276 LIFE IN IRELAND 



friend Bkian, who clapped his hands with glee, and 

 received from the Y icQ-Ving Jifty p 02 ends in damages. 



A bear-bait next took place, and amongst the dogs 

 was Grammachree's favourite Ball : here there could 

 be very little amusement, for all was noise and riot. 

 Bad luck to your soul, said a hungry-looking hound 

 from Kilkenny to Brian Boru — bad luck to your soul, 

 you thief of the world, why did you touch my dog? 

 I did not, said Brian, intentionally. You lie, said 

 Kilkenny. Thank you, retorted Brian, and instantly 

 knocked him down. Here was an end to baiting the 

 bear ; a ring was formed, and our hero immediately 

 doffed his togs, and so did the newly risen Kilkenny 

 boy. Sir Shawn stood by, and so did the Lord Luff 

 and Grammachree, as backers. All the blackguards 

 backed the growler^ and to it they went. Every hit 

 of Brian's told ; he had been taught by the Galway 

 smugglers, and had as much art as strength : after 

 fifteen minutes' hard work, he had closed the Kilkenny 

 boy's left peeper, stove in two of his ribs, and cracked 

 the small bone of his arm : these symptoms made the 

 lad give in, and he acknowledged he was beat, because 

 he could not stand, or see, or move off his second's 

 knee. 



Great applause was showered on Brian by all the 

 company ; a black eye and a broken nose was all the 

 damage he had received ; and as the fellow was a crack 

 swell amongst the ' break of day boys,' Brian's triumph 

 so complete was very mortifying to them, and pleasing 

 to all who were not blackguards. 



On turning to receive his coat, waistcoat, and hat, 

 they were nowhere to be found ; the fellow^ who took 



