178 LIFE IN IRELAND 



Tarpauli?i, in reply to Sir Shawn's intercession, 

 bluntly said, ' he came to fight, and he 'd be damned 

 if he did not ' ; ' and I '11 be damned if I care,'' said 

 Brian, as he took his ground; and pistols were 

 delivered by the seconds. 



The handkerchief was dropped, and Tarpaulin fell. 

 'By Jasus he has got his mittimus,' said Gram. 'I 

 hope not,' said Sir Shawn, as he assisted in raising 

 him from the ground. ' Hold me up for another 

 shot,' said Tarpaulin ; these were the last words he 

 uttered. 'His dead lights are up, and skyiigiits dos\i,^ 

 said his second, — ' all up with Tarpaulin, haul him 

 along ; and, gentlemen, I shall be happy to meet you 

 at his funeral, which will take place to-morrow, before 

 seven bells are half struck.' 



Brian expressed his sorrow. 'For what,' said Lieu- 

 tenant Grog, ' damn me you shot him like a gentle- 

 man, and there's an end on't; what the devil do you 

 wish to kill him again ! ' 



Sir Shawn, Brian, and friends left the ground as 

 they came, and in haste to give security before the 

 Lord Mayor, in case of a charge being made : but it 

 is a rare thing in Irish Life, when charges are made 

 after the death of a bad shot, and there was now 

 little danger, as Tarpaulin's body was handed on 

 board, stitched up in a hammock, and pitched over- 

 board to feed the Dublin Bay cod, to which Dublin 

 Ladies are so partial. 



Suffice it, our whole party went to Sally Jenkinson, 

 and having unkenneled her, steered for Morrison's. 

 A fine dinner was ordered, Brian was zvell primed, as 

 predetermined upon, whiskey drives away sorrow, and 



