BALL IN A. 251 



constabulary, who after a bit of a scrimmage with 

 them lodged them in quod, and thus the town was 

 saved from destruction, which at one time seemed 

 imminent. I never saw fellows pelt stones like them. 

 It so happened that there were heaps of stones on 

 the sides of the street, which had been taken from the 

 river ; in fact, pebbles such as David delighted to put 

 in his sling, and such as he shot Goliath of Gath with, 

 and which in the present instance were just the kind 

 of article for what Paddy calls hurling. Wild as Paddy 

 is when full of " thrink " he's a very decent fellow 

 when sober, and one of his good qualities is that he 

 is as a rule honest ; indeed, during the years I used 

 to frequent Ballina, I don't think I ever heard of 

 anything like stealing. 



On one occasion that I went with some friends 

 to Ballina to fish we were sadly put to it for accom- 

 modation ; the only inn that was fit to put a pig in 

 was not able to take us all in, and, as we did not 

 wish to be separated, and thinking ourselves all jolly 

 good fellows, after much scheming we resolved to 

 hire a half-finished house. Accordingly, we made our 

 arrangements, got some bedding and other necessary 

 articles, and took possession of what might be called 

 the bare walls. There was a front door all in the 



