A DAY UP THE RIVER. 1^7 



nothing," said Slievan, convulsive! y griping 

 the boat-hook. 



" Sit down and be quiet, you stupid fool, 

 and be thankful that there is a wiser head 

 than yours in the boat ! " 



By this time victory had begun to declare 

 itself. The battle, which hitherto had swayed 

 pretty equally to the north and south alter- 

 nately, as either party had mustered their 

 strength, or, rousing their courage, had 

 executed a fresh charge, now took a decided 

 leaning towards the latter quarter. Some of 

 the Maguires began to look behind them, 

 some began to stand by to take breath ; and 

 though, excited by the screaming encourage- 

 ment of the women, they turned and fought 

 again, yet inch by inch they lost ground, till 

 at once, with a loud and simultaneous yell, 

 they broke and fled. 



But there was little or no pursuit, and no 

 apparent vindictiveness : the victors stood in 

 groups, leaning on their sticks, amid the 

 shouts of the spectators ; the vanquished 

 slunk quietly away ; while some half-dozen 

 M'M anuses came leaping and hoorooing 

 along the eel- weir, which had been the scene 

 of the Captain's exploits that morning, took 



