about noon
Look as if you were happy whatever you feel , and when all 's said and done you ought to be happy . Whatever the end of it may be we 'll get our bellies full of fighting to-day , and what has life got to give a man better than that ? '' After breakfast Donald Ward led his party along the road up which M'Cracken 's force must march to reach Antrim . At about noon he met the advance guard of United Irishmen . Several of Donald 's companions were recognised by these men , and his party were led back to where M'Cracken himself marched with the central division of his army . It was then that Neal first saw this leader -- a tall , fair-haired , gentle-faced man , dressed in a white and green uniform , armed with a sword . He spoke to Donald Ward , and then calling Neal , questioned him about the condition of the town of Antrim .