336 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



possibly kindled that of my grandsire ; old John has 

 probably performed the ceremony for him : thus the 

 kindlier offices are continued, and * thus runs the word 

 away.* — Who," — and he stopped, evidently embarrassed 

 at some passing thought — ** Who shall say that the cere- 

 monial bestowed upon the wandering otter-killer may not 

 be refused to the last descendant of a line of centuries ! *' 



I would have interrupted these melancholy fore- 

 bodings, but just then, from the lofty brow of an inland 

 hill, which I had frequently observed before, a light 

 appeared, first faintly struggling, but presently redden- 

 ing to the sight ; and two fires in Achil, in a time of 

 incredible briefness, flung their deep glow across the 

 waters, and, as I afterwards remarked, were repeated 

 for miles along the coast and high grounds. 



The rapidity with which the beal-fire was replied 

 to, evidently pleased my kinsman's family vanity ; and 

 with higher spirits, we watched the lights tremble in 

 the windows of the Lodge, until these stella minor es 

 directed our voyage to its termination. 



The Colonel and his companion were waiting for us 

 on the pier ; they insisted on adding to our supper 

 some of the fish which we had brought home — and 

 while this was being done, my cousin and myself entered 

 the wake, to pay our last duties to the departed otter- 

 killer. 



To give additional iclat to his funeral rites, the corpse 

 had been removed to the barn, which, from its unusual 

 size, was well-fitted to admit the numerous mourners 

 who would attend the ceremony. Upon a rude bier 

 the old man rested, and the trap and fishing-rod were, 

 by a fancy of Hennessey, placed above his head. The 

 barn was filled, but immediate room was made for 



