148 LIFE IN IRELAND 



sacred spring. With much ado our party extricated 



themselves, and proceeded on to the place, where, to 



their surprise and laughter, they beheld friend Gram- 



MACHREE, sitting bare-headed, and bathing his wooden 



leg in the crystal stream. ' Welcome, welcome, my 



boys,' he bellowed ; ' here am I, just after taking a dip 



to cure me of the rheumatism, and you may also take 



a dip into this side pocket of mine, where is a drop of 



the best whiskey that ever was brewed on the banks of 



the Liffey, to comfort a fellow after a cold collation.' 



Sir Shawn and Brian took a small taste of the cruet, 



and carrying the Major under their arms, steered away 



to the jaunting-car ; the scene was then highly imposing, 



twilight began to spread its shades around, and cries 



of love, despair, and devotion shook the air. In the 



midst of this hallaballoo, the trio dashed up the valley, 



and made for Balbriggan. Mooney, who undertook to 



drive, had the genius to capsize the vehicle three times 



in a mile. Nevertheless they sustained no injury; an 



outside jaunted car is made for no other purpose than 



to be tumbled off in the most easy manner; you sit on 



it back to back, in the most unsociable manner, and 



have to talk over the shoulder to any one you wish to 



hear you. As to looking a person in the face, it can't 



be done ; the thing is impossible, unless you wish to 



break your neck. This did not hurt our friends, for 



they safely alighted at Bet Thorey's, where is written 



over the door, 



' The moon doth shine both bright and clear, 

 Come in, my lads, and drink some beer,' 



END OF CHAPTER XII. 



