ii6 LIFE IN IRELAND 



tried by a court-martial for murder ; they were both 

 Paddies, and the cook seemed depressed in spirits. 

 " Keep your heart up, my honey," said the Captain, 

 "you perceive I'm not afraid of being hanged." "No 

 more should I," said the other, "were twelve cooks 

 going to try me." Twelve Captains always form a 

 court martial.' 



'Some die,' said he, 'bold in simplicity of heart; I 

 knew two Connaught lads who were out in the ruction 

 {rebellion) of ninety-eight, and having shot some 

 soldiers in a boat on the Shannon, were ordered to be 

 hanged on the river ; a gallows was fixed in two boats, 

 and one fellow being turned off, the rope broke, he fell 

 into the water and escaped to the shore by swimming j 

 the other appeared much distressed, and as the noose 

 was fixing round his throttle, exclaimed, " Do for the 

 Lord's sake tie me up tight, Mr. Ketch ; if the rope 

 breaks I '11 be sure to be drowned, for I can't swim 

 a stroke ! " 



' Another fact and we have done : — Two brothers 

 were hanged at Knockmanafaddy ; the one being turned 

 off, the other addressed the crowd ; "Behold," said he, 

 " my brother, and take warning ! see what a melancholy 

 spectacle he appears ; in a few minutes I will get the 

 swing, and you '11 see no more, for then there will be 

 a pair of spectacles I " 



'AH this is very good' (said Brian), 'but as neither 

 of us intend to be hanged, we need not fortify our 

 minds by bad examples ; for my part. Life in Ireland 

 appears preferable to death in the most glorious 

 manner, and as we have an appointment, it is fit we 

 keep it with punctuality.' 



