about midnight
So far did his fears and the agitated state of his mind overcome the great repugnance which still he felt to break the solemn promise he had given Father John , and which he had so faithfully intended to keep . Reynolds reflected that though it was contrary to their regulations to bring a stranger to the haunts where his companions carried on their illegal trade , they could hardly be unwilling to give shelter to the man who had killed the enemy whom they all so cordially hated , and to murder whom they were all sworn ; particularly when his present necessity of concealment arose from the fact of his having done so . Reynolds had an idea of justice in his composition : he knew that had he murdered Ussher , his companions would have used every effort to conceal him , and to baffle his pursuers ; and he was determined that they should do as much for Thady . He went back to the cabin for Corney Dolan , and told him the story which he had just heard ; and at about midnight the party started for the mountains . Aughacashel is a mountain on the eastern side of Loch Allen , near the borders of the County Cavan -- uncultivated and rocky at the top , but nevertheless inhabited , and studded with many miserably poor cabins , till within about a quarter of a mile of the summit . The owners of these cabins , with great labour , have contrived to obtain wretchedly poor crops of potatoes from the barren soil immediately round their cabins . To their agricultural pursuits many joined the more profitable but hazardous business of making potheen , and they were generally speaking , a lawless , reckless set of people -- paying , some little , and others no rent , and living without the common blessings or restraints of civilization : no road , or sign of a road , came within some miles of them ; Drumshambo , the nearest village , was seven or eight miles distant from them ; and although they knew that neither the barrenness of their locality , nor the want of means of approach would altogether secure them from the unwelcome visits of the Revenue police or the Constabulary , still they felt sure that neither of these inimical forces could come into their immediate neighbourhood , without their making themselves aware of their approach , in time to guard against any injury which they might do them , either by removing all vestiges of their trade , or by sending those who were in fear of being taken up , into the more inaccessible portions of the mountain .