Free The Legend of the Corrib King by Tom McCaughren Page B

truth be known, more than one of them clasped the horseshoe nails that Jamesie had given them when going to Illaun na Shee. This time it wasn’t for fear of anything he had told them, but out of nervousness. Somehow they knew this was for real. This was where they might find Pakie and the people who held him.
    Creeping up a long winding path, they came to a low stone wall with a stile. Beyond the wall, in a secluded clearing beneath the trees, they could see the ruins of an ancient church. It was a very small church by modern-day standards and it had no roof. Nevertheless they could see that it was occupied, for tongues of flame flickered on the inside of the walls.
    â€˜The poachers!’ whispered Jamesie.
    â€˜What are we going to do?’ asked Rachel.
    Below them, in a sheltered cove, they could make out the dark shape of a motor cruiser tied up at a small pier.
    â€˜I think we should put their boat out of action!’ suggested Tapser.
    Cowlick nodded. ‘Good idea.’
    â€˜We’ll do it,’ said Róisín. ‘Come on, Rachel, I’ve an idea.’
    Before Cowlick or the others could object, the girls hurried back down the path, and a short time later their shadowy figures could be seen slipping on board the cruiser.
    â€˜The poachers must be using the church as a hideout,’ whispered Cowlick.
    â€˜I wonder if they’ve got Uncle Pakie in there?’ asked Jamesie.
    â€˜I daren’t go any closer with Prince,’ said Tapser. ‘Maybe you two could get a look inside. I’ll keep guard in case anyone comes.’
    Cowlick ran his fingers through his cow’s-lick curl and took a deep breath. ‘Okay.’
    â€˜Right,’ said Jamesie. ‘Keep close to me and be careful they don’t hear us.’
    The two of them tiptoed across to the nearest window, and Tapser saw Cowlick helping Jamesie up so that he could look in.
    Next minute a dog’s barking broke the silence. Cowlick and Jamesie fell back, picked themselves up and ran over to rejoin Tapser behind the wall. At the same time Prince broke free to run forward and engage a small terrier that had bounded out of the church. There were shouts of surprise inside and several men charged out to see what was happening.
    â€˜The man with the rings,’ whispered Cowlick.
    â€˜And Uncle Pakie’s in there,’ gasped Jamesie. ‘I saw him.’
    â€˜Well, we can’t help him now,’ said Tapser. ‘Let’s get out of here before they catch us too.’
    Prince and the terrier were snapping and snarling at each other as they rolled over and over in the grass. The men rushed over to separate them and looked around to see who the collie belonged to.
    â€˜There they are,’ cried one of the men. ‘After them.’
    By now Tapser, Cowlick and Jamesie were racing back down the darkened path.
    â€˜Quick,’ panted Jamesie, ‘into the bushes. It’s our only chance.’
    A few moments later they heard the men running down past them towards the shore.
    â€˜I hope Róisín and Rachel are all right,’ said Cowlick.
    â€˜Don’t worry,’ Tapser told him, ‘they’ll have heard the noise and had plenty of time to hide.’
    They crawled further into the undergrowth and a short time later heard the men coming back up the path.
    â€˜It’s probably those youngsters again,’ they heard one man saying.
    â€˜Well, we’ll never find them in the dark,’ said another. ‘And you wouldn’t know who they are. We’ll have to move out.’
    When the men had gone out of earshot, Cowlick whispered, ‘They won’t be moving very far, not if the girls can help it.’
    â€˜And that gives us a chance to tell Martin we’ve found Uncle Pakie,’ said Jamesie.
    â€˜Right,’ said Tapser. ‘Back to the boat.’
    When they reached the shore, however, there was no sign of their boat – or of