270 LIFE IN IRELAND 



flowed from their necks in various ways; their tails 

 were all greased, and he that caught one, and held him 

 fast, was to be entitled to a medal, and the amount of 

 his bet. Have you ever seen this hoggish medal? — I 

 dare say not — it is very handsome — the likeness of a 

 hog is upon one side, and on the other ' a reivard for 

 the pig catcher.'' 



Well, the brutes were all set in motion ; every soul 

 that could run, ran after them : many a slip was made, 

 and many a tumble ensued. Sir Shawn succeeded in 

 catching one, and holding him fast. Grammachree, 

 who had taken a side station, made a start, and seized 

 a fine fat fellow by the tail, aye, and held him fast; but 

 the enraged animal turned round, and with his sharp 

 tusks bit his leg in two, and left him sprawling in the 

 mire. 'Bad luck to the pig,' he roared with all his 

 might ; and every one so enjoyed his misfortune, that 

 the chase was abandoned. 



Poor Grammachree became an object of universal 

 commiseration: to set his leg was impossible; but 

 Patrick Mooney very sedately took down the bough 

 from a poplar tree, and by the help of his lamprey 

 (knife), fitted up a jolly stump, and strapped it to the 

 Major's knee. 



It is, said Pat, rather of a crooked turn, but that 

 makes it the better match for your leg of flesh and 

 blood. 



Blood and potatoe skins, said the Major, no more 

 observations, for I don't like them; if a man has got 



a broken leg, he must get a sound one, and . 



Well, we're all off, said the great man; come to the 

 Lodge, and let me entertain you for once like a 



