THE BLIND SEAL. 45 



his retaining an unclean beast about his habitation — 

 the harmless and amusing seal. It must be made away 

 with directly, or the crippawn would continue, and her 

 charms be unequal to avert the malady. The super- 

 stitious wretch consented to the hag's proposal ; and the 

 seal was put on board a boat, carried out beyond Clare 

 Island, and there committed to the deep, to manage 

 for himself as he best could. The boat returned, the 

 family retired to rest, and next morning a servant 

 awakened her master to tell him that the seal was quietly 

 sleeping in the oven. The poor animal overnight came 

 back to his beloved home, crept through an open window, 

 and took possession of his favourite resting-place. 



** Next morning another cow was reported to be 

 unwell ; and the seal must now be finally removed, 

 A Gal way fishing-boat was leaving Westport on her 

 return home, and the master undertook to carry off 

 the seal, and not put him overboard until he had gone 

 leagues beyond Innis Boffin. It was done ; a day and 

 night passed ; the second evening closed ; the servant 

 was raking the fire for the night ; something scratched 

 gently at the door — it was, of course, the house-dog — 

 she opened it, and in came the seal ! Wearied with 

 his long and unusual voyage, he testified, by a peculiar 

 cry expressive of pleasure, his delight to find himself 

 at home ; then stretching himself before the glowing 

 embers of the hearth, he fell into a deep sleep. 



'* The master of the house was immediately apprised 

 of this unexpected and unwelcome visit. In the 

 exigency, the beldame was awakened and consulted : 

 she averred that it was always unlucky to kill a seal, 

 but suggested that the animal should be deprived of 

 sight and a third time carried out to sea. To this 



