1830.] Red Gap Inn. 165 



of his mind : he deliberately locked the door, examined the walls to 

 see if there was any private entrance, looked to the priming of his pistols, 

 and then stood prepared to abide by whatever might come, and to sell his 

 life as dearly as he could. 



The dog watched him intently until his preparations were completed ; 

 and then, having assured himself that his movements were observed by 

 his master, he jumped once more on the fatal bed ; then, after lying 

 down for an instant, as if in imitation of the usual posture of a person 

 composing himself to sleep, he suddenly changed his mind, as it were, 

 sprang hastily to the floor, and stood, with eyes fixed and ears erect, in 

 an attitude of most intense attention, watching the bed itself, and nothing 

 else. The traveller, in the meantime, never stirred from the spot, though 

 his eyes naturally followed those of the dog ; and for a time every thing 

 was as still as the grave, and not a stir nor a breath brake the stillness of 

 the room, or interrupted the silence of the mute pair. At last a slight 

 rustling sound was heard in the direction of the bed : the dog, with ears 

 cocked and tail slightly moving, looked up at his master, as if to make 

 sure that he was attentive, and in an instant the bed was seen descending 

 swiftly and stealthily through the yawning floor, while a strong light 

 flashed upward into the room. Not a second was to be lost. The tra- 

 veller dashed open the window, and leaped into the yard, followed by 

 his faithful companion. Another moment, and, without giving himself 

 any trouble on the score of a saddle, he was on the back of his horse, as 

 fast a hunter as any in Leinster, and scouring away for life and death on 

 the road to Kilcullen, followed by a train as pitiless as that which hurried 

 from Kirk Alloway after poor Tarn O'Shanter. 



You may be sure he spared neither whip, spur, nor horseflesh ; and, 

 thanks to Providence and a good steed, he reached Kilcullen in safety. 

 The authorities secured the villainous host and his accomplice sons, and 

 the infuriated peasantry gave the fatal inn and its bloody secrets to the 

 flames. 



There is the story ; and if it be true, I can only say that I wish 



I knew where I could get one of the breed of the traveller's terrier, for 



love or money. 



The Man with the White Hqrse. 



Since we are upon the subject of popular legends, I cannot help telling 

 you a case which occurred within my own knowledge; partly within 

 my own recollection, in which a prediction was verified in a manner so 

 striking and remarkable, as to deserve the attention and surprise even of 

 the most incredulous. 



Early in the last century, a certain antique mansion-house in the county 

 of Kildare was the residence of an elderly gentleman, of singular and 

 eccentric habits. Some said that in his youth he had been concerned in 

 " the troubles," as they are called, of the Revolution of 1688 ; and, 

 indeed, I remember to have seen some of the brass money, with which 

 his loyalty was said to have been rewarded by that worthy and generous 

 monarch, James the Second. Some said that he had been crossed in 

 love, as well as disappointed in politics: at all events, he had long retired 

 from public life, and even from private politics ; and having no relatives 

 to look after his wealth, which was reputed to be considerable, he was 

 suffered to glide quietly out of the recollection of his neighbours, and to 

 indulge, without interruption, in all the moods and tenses of misanthropy 

 and old bachelorism. 



