GUNS AND GUN-MAKING. 179 



to cross the estuary for spring-water, and set out 

 accordingly for a supply, accompanied by a wild-looking 

 and nondescript animal who infests the premises, 

 who is known to the establishment by the name 

 of ' Ackil' The river was flooded, the evening stormy, 

 and Peeterein, after leaving his coadjutor in strict charge 

 of the skiff, set off to fill his water vessels, and to return, 

 if possible, before the dusk had fallen into darkness. 

 Achil, as the evening was chilly, lay down in the 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. Mean- 

 while 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 comfort- 

 ably 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 hare 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 



