DEPARTURE FROM CONNAUGHT. 37I 



with a crash like thunder. Nor was the calamity con- 

 fined to fallen tower and lost fuel. Alas ! several kegs 

 and ankers of contraband spirits were buried beneath 

 the walls, and the huge masses of masonry that came 

 down burst the concealed casks of Cognac and Schiedam. 



We found the warrener netting rabbits in the sand 

 banks. They were intended for sale in the interior, 

 and many dozens were already taken. Formerly the 

 skins were valuable, and a well-stocked burrow was a 

 valuable appendage to a country gentleman ; but of late 

 these furs have fallen so considerably in value, that the 

 warren does not produce a tithe of what it did " when 

 Boney, the Lord speed him ! was uppermost." Indeed, 

 many a hearty lament is made in Ballycroy for poor 

 Napoleon, and his name is ever associated with times 

 of past prosperity. 



I cannot describe the melancholy reflections which 

 crowded over my mind, as I squibbed off my barrels on 

 the beach, while the boat was crossing the channel to 

 carry us over the estuary. It was for the last time, and 

 with that thought, all the happy events I spent by 

 '' flood and fell " passed over my memory in *' shadowy 

 review." The jovial commander, the burly priest, my 

 merry cousin, the stern homicide, the ancient butler, 

 and the defunct otter-killer, all were before me. I 

 trod in fancy the banks of Pullgarrow, or couched among 

 the rocks of our highland ambuscade ; I saw the startled 

 pack spring from the purple heather, while the red deer, 



Like crested leader proud and high, 

 Toss'd his beam'd frontlet to the sky ; 

 A moment gaz'd adown the dale, 

 A moment snuff'd the tainted gale — 



and vanished in the rocky pass of Meeltramoe. My 

 imaginary wanderings continued till we landed at the 



