108 LANDING. 



I shuddered as I looked over the hooker's side at this crazy 

 vehicle ; it was but a few slight hoops, secured together by 

 cords, and overlaid by a covering of canvass, rendered water- 

 proof by a coating of tar arid tallow. The machine was so 

 unsubstantial, that a schoolboy could carry it easily upon his 

 shoulders. Nor was its fragility alone that which rendered 

 this bark so perilous ; from its peculiar construction, it scarcely 

 rested on the surface of the sea ; and, consequently, the least 

 change of position in the occupant, would inevitably capsize 

 it ; and yet in this frail vessel the young islander sat in perfect 

 security, a couple of hand-lines coiled at her feet, and the 

 bottom of the curragh overspread with the produce of her 

 fishery. Without the romance of Scott's beautiful boatwoman, 

 there was something more than interesting in the air and look 

 of this wild female. Free from that timidity which might be 

 expected in the inhabitant of a remote coast, on her first 

 introduction to strangers of a different grade in society, she 

 laughed and jested with the boatmen ; and the play of her 

 merry hazel eye, and the smile which disclosed a row of pure 

 and even teeth, had really more in them to captivate, than 

 the cold and regular charms of many a high-born beauty. 



" We must land singly," said my cousin ; "for your curragh 

 is but a crank concern. Mind how you step in, Frank." But 

 I had already determined against an embarkation, and accord- 

 ingly declined the honour of being first adventurer. My 

 timidity only excited the mirth of the sea-nymph ; and, 

 unwilling to be laughed at by a woman, I took courage, and 

 cautiously committed my person to the skiff; a change of 

 position was of course necessary on the lady's part, and this 

 she managed with such adroitness, that the equilibrium of the 

 coracle was undisturbed. In a moment, her sculls were 

 flashing in the waters, and we speedily reached the strand. 



The rowing-boat was now afloat, and pulling to the hooker 

 to bring off my kinsman. My sea-nymph tossed her fish and 

 paddles to a little boy, who was expecting her, received with 

 a low curtsey the silver I presented as my passage-money, 

 and, having returned her small purse to her bosom, she threw 

 the curragh across her back, and left me, invoking tf God to 

 bless my honour." 



The boat returned my cousin and our guns ; and while the 

 dinner requisites were being brought ashore, we strolled towards 

 the side of a hill, where we observed a number of rabbits at 



