300 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST 



himself with a servant, who professed an acquaintance 

 with the language of the country, he made his will, and 

 took a place in the Westport Mail. He reached the 



post-town of in safety, and from it proceeded to 



cross that wild and picturesque mountain-chain which 

 bounds the beautiful shores of Lough Corrib. 



" It was late in autumn : the weather had been wet, 

 and, owing to the difficulty of the bridle-roads, the 

 traveller was benighted some miles' distance from the 

 house that he had calculated upon reaching. Unable 

 to proceed farther, he reluctantly took up his quarters 

 at a shebeine-house. It was but a sorry caravansera — 

 but nothing could surpass the apparent kindness of the 

 family. Supper was prepared ; the best bed was sheeted, 

 and when the belated stranger had sufficiently refreshed 

 himself, he was conducted to an inner room, where, 

 at his own request, the servant was also accommodated 

 with a pallet. 



" Yet, notwithstanding the marked civility of the 

 family, the stranger could not overcome a secret appre- 

 hension of impending danger. It was a wild place — 

 a wilder family ; he feared that treachery lurked under- 

 neath this studied kindness ; and, as he tossed upon 

 his restless bed, he listened with painful anxiety to every 

 sound. Midnight came ; the outer door was opened 

 cautiously — several men entered the kitchen with 

 stealthy pace — they conversed in their native language, 

 his name was mentioned, and himself was, beyond doubt, 

 the subject of this nocturnal conversazione. Crawling 

 in an agony of apprehension to the pallet where his 

 attendant lay, he awoke the sleeper, intimated his 

 suspicions in a whisper, and desired him to report 

 faithfully the midnight colloquy in the outer chamber. 



