking. They talk to each other in low voices. They could feel the grief of the villagers who had just lost their homes.
Old mother O'daughertytook handfuls of straw and tried to repair the roof of her cottage. It was hopeless. Big Finn laughed at her futility. He grabbed her by the arm and began to drag her away.
Suddenly, two soldiers jumped up and stop him. One of the soldiers shouted at Big Finn and warned him not to disturb the old folks and children. Big Finn let the old woman go. He stared hard at the two soldiers. Patrick was afraid a fight would start.
The tall muscular sergeant ordered the soldiers back. He went over to the old woman. He helped her to sit on an old chair. He felt very sorry for her.
It was late evening. The sun was sinking in the west behind the hills. There were still many cottages standing. Mr. Graystone gave the order to burn them to save time. The little village was soon burning from end to end. It was very sad sight.
Patrick saw the look of horror on the faces of some of the soldiers. There was certainly 'no glory' in burning people's homes. One soldier took his helmet off and collected some money for mother O'Daugherty. Another soldier gave her a piece of bread and a lump of cheese.
At once, some of the children ran to mother O'Daugherty to beg for food. She gave all the food to the children. She had nothing left for herself.
Pstrick leaned back against the tree and watched the cottages burning. He was very depressed. He closed his eyes to shut off the actual sight. He felt he had 'fallen down to hell'.
When Patrick finally opened his eyes, everything was over. Mr. Graystone was smiling broadly. He was very pleased. He told the people they were given only two days to leave Lord Egham's ;and. They were not to return.
It began to rain heavily. However, it was not heavy enough to put out the flames. Patrick walked back to the old oak tree. He slept there until sunrise. He had nowhere else to go.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Potato People C3 - Army of Ghost
Chapter 3 : Army of Ghost
Patrick scrambled down the three quickly. He ran as fast as he could to the village. He yelled, "They're coming, they're coming!". Slowly, the villagers appeared from the cottages. They looked like ghost. They were all very thin with dark desperate eyes. They were all dressed in rags.
Sean, a tall man, stopped in front of Patrick. He spoke to the others in a bitter voice. He urged the men to fight back. They must not be driven out of their homes like people in Dunlow whose village was burned two weeks ago.
All the other men were afraid but they nodded their heads. Long ago, before the British came, Sean's family had been rich and powerful. They owned all the land. They had a solid old castle which was pulled down to build Lord Egham's fine house. Now, Sean was penniless and had nothing except the rags on his back.
Sean was a lord without land. He was a general without an army. He spent most of his time playing the Irish harp and singing beatiful sad songs.
Patrick told Sean that he saw soldiers in red coats. The people in the village were not trained to fight soldiers. They had no proper weapons and no guns. They were helpless and poor. They were hungry and desperate. Sean was nervous and the others looked frightened.
Sean pick up an old rusty axe and started to walk towards the end of the village. All the men followed him slowly. Patrick also followed them.
The soldiers stopped at the outskirts of the village. There were twenty of them. The soldiers were lead by an officer riding a big brown horse. The officer had a big, bushy moustache and open kind face. Behind the soldiers were Mr. Graystone and his men. Big Finn Mc Donnald who loved fighting was behind Mr. Graystone.
Sean and his men were blocking the track down to the village. The soldiers stopped thirty yards away. An order wa given. The soldiers took their rifles off their shoulders and fixed bayonets. They then marched forward quickly.
Sean stood in the middle of the track waiting for the attack. Suddenly, the officer on the brown horse ordered his men to halt. He rode up to Sean, smiled and spoke to him. Sean moved off the track and put his axe down. All the men followed Sean.
All the villagers watched helplessly as the soldiers marched past them into the village. There was no fighting. Patrick saw Sean sitting in the mud with his head buried in his hands. Sean was very upset. He felt very helpless.
Patrick scrambled down the three quickly. He ran as fast as he could to the village. He yelled, "They're coming, they're coming!". Slowly, the villagers appeared from the cottages. They looked like ghost. They were all very thin with dark desperate eyes. They were all dressed in rags.
Sean, a tall man, stopped in front of Patrick. He spoke to the others in a bitter voice. He urged the men to fight back. They must not be driven out of their homes like people in Dunlow whose village was burned two weeks ago.
All the other men were afraid but they nodded their heads. Long ago, before the British came, Sean's family had been rich and powerful. They owned all the land. They had a solid old castle which was pulled down to build Lord Egham's fine house. Now, Sean was penniless and had nothing except the rags on his back.
Sean was a lord without land. He was a general without an army. He spent most of his time playing the Irish harp and singing beatiful sad songs.
Patrick told Sean that he saw soldiers in red coats. The people in the village were not trained to fight soldiers. They had no proper weapons and no guns. They were helpless and poor. They were hungry and desperate. Sean was nervous and the others looked frightened.
Sean pick up an old rusty axe and started to walk towards the end of the village. All the men followed him slowly. Patrick also followed them.
The soldiers stopped at the outskirts of the village. There were twenty of them. The soldiers were lead by an officer riding a big brown horse. The officer had a big, bushy moustache and open kind face. Behind the soldiers were Mr. Graystone and his men. Big Finn Mc Donnald who loved fighting was behind Mr. Graystone.
Sean and his men were blocking the track down to the village. The soldiers stopped thirty yards away. An order wa given. The soldiers took their rifles off their shoulders and fixed bayonets. They then marched forward quickly.
Sean stood in the middle of the track waiting for the attack. Suddenly, the officer on the brown horse ordered his men to halt. He rode up to Sean, smiled and spoke to him. Sean moved off the track and put his axe down. All the men followed Sean.
All the villagers watched helplessly as the soldiers marched past them into the village. There was no fighting. Patrick saw Sean sitting in the mud with his head buried in his hands. Sean was very upset. He felt very helpless.
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