Hzmgry Hole. 163 



neck of the bottle, as I really needed something to 

 help to carry me back to our lodgings, and I think 

 that I got Mrs. Robertson at last to share the con- 

 tents of the broken-necked bottle, as it seemed to be 

 no punishment to the grocer to throw it away ; but 

 had it not been paid for before he refused to draw the 

 cork I certainly would have allowed him to keep his 

 beer." 



It is fair to observe that Mrs. Robertson does not 

 admit the accuracy of that part of the account which 

 describes her as condescending to share the contents 

 of the bottle. Nearly a quarter of a century has 

 elapsed since the event. There were no independent 

 witnesses of the transaction. An impartial historian, 

 however, must not conceal a circumstance which indi- 

 rectly bears upon the disputed question. After the 

 example of the old voyagers, who gave names of such 

 significance as Port Famine, Desolation Bay, and Cape 

 Tribulation, Mrs. Robertson stigmatized the village of 

 the churlish grocer as "Hungry Hole." Now hunger, 

 they say, does not come into prominence in the 

 greatest straits of the human frame until thirst has 

 been in some measure allayed. 



Little satisfied with their entertainment at Annochie, 

 they now went in search of the clay deposit. This 

 was not easily found, as the tile-making at the place 

 'had long ceased. But they had the good fortune to 

 meet with the farmer in whose field the work had been 

 carried on. He showed them the old workings, and 

 pointed out some curious circumstances which had 

 been observed by himself and corroborated, he said, 

 by professional men. 



