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Michael's family have been left destitute, so he launches a raid on a landowner's grain store

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The lock on the barn door proved no obstacle to Michael's trusty hammer.

Two mighty blows shattered the lock and seconds later Michael was inside the grain store.

The barn was full to overflowing with sacks of oats, barley and corn. Michael shook his head in dismay. Many of the townsfolk were on the brink of starvation and yet here was grain enough to feed an army.

But Trevelyan, an English peer, had other plans for his harvest. Michael picked up a sack of corn on which was attached a shipping label-It was destined to be dispatched to Bristol, as were most of the other sacks.

Michael's fury knew no bounds at the injustice and greed of his former master - Trevelyan cried no tears for those who could not pay for his rich harvest, when there were those across the water who could pay handsomely. Angry as he was, he was quick to reason that this was not his fight. He was here to ensure that his wife and child would wake with full bellies in the morn.

He shouldered the bulging sack of corn and ran from the barn with his booty. It was a pity that he had not picked up his hammer. It now lay on the barn floor for all to see...

Michael, Mary and Rory dined royally that evening. Maybe it was only corn mash but to them it had all the hallmarks of ambrosia - and they slept well-that is until their makeshift shelter fell about them with the addition of wild savage cries from angry men.

"Get thee up Michael Cleary, ye brazen thief ye," was the command. "You've got a date with the Constabulary."

Michael quickly came to his senses, realizing that these were Trevelyan's thugs, who somehow had discovered that he was responsible for the theft from the grain store.