1829.] ff'alh in Ireland. 49 



The blackness tiiat followed the roar of the tliunder was so sudden and 

 startling that for an instant I thought I was struck blind lor my daring 

 hardihood, in looking with a bold and over-curious eye at the awful and 

 dangerous mysteries of elemental sti'ife ; l)ut again the clouds rolled back 

 like mighty gates, again the lightning sprang forth, and the thunder 

 pealed, and then, down, through the pitchy darkness, came a flood, a, 

 cataract, a Niagara of rain, such as never since the days of Noah deluged 

 an unfortunate bog-trotter like myself I plunged and floundered 

 through the solid sheet of water, mitil I got to an elevated situation, and 

 there I sat down upon a rock, for as for proceeding until the rain light- 

 ened, the thing was out of the question. 



I suppose about two hours passed in this agreeable situation ; at length, 

 as if more from want of means than inclination, the torrent abated ; and, 

 though the rain still fell in what would be counted a very severe shower 

 under ordinary circumstances, yet as it no longer threatened to beat me 

 to the ground, and then float me off to the nearest river, I judged it ex- 

 pedient, not to pursue my route, for that as I told you I had voluntarily 

 lost, but to seek the shelter of the nearest cabin, and there wait until the 

 friendly morning should come with its welcome " vade mecum" to throw 

 new light upon the subject, and help me out of my dilemma. 



I had not proceeded more than half a mile, when the sullen voice of 

 rushing water warned me of the proximity of a mountain stream, swollen 

 to a dangerous torrent by the heavy rains. Steering myself cautiously by 

 the sound, I reached what seemed to be a rude by-path ; and not being 

 in a very fastidious mood, I was right well pleased at finding myself in 

 a few minutes in front of a ruinous looking hovel, tlu'ougli whose mani- 

 fold chinks a faint light glimmered, notwithstanding the lateness of the 

 hour. 



Knowing that the part of the country I was in was free from distur- 

 bance, though the embers of insurrection still glowed in the southern 

 counties of Ireland, the Avorst I apprehended from intruding into the cabin 

 at that unseasonable hour, was finding myself amidst the orgies of a 

 , knot of bibacious peasants, enjoying the festivities of a " Shebean," 

 anglice, house of concealment ; that is to say, a house where people get 

 tlrunk in secret, not because the acl is disgraceful or frowned at by the 

 law, but because the whiskij is of that illegal description I have spoken 

 of already ; and as I well knov/ the manners and language of the people, 

 and have not in the least the look of a gauger, I apprehended no danger 

 beyond that of l:)eing obliged to join in the debauch, my scruples about 

 which, to say the truth, the rain had In n great measure washed away ; 

 so I saluted the door with the half-confident, half-diffident knock of an 

 unexpected guest, sure that Aviiatever difficulties he may encounter in 

 getting admittance, when once fairly in he can make himself welcome. 



Several minutes passed without any notice being taken of my appli- 

 cation. I thought the light appeared to move ; but, though I listened 

 attentively, I could not hear the slightest noise, except a low snoring, as 

 of one in a drunken sleep. " I must disturb these revellers," thought I, 

 " unless I can reconcile myself to passing the night in the bog, in jire- 

 ference to interrupting their gentle slumbers." So, forthwith, I assailed 

 the door, hand and foot, after a fashion calculated to satisy the inmates 

 that if they took much more time to consider before they made up their 

 minds to admit me in the usual way, I was likely to save them all further 

 M.M. New Series Vol. VIII. No. 43. H 



