68 A YEAR OF LIBERTY) OR, 



The matchless strand of Magilligan, where we have bo often trawled, 

 lies sleeping in the sunshine ; there is Down Hill, and here is the 

 Bann, one of the monster rivers of the dear little island, flowing 

 broad and majestic through Coleraine, "famed for lovely Kitty," as 

 poor Thackeray sang. A few minutes more, and the scream of the 

 engine announces our arrival at the Portrush station. 



Foremost amongst the little crowd stands a neat figure in white 

 canvas shoes, blue trousers, blue jersey, and white hat, on the band 

 of which, in gilt letters, is the word " Pet." Very busy is he with 

 the luggage, handing out of the van (such liberties are allowed in 

 the north) boxes, portmanteau, carpet bag, and rod case, to arms 

 eager and willing to receive them. Many a hand, hard and brown 

 with honest seafaring toil, was outstretched to welcome us. Dear 

 honest fellows! little had I ever done to gain their kindly hearts 

 now and then a dose, advice, or a lecture, with which last a dram 

 was usually ordered, to take away any unpleasant flavour. Had 

 there been a dozen trunks, instead of the five or six vanishing out of 

 the station, there would have been a hand for each. 



Carrying the cloaks, the chief mate was in close attendance on 

 his mistress ; and what a running fire of hurried questions and 

 replies. 



" How is the dog ? Was Jenny M'Oafferty's leg better? " Every- 

 thing on board the Pet was, of course, as it should be perfect. 

 In a whisper: ' How was the master's cat ; was the stump healed ? " 

 Three parts of his tail, I heard afterwards, had been cut off in a 

 rabbit trap ; but this was a profound secret, not to be revealed till 

 the last moment. '' The river must be very low," &c., &c. 



The baggage was on board when we arrived at the landing-place. 

 The commissariat, for once in the history of nations, was up to the 

 front, and ver}' satisfactory it looked, in the shape of a hind quarter 

 of beef, wrapped in something that appeared wonderfully like a sheet ; 

 together with a couple of hampers containing various fluids. Good 

 eating, it is said, requires good drinking. 



To carry animal food with us was a necessity, for the Bushmills 

 cows, though excellent animals in their way, have one remarkable 



