THE EAGLE S CLIFF. 129 



persecuted by winged and footed vermin as this wild 

 district. Of smaller birds of prey there is a plentiful 

 variety ; but the devastations of the greater tribe cause 

 their minor larcenies to be unnoticed. 



With a light leading breeze, we stood across the bay, 

 passed the Island of Devilawn, and, running through 

 a sound, which separates Tarmon from Inniskea, came-to 

 at the distance of a quarter of a mile from the landing- 

 place. It was low water, and the boats were all hauled 

 up upon the beach. Even in the calmest weather 

 the greatest caution is requisite to protect them from 

 the heavy and sudden swells that eternally break on 

 this wild coast ; and, if left within the reach of the surf, 

 they are frequently stove before the careless crew are 

 aware of danger. Anxious to land, we fired a gun, 

 and, being upon an excellent bank for spillet-fishing, 

 the boatmen adjusted their buoys, and commenced 

 throwing their lines overboard. 



I was watching the progress made by a dozen of the 

 islanders to launch a row-boat to the water, when 

 suddenly, from beneath the opposite cliff, a floating 

 substance appeared to issue from the side of the preci- 

 pice. We had neared the shore considerably, and the 

 object, of which I had previously but an indistinct 

 view, was now more clearly seen. It was a woman 

 sitting in a curragh, fishing for codling and gunners. 

 Startled by the discharge of the musket, she pulled a 

 short distance from the cliffs, and then lay- to upon her 

 paddles, watching the hooker as she shot the spillets. 



*' These lazy lubbers will be half-an-hour getting that 

 heavy row-boat across the sand-ridge," said my kins- 

 man. '* Hail the curragh, Pattigo, and let us get ashore." 



To the shout of the skipper, a '' cead fealtagh," was 



K 



