74 THE OTTER HUNTER. 



who had been working in the weeds, put out the largest 

 bitch I ever saw : I fired at her, but she was too far from 

 me, and away she went across the Lough, and Badger and 

 Venom after her. She rose at last ; Badger griped her, and 

 down went dog and otter. They remained so long under 

 water, that I was greatly afraid the dog was drowned ; but, 

 after a while, up came Badger. Though I was right glad 

 to see my dog, I did not like to lose the beast ; and I knew, 

 from the way that Badger's jaws were torn, that there 

 had been a wicked struggle at the bottom. Well, I encou- 

 raged the dog, and when he had got his breath again, he 

 dived down nothing daunted, for he was the best tarrier 

 ever poor man was master of. Long as he had been before 

 at the bottom, he was twice longer now. The surface 

 bubbled, the mud rose, and the water became black as ink : 

 ' Ogh ! murder/ says I, ' Badger, have I lost ye ?' and I 

 set-to clapping my hands for trouble, and Venom set up the 

 howl as if her heart was broke. When, blessed be the 

 Maker of all ! up comes Badger with the otter griped by 

 the neck. The bitch swam over to help him, and I waded 

 to the middle, and speared and landed the beast. Well, then 

 I examined her, she had her mouth full of ould roots and 

 moss, for she had fastened on a stump at the bottom, and 

 the poor dog was sorely put-to to make her break her hold. 

 I mind it well : 1 sold the skin in Galway, and got a gold 

 guinea for it." 



" Was that the night you met the fairies ?" 



" Stay, Master Julius ; I'm coming to that. Well, three 

 otters were a heavy load, and I had four long miles to travel 

 before I could reach Morteein Crassagh's.* The master 

 knows the house well. The night was getting dark, and 

 it's the worst ground in Connaught. Well, I was within 

 a mile of Morteein's, when it became as black as pitch ; and 

 I had the shaking bog to cross, that you can hardly pass 

 in daytime, where, if a man missed his way, he would 

 be swallowed up in a moment. The rain began, and the 

 poor dogs were famished with cold and hunger. God ! 

 I was sure I must stay there, starving till the morning ; 

 when on a sudden, little lights danced before me, and 

 showed me the hard tammocks as plain as if the sun was 



* Martin with the rough face. 



