19^ THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THE ERNE. 



lowed by a furious west wind and a banking 

 up of the waters in the narrow strait. 



" The Maguires were encamped upon the 

 great island, which was their stronghold, and 

 throughout the long and stormy ni^ht did 

 they sit on the bank watching the palladium 

 of their family. Women were weeping, men 

 were trembling, priests were invoking every 

 saint in the Irish calendar ; but still the 

 waters rose and rose, and the little island 

 grew small, and smaller still. There was 

 hope yet ; for the slightest lull in the wind, 

 the slightest alteration in its direction, would 

 have permitted the waves to roll back. But 

 it was not to be. As the day broke, the 

 gale, instead of diminishing, increased in 

 fury ; and when the sun rose on the dis- 

 mayed and affrighted clan, the island of 

 their destinies was lost beneath the waves." 



" The Coles seem fully alive to the con- 

 sequences of a second submersion," said the 

 Captain ; " but their precautions are more 

 in accordance with the genius of the nine- 

 teenth century. They seem to have trusted 

 less to prayer, and more to brick and mortar. 

 There is a good strong wall built now round 

 the holy island." 



