The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-12-08
,Sfle1t q u lc.
THE ARMAGH MARAUDERS;
1RoMTHE NOTES oFA TRAVEL
BY sYLvANus COBB, JR.
THE BESIEGED COT.

~-
.lag At Dublin met my old friend from
London, Thomas Elwell He was on his
way to Londonderry, and was very anx-
ious that should accompany him. He
was agent for one of the metropolitan
scompanies who owned most of the land
10 that county, aud was going up on bu-
siness; and as soon as this business was
done he meant to spend few weeks in
! hunting and fishing. had great de-
sire to visit the north of ireland, and as
this proposition suited me- accepted it.
But | could not go directly on with El-
e well and his party, AS was obliged to
, wait at Dublin for important letters; so itI
was arranged that | should meet them at
Ballyronan, on the western shore of
Loughq Neagh, sometime within two
!, weeks. . Fl essa afr
But my letters did not come as l had
!, expected, I had to wait eight days for
them, and then / had to go to Wexford
Ito attend to a trust given me by one of
my correspondents; so that it was over
two weeks before was prepared to set
out However, got started at length
Il took q packet for Belfast, and from
= thence I found conveyance by stage.
When reached Ballyronan found a
letter there for me from Ewell, in which
Twas informed that they had waited for
me as long as they could, and that /
4 shoald find them ten miles south of there
= nearthe shore of the lake; and I was fur
ther Informed that one of the boatmen
would take me directly to their abode
~ found the boatmen to whom I had
been recommended, and we had pleas
4 ant rnn down the lake. I found my
friends occupying small cottage, upon a
wild, romantic spot. about half mile
from the waters edge, from whence could
be-obtained a fine view Of Lough Neagh..
The boatrnan was in hurry. SO he SIM
! ply pointed out to me the place. and then
started on his return. i should have in
sisted upon his stopping, but I saw Ell
well himself upon a rocky eminence not far
..sof. and being thus assured that all was
j safe, ! let the fellow go. Ny friend had
1 seen me land, and he came down to meet
me, and conducted me to his quarters,
where Il found Matthew and Theodore
= Croft, two brothers who had come up
from London partly to help their friend
arrange his business, and partly for sport.
They had had excellent lack at shooting,
: and they had also taken some of the finest
q salmon / had ever seen. A splendid din
q ssner was soon served, and when that was
! = disposed of we took our guns and went
/ out. 4, s'....t. -.
~ dust at sundown we returned to the
cot. and as our cook, an honest Wexford
man, by the name Of Pat Collins, was pre-
paring supper, the boatman, who, had
uBbroaghtime down the lake. made his ap-
.Aipeafance,s and took ElweH aside. I saw
: there was something important on the
J, docket but / was busy with my gun, and
laI paid little eEattention, to it, When Elwell
. came back, however, 4 judged that the
!! matter, was serious, for he looked trou-
bled and uneasy. -. - !. ','i
20 The; There's Sill likely to be trouble in the
camp" he said. = - = = -.
..v : ! asked him what had happened. .ab
ai1 ~ have had intimations of this before. y
he resumed, taking a seat by my side,
10 while Pat drew near TO hear ai have
received partial warnings, but they were
not OF such character that 1 thought it
! worth whileito take NO tice. of them. Now
5 however, the aspect Of affairs has chang
n'ed. , and I feat we shall have trouble. /
am sorry you come. for your visit !" q
.NOE ltoppedI him oand sbade him allow
awshtodiook ont for myself after be had