Lakes of Killarney. 411 



had quitted them but a few minutes, when I 

 heard a cry of Murder ! Murder ! I hastened 

 back to the spot, and had the mortification of 

 seeing our boat swept down the stream with 

 incredible velocity, and soon carried out of my 

 sight. The frantic actions and expressions of 

 the boatmen were truly tragi-comic. The loss 

 of the boat unfortunately involved the loss of 

 their clothes also ; in feeling for them, we 

 forgot ourselves cut off from all means of 

 reaching Dennis Island, we were ignorant of 

 any quarter whence we could hope relief; 

 and the men were so confounded, we could 

 gain no information from them as to what was 

 best to be done. We did not, however, continue 

 long in this perplexity, before we were relieved 

 from our embarrassment by the arrival of Mr. 

 Herbert's keeper, who had followed us to the 

 island in a small boat, and had witnessed our 

 disaster. He brought us also the agreeable 

 intelligence that our boat was safe. Our first 

 care was to reclothe and refresh our boatmen 

 this accomplished, they were disposed for 

 an immediate return ; we by no means con- 

 curred in their wishes; but to attempt the Wear 

 again was hopeless. During the absence of 

 the men, I was employed in examining the 

 shore and passage to the bridge. From a point 

 in the river to which the small boat could easily 



