228 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



distance up the hill. While he looked in the direction 

 from whence the shot appeared to have been discharged, 

 a fine, full-grown stag crossed the brow above him, 

 tottered downwards for some twenty steps, and then, 

 falling into a steep and stony ravine, rolled lifelessly 

 over, until he reached the very spot where the astonished 

 fisherman was standing. Before his surprise had time 

 to abate, a man, armed with a French gun, leaped upon 

 the bank over which the deer had fallen, and was joined 

 immediately by a companion, armed also with a fowling- 

 piece. Then, for the first time, they observed the 

 startled angler. The discovery was anything but 

 agreeable ; for, after a momentary pause, they rushed 

 down the hill together, and presenting their long guns 

 at Cooney's breast, ordered him to decamp, in terms 

 that admitted of no demur. The angler absconded 

 forthwith ; for, as he reasoned fairly enough, " a man 

 who could drive an ounce of lead through a stag's skull, 

 would find little trouble in drilling a Christian." 

 On looking round, he saw the deer-stealers place the 

 carcass on their shoulders and ascend the heights, over 

 which they quickly disappeared. The feat is almost 

 incredible, and it required an amazing effort of strength 

 and determination to transport a full-grown red-deer 

 over a precipitous mountain, which we, in light marching 

 order, and with no burden but our guns, found a 

 difficult task enough to climb. 



How did the poacher happen to be armed with a 

 French gun ? Well, when the French, under Humbert, 

 landed at Killala in the autumn of 1798, they brought 

 with them a large quantity of arms and military clothing, 

 to equip the numerous partisans they expected to have 

 found in the country. After the French general was 



