SIGNS OF FISH. 141 



outre countenance, surmounted by a scarlet nightcap ! 

 The effect was sudden, for till now a rock had concealed 

 him from the boats. Instantly the women screamed, 

 and the men betrayed unequivocal symptoms of dismay. 

 But when the dwarf, remarking their alarm, skipped 

 upon the stone, and uttered a wild, unearthly yell, 

 which reverberated from rock to rock, the boats put 

 about directly, and abandoned the Fair of Newport ; 

 men and women, with one consent, made off for their 

 respective homes as fast as four oars could carry them. 

 The awful intelligence was promulgated with incredible 

 rapidity through Erris and Ballycroy. The same 

 Leprehawn who was seen the year before the French* 

 had reappeared, to harbinger, no doubt, some local or 

 national calamity. To this day the credulity of the 

 islanders has never been disabused, and Tom's uncouth 

 face and scarlet nightcap are often fearfully expected 

 to rise over the rocks by the belated fisherman, as he 

 runs through its dangerous opening to shelter for the 

 night in Achil Sound. 



The Bull's Mouth is rarely entered but with flood- 

 water or a powerful leading wind ; and the southern 

 outlet of the Sound at Achil Beg is similarly circum- 

 stanced. These straits are deep and dangerous, for 

 through them the waters which flow from Blacksod 

 and Clew Bay, and fill this extensive channel and its 

 surrounding estuaries, rush with amazing violence ; 

 and the rapidity with which the tides enter and recede 

 is frightful. The opposing currents flow nearly north and 

 south, and meet and separate at the ruins of an ancient 

 salt-house. Here, the old mountain-road terminated, 



* The landing of the French is a common epoch among the 

 inhabitants of Ballycroy. Ask a peasant his age and he will probably 

 tell you, " he was born two or three years before or after the French." 



