MY COUSIN'S HENCHMEN. 83 



was scarcely visible above the swollen and discoloured stream. 

 The flood is gone ; the river has recovered its silvery hue, and 

 no traces of yesterday's violence appear, save the huge 

 masses of turf left by the receding waters on the shore, which, 

 from their size, prove how fierce the torrent was when at its 

 height. 



We have been expecting anxiously a messenger with the 

 post-bag, for three days have elapsed since its last arrival. 

 There will be an accumulation of newspapers. What a 

 treasure they would have been yesterday ! Ha ! there is 

 a bustle in the outer cabin ; no doubt an arrival. It is the 

 messenger, 



I never saw finer samples of the mountain peasantry than 

 this man and his brother exhibit. They are scarcely to be 

 known asunder ; young, particularly handsome, five feet 

 eleven inches, light, active, clean-limbed, perfect specimens 

 of strength and symmetry combined ; good-hurnoured, in- 

 defatigable, and obliging, submissive to the Master's nod, 

 and yet the boldest and handiest boys in Ballycroy. I some- 

 times look after my kinsman as he strides over the moors 

 with his handsome henchmen at his back. He walks as 

 if the province was his own ; bold, and careless, and con- 

 fident no wonder those wild fellows are his fosterers, and 

 they would shed the last drop of their blood for " the Master/ 

 if he required it. 



This fidelity and devotion on the one side, is requited by 

 kindness and protection on the other. These men have lived 

 about the Lodge from boyhood and they come and depart as 

 they please. At spring and harvest- times they repair to the 

 village where their parents reside, to assist the old couple and 

 the girh in getting the potatoes in and out of ground ; they 

 tend the cattle in the mountains when requisite, and pass the 

 remainder of the year following the Master to the moors or to 

 the river, catching fish, netting rabbits, or killing wild-fowl 

 in the winter; and dancing, drinking, and fighting on holiday, 

 and festivals, as becomes good men and loyal subjects. 



When they marry for Malthus and restrictions upon 

 population are no more recognised in Erris, than the Pope is 

 by a modern Methodist they will obtain a patch of mountain 

 from their patron, erect a cabin, construct a still, and setting 

 political dogmas at defiance, then and there produce most 

 excellent whisky, and add to the " seven millions" considerably. 



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