canes. We clutched them by the bottom and brandished the heavy silver icons at the other end like the weapons they truly was. Then we stood in such a way that communicated to these two roughs that we was not to be mistaken for their usual prey. We was four while they was just two and our canes had longer reaches than their thick clubs.
Then they did something what was most peculiar for urban robbers. They both reached behind their backs and pulled upmatching hats what had been dangling from their necks on string. Then they tugged up what at first looked like black neckerchiefs and with them they masked the lower half of their faces. The hats was three-cornered and belonged to the previous century.
‘Good afternoon fellas,’ said a voice from behind us. We spun around to see three other coves stood in our wake what was hatted and masked in the same fashion. Two was set further back down the lane and holding clubs just like the first. The fifth was stood much closer to us and was pointing two long-barrelled barkers at me and at Georgie. ‘I’m Dick,’ his voice was a proud and unmistakeable Irish, ‘and these here are my Turpins. And, just so you’re in no doubt, be assured that I would not hesitate to shoot.’
Even with his face half-masked, I could tell that he was all of a grin and in love with his own mischief. I considered handing over my purse and telling my gang to do likewise in the hope that they would then be satisfied and move on.
‘Lower those smart sticks, so,’ this Dick continued. ‘And we’ll be taking that necklace of yours if you please.’
My three confederates all turned to me in surprise. I could not contain my dismay at his words and, for some moments, I was at a loss as to how to proceed. But I had no intention of handing over my hard-won treasure to this sniggering bandit and so I steeled myself and raised my cane even higher.
‘This is Temple Bar, Dick,’ I returned and felt my gang all stiffen themselves for battle. ‘There are lawyers and peelers all over what’ll come running at the first shot so spare us these stand and deliver theatricals. We ain’t bumpkins.’
Dick raised his eyebrows. ‘You’re a brazen one,’ he chuckled and cocked the pistols. ‘And it’ll be over in a heartbeat, I swear it.’
I considered our chances. He could easily shoot me and Georgie with those pistols and his four Turpins, who had been closing inslow from both sides, would make short work of the other two. Georgie turned to me, itching for the word to charge, but I had already begun lowering my cane with one hand while my other reached for my coat pocket.
‘That’s best,’ Dick nodded and I could see the heavy weights of his guns already drooping as my cane slipped down through my hand. ‘That’s the smartest way. As my dear old mammy used to say it always—’
But we never learnt what Dick’s dear old mammy used to say on account of the silver bird at the end of my cane being smashed upwards into his face most sudden. He staggered backwards and fired off one cannon but it hit the brick wall to the left and he almost dropped the other. His then roared and charged but mine all followed my lead and each spun around to face their nearest challengers, going at them with their vicious canes. Weapons clashed all around, the sounds of street war rang out and I concentrated on their leader. I dropped Dick with another sharp punch to his face and he went down onto his back. Georgie ran past us and headed towards those coming in fast from behind but as Dick fell his second weapon fired and the shot hit Georgie’s leg. He cried out and staggered in front of them and they both started bashing him with their wooden clubs. I stepped onto Dick’s chest and he howled as I went straight over him to help Georgie. They both turned and rushed me and I struck one on the ear with my bird-cane. The other Turpin landed a blow with his club into my side and the force of it took me down.
‘That’s the
Then they did something what was most peculiar for urban robbers. They both reached behind their backs and pulled upmatching hats what had been dangling from their necks on string. Then they tugged up what at first looked like black neckerchiefs and with them they masked the lower half of their faces. The hats was three-cornered and belonged to the previous century.
‘Good afternoon fellas,’ said a voice from behind us. We spun around to see three other coves stood in our wake what was hatted and masked in the same fashion. Two was set further back down the lane and holding clubs just like the first. The fifth was stood much closer to us and was pointing two long-barrelled barkers at me and at Georgie. ‘I’m Dick,’ his voice was a proud and unmistakeable Irish, ‘and these here are my Turpins. And, just so you’re in no doubt, be assured that I would not hesitate to shoot.’
Even with his face half-masked, I could tell that he was all of a grin and in love with his own mischief. I considered handing over my purse and telling my gang to do likewise in the hope that they would then be satisfied and move on.
‘Lower those smart sticks, so,’ this Dick continued. ‘And we’ll be taking that necklace of yours if you please.’
My three confederates all turned to me in surprise. I could not contain my dismay at his words and, for some moments, I was at a loss as to how to proceed. But I had no intention of handing over my hard-won treasure to this sniggering bandit and so I steeled myself and raised my cane even higher.
‘This is Temple Bar, Dick,’ I returned and felt my gang all stiffen themselves for battle. ‘There are lawyers and peelers all over what’ll come running at the first shot so spare us these stand and deliver theatricals. We ain’t bumpkins.’
Dick raised his eyebrows. ‘You’re a brazen one,’ he chuckled and cocked the pistols. ‘And it’ll be over in a heartbeat, I swear it.’
I considered our chances. He could easily shoot me and Georgie with those pistols and his four Turpins, who had been closing inslow from both sides, would make short work of the other two. Georgie turned to me, itching for the word to charge, but I had already begun lowering my cane with one hand while my other reached for my coat pocket.
‘That’s best,’ Dick nodded and I could see the heavy weights of his guns already drooping as my cane slipped down through my hand. ‘That’s the smartest way. As my dear old mammy used to say it always—’
But we never learnt what Dick’s dear old mammy used to say on account of the silver bird at the end of my cane being smashed upwards into his face most sudden. He staggered backwards and fired off one cannon but it hit the brick wall to the left and he almost dropped the other. His then roared and charged but mine all followed my lead and each spun around to face their nearest challengers, going at them with their vicious canes. Weapons clashed all around, the sounds of street war rang out and I concentrated on their leader. I dropped Dick with another sharp punch to his face and he went down onto his back. Georgie ran past us and headed towards those coming in fast from behind but as Dick fell his second weapon fired and the shot hit Georgie’s leg. He cried out and staggered in front of them and they both started bashing him with their wooden clubs. I stepped onto Dick’s chest and he howled as I went straight over him to help Georgie. They both turned and rushed me and I struck one on the ear with my bird-cane. The other Turpin landed a blow with his club into my side and the force of it took me down.
‘That’s the
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