LOUGH DERG. 239 



errare), they were, like true Saxons, a little 

 too much given to remember the feast-days 

 of Mother Church, but not quite so diligent 

 in observing the fasts and vigils ; and accord- 

 ingly St. Nicholas, under whose patronage 

 they had hitherto prospered — (you need not 

 laugh : there is a St. Nicholas, and he is 

 the guardian of sailors, and has nothing to 

 do with the other gentleman below), — well, 

 this St. Nicholas, not altogether approving 

 of their goings on, was pleased to send them 

 a little wholesome castigation, in the appro- 

 priate shape of a shipful of piratical Danes, 

 who, being worshippers of Thor and Odin, 

 had, as may be supposed, very little re- 

 verence for the sanctity of the place, and, in 

 fact, made a pretty general clearance of the 

 whole monastery. 



" Among other articles of plunder, they 

 carried with them the pride and wonder of 

 the whole country — the great tenor bell. 

 These misfortunes seem to have brought the 

 erring fraternity to their senses, for they 

 betook themselves forthwith to their disused 

 breviaries, praying heartily to St. Nicholas, 

 while the seven remaining bells rang out 

 the very best backward peal they could get 



