CHARLES FORT, COUNTY CORK, IRELAND
“Somebody warned the Fenians that we were arranging a live firing drill,” Jack said flatly.
The assembled officers stared at him, wordless.
“There are two ways in which that could happen,” Jack continued. “Either somebody spoke by mistake, or somebody warned the Fenians deliberately. At present, I don"t know which happened.”
“Are you accusing us, Captain Windrush?” Byrne sounded angry.
“You will remember that I called an officers" meeting to inform you about the live firing drill,” Jack said. “I specifically prevented any other ranks from attending. The night before the drill, I kept watch on the armoury and witnessed Rawlins, one of our pet Fenians, sabotaging the rifles of the loyal men. I corrected that, but somebody sitting here informed the Feni
