LIFE IN IRELAND 39 



Birne was there, and Whaley, and Blake, and myself to 

 be sure. First, the tabby had the blue down, then the 

 blue had the tabby down, and at last the fight became so 

 furious they were up and down one after another both 

 at the same time. There was hundreds betted, but not 

 a cross won or lost ; for by Jasus ! they left nothing on 

 the ground but a bunch of hair and two tails ! ' ' What ! ' 

 said Brian, ' then I suppose the cats ran away ? ' ' An 

 Irish cat run away ! ' sneered Grammachree, ' no ; 

 never ! by the powers of Moll Kelly ! they eat one 

 another up ! ' 



'That little ship,' said the Captain, 'is an Irish 

 invention worthy of immortality ; 'twas meant, by the 

 help of two big wheels, to clear the bar of the harbour ; 

 and so it does, for what mud it lifts up on one side, it 

 throws down on the other, so only half a ship can go 

 into the Liffey at a time. And there's the Eiren go 

 Bragh steam-boat, has only been five months in play, 

 and blown up no more than twice; that's no wonder, 

 for as she always is after the sailing packet, she gets all 

 the drunken passengers left behind. Barring accidents 

 from fire, water, and long delay, she's a mighty pleasant 

 vessel to walk across Channel in.' Much more the 

 Captain would have said, but his narrative was inter- 

 rupted by a dashing belle. Lady Demiquaver ; she too 

 Avas enjoying Life in Dublin, and rusticating for 

 awhile at Black Rock. 'And is it you, my dear Sir 

 Shawn ! and an't I mighty glad to see you any where 

 and how \ and you, old Timber Toe ; and you, a friend 

 I suppose — a shamrock newly plucked, hasn't lost the 

 down of his leaf yet.' 'Brian Boru, Esq., from Con- 

 naught, a man of five thousand per annum, and a good 



