194 FRESH ARRIVALS. 



no great Catholic it is true ! for she owned to me last Saint 

 John's and she hearty at the time that she was in debt 

 four stations at Ball, and three and twenty at Croagh Patrick ! 

 She was, the crature, a fine warrant for a promise, but the 

 worst performer under the canopy of heaven She'll never/ 5 

 said the old man, with his own peculiar chuckle, " clear scores 

 with the Reek and Father Nolan. In troth, I think it would 

 almost puzzle Bobby !"* 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



Fresh arrivals The priest's reception The lodge alarmed Preparations 

 for deer-stalking State of the garrison The mountain lake The 

 peasant's adventure The ravine and red-deer A Highland amhuscade 

 The catastrophe. 



IF a man were obliged to chronicle with brevity the leading 

 events of our terra incognita, I would advise him to reduce 

 them to " arrivals and departures." As the door is never 

 locked, the stream of visiters is incessant. Every man coming 

 from " the corners of the earth " drops in with a " God save 

 ail here !" This is the Shibboleth of Ballacroy ; the accre- 

 dited letter of introduction, and, better for the traveller still, a 

 full acquittance for meat, drink, and lodging. 



This morning we have had an illiterative arrival a piper, 

 a pedler, and a priest. Although I place them according to 

 their order of approach, I need scarcely say that the last, 



* This extraordinary being lived at the foot of Croagh Patrick, and 

 was the first performer (religious) of his day, in Connaught. He generally 

 resided at the house of a neighbouring gentleman ; and when a pilgrim 

 visitor was discouraged by the acclivity of the hill, or the quantity of 

 prayers to be got over, Bobby, for a consideration, undertook and executed 

 the task. He was not only a harmless, but, as may be well imagined, a 

 very useful personage ; and his death has left a blank which has never 

 yet' been filled. 



The remains of poor Bobby, at his own request, were transported to 

 the summit of the mountain, and deposited on the apex of Croagh 

 Patrick, where he had so often and so usefully performed. As he was 

 laid where no other body rested, the line intended for Sir John Mooie f 

 would be probably more applicable to the hermit : 



" They left him alone with his glory! " 



