, 1859-05-13

oTluBe vi my way nome. Inc buamc seemed
like silver, and the woods were shining in the
do to stay here says 10 myself; and gave
touch Of the heel to my copalLeen, and away went
Playful, as If he was shod with quicksilver We
kept on most rapid, till we came anear the an
shint abbey Of Ballynadroghid. Bcdad, began
to feel quare, thinking Of the oud times, and the
stories Of the good people, and all Of q suddint,
what should hear but the cry Of hounds, as If
ding.d0ng after the mOderun ruOd. 'Troth, they
must be the Dunhallow foxh0unds,' thinks /;
and e'they are brave packto be running so
hard At this hour Of the day : for the cry was
rs fine Is ever came from the throat Of hound.
As I rode along, Playful seemed very skittish,
and. as the hunt drew near, seemed to get very
restive, and trembled like. lcould not make out
what was the matter, for he always took kindly
to hounds, and was soothing him as well rs l
could, when slap across the road ran fox, with
fire flashing from his eyes, and tail like the
burning star in the skies, and he breathing fire
from his mouth. thought the sight would lave
me. Well plump after him came the pack in full
chase, and every hound was black as pitch, with
fiery ewes, like hot Goals, in their heads. One
horseman rode on big black horse, and, murder
in Irish he had no head; but, to do him justice,
he had as good hands as ever held bride, and as
fine safe as ever pressed pig-skin. The fox
turned Of the road close TO me, and the pack fol-
lowed in good style. Twas glorious to hear the
sweet music rousing the echoes Of CouraInore
woods, and given back from the broad face Of
Nagle's mountains. When the poor, headlcss
horseman Jumped his hunter over the double gap,
he gave one turn in the saddle, and, think, 70
the best of my belief he waved his hand, as il
inviting me to follow. felt sir, addressing mel
that the credit Of the house was at stake, TO say
nothing Of Playful; SO my blood was up.
Never say 1t again, my hero,' says l. laid
down the basket, fair and aisy-I know where IL
is. Now, then, Copalleen, and ! turned him
short at IL There's no use refusing. my boy,
says |, you know you can do it if you like; 50
let them sec we can follow ourselves There's
nothing like talking to your horse, gintlemen--
he feels proud Of your diseoorsing him; and
Playful took me at my word. In minute, We
were alongside Of the black horse, and had an
opportunity Of pcrcciving that his rider carried
his head right under his leff shoulder. The
black horse was splendid thoroughbred, full
sixteen hands high, and sure jumper. The
hounds went at rafting pace, and Playful was on
his mettle, and kept well up with the pack. We
took all the cross fences in Upper Couramore,
and were fencing towards Templemore, when q
brook Of running water came in sight put
Playful stiff at it; he gathered himself well to-
gether. and few OVER in gallant style. The black
horse stood stock stiil without leapng H. and the
hounds gave up the hunt, and crowded round the
headless huntSman, who clapped his head on his
neck, and spoke naturally to me: Paddy Flynn,
says he, I'm ctarnally obligated to you. broke
my neck jumping this stream hundred years ago
and was doomed l0r my sins to haunt this cOun-
try once year, until met $ INC dacent sporting
90ssOOn, with pluck enough to follow my track,
and ride q hunt with me. Often and often met
with towards, but tonight had the luck to fall
in with man. Ny poor bones can now rest in
the grave, and l shall haunt the earth no more.
You are entitled u all the good can bcstow.
Fear no man; mind your place. Your master,
though hot (his very worlS your honor) and
hasty al times, Is one OF the ould stock, and al
ways listens to rayson. Tell him what has KEEP
you, and don't be aieared. II he should dis
charge you, tell me when next you soc me-
With these words he, his horse, and hounds van
ished in fash Of fire, and the next place found
myself was sitting on the settle-bed at Norry
Moloncy's sheebecn-house, where they had the
impertnencc to tell me had slept for five hours,
and wanted to charge me for five dandies Of
punch"
"wsll, now, who has won the bet, gentlemeni" 2"
asked the doctor, triumphantly. tacitly acqui.
esced in the verdict that had lost; and the doc
tor handed the crown TO Paddy.
l procured the basket and its contchts quite
safe next day at the public-house, but was una
bic TO send Paddy on an errand while penny
piece jngled In his pocket for had done 50,
would surely DO treated to new and improved
account Of his marvellous hunt with the Haunted
Huntsman.