T74 LIFE IN IRELAND 



The boatswain piping all hands ahoy, up sprung 

 Brian, and as the galley fire had been Hghted all 

 night, cloathes were all dry, and Brian Boru with 

 his fair enamorata were again ready to take the field 

 in quest of adventures. At breakfast the doctor in- 

 sisted upon Sally standing bitch in his place, and 

 making tea, to which she agreed, and did the honours 

 of the table handsomely. Good humour prevailed 

 until old Tarpaulin came out, and accounted for his 

 wife's non-appearance, by saying she had lost her front, 

 and a finer one was never seen in Dame-street ; in the 

 course of his complaints, he told our hero that he was 

 no gentlejjian to board a ship in the hotvs, when another 

 was \2Xdi yard-arm and yard-ar?n along side of her. 



Brian was not up to sea slang, but he understood it 

 sufficiently to ascertain that these words conveyed an 

 insult. This he very properly resented, and a decided 

 challenge took place, to meet at the sheds of Clonta7f. 



The harmony of the day was not disturbed by this 

 event so common in Ireland, and on board a king's 

 ship of war. At twelve o'clock our party went on 

 shore. Brian having first, by the first Lieutenant's 

 permission, given the seamen a double allowance of 

 grog and ten guineas to hire a fiddler and a French 

 horn. 



At six o'clock Brian had to meet the old Tarpaulin, 

 and prepared accordingly. First he lodged Sally 

 safely under the care of old Darcy, in Earl Street. 

 And secondly, he bore up for Merrion Square, w^here 

 he found Sir Shawn O'Dogherty anxiously waiting 

 his appearance. He had heard of the upset, and that 

 Tom Evans was drowned, but knew no further; he 



