SEAL SUKPRISED. 151 



bottom of the skiff to shelter himself from the piercing east 

 wind ; and, in place of keeping watch and ward like an able 

 mariner, composed himself to sleep. Meanwhile the river 

 rose fearfully ; the breeze freshened into a gale ; and when 

 Peeterein hurried back with his water- vessels, he had the 

 satisfaction of seeing the punt half a mile down channel, 

 hurrying as fast as a flooded river and a freshening storm could 

 urge it to the bar, which now broke in thunder. I had been 

 shooting on this side, and reached the strand while Peeterein 

 was hallooing for assistance. A boat was rapidly despatched 

 the skiff, when its destruction appeared inevitable, was 

 overtaken, and Achil found as comfortably asleep as if he 

 were in his accustomed crib in the barn. The ebullitions 

 of Peeterein's sorrow, while the fate of skiff and boy was 

 still uncertain, astonished me ; and when I saw the punt in 

 tow, I observed that, as the boy was recovered, he might 

 now cease his lamentations. ' The Lord be blessed ! there 

 she is : another minute would have made noggin- staves of 

 her! Arrah! and did ye think it was Achil I was frettin 

 after the devil pursue him for an unlucky member ! No, 

 faith I was in sore distress, for my brother s shoes were 

 aboard!' " 



We were assembled round the breakfast-table this morning, 

 and it was a questionable affair whether we should pass the 

 forenoon in the warren, or shoot a spillet on the banks, 

 when the conclave was dissolved by one of those incidental 

 alarms that diversify the rustic monotony of our common- 

 place existence. The spring- tide had left the channel nearly 

 dry, and, except in some deep pools, the water was but 

 ankle-deep. Into one of these an unlucky seal had been 

 seduced in pursuit of a salmon, and his retreat was cut off 

 before he was aware that his ill-timed chasse would cause his 

 ruin. On his being discovered, a host of cockle-gatherers 

 formed across the neck of the hole, whih a breathless courier 

 brought -the tidings to the Lodge. Instantly all was bustle; 

 a salmon- net was procured, and the whole of the " Dramatis 

 Personse," even to the Colonel and the Priest, were speedily 

 armed with divers and deadly implements. Old Antony had 

 hobbled off at the first alarm, and, by the prudent plan of 

 taking time by the forelock, managed to be the first man at 



