Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-26

SHAWN. oF THE HAG's HOLE.
ICoNCLUDED.1


head of the pathway leading to the cavern for
the approach Of the military.
After spending about three fours in feverish
expectation, having risen for about the sixth
time to refresh my limbs and my head in the
ceol breeze, L spied at distance the approach
of the military. They were coming by line
of read considerably to the left of the village,
and were bringing with them a stranger, appa-
rently in the character of guide. Our mes
senger was also with them. After the usual
salutatiOns, their officer informed US that they
bad searched every house on their way, where
they thought it possible the object of our pur-
suit could be lurking; that they were not able
to discover any traces Of him, and had hired
the stranger to lead them to the place of rem.
devious. Some advised to procure boats, and
go round to the front of the cavern by sea;
others, that we should descend at once by the
pathway, d.wn which the guide professed his
utter inability to lead them After some dis
cussion, il was proposed that / should act as
leader, which my pride prevented me from re-
fusing; although, to tell the truth, the speci-
men / had enjoyed that night Of the honor to
be derived from such an expedition did not
much encourage me. To decline, however,
would have argued cowardice.
But how were we to be arranged NY
knowledge Of the localities about here now
came to my assistance. / remembered that
there was projecting rock about pistol
shot from the mouth Of the cavern, aRd from
enough to allow one man to stand upon it. and
which, provided he could maintain himself in
the position with one hand woulc enable him
to observe distinctly the proceedings below,
and to fire upon any person coming cut of it
with a pistol or oarbine. The question was,
then, who would venture there The officer
could not leave his men. After some consulta-
ton, it was agreed that Mr. R, young
gentleman of considerable activity and bodily
strength, who had joined our party on the
evening before, should undertake it. Some
presence Of mind and coolness we'll as
strength, were required for this part Of the
undertaking, as the rock stood more than two
hundred feet directly over the sea, and glance
downwsrdS was quite sufficient to satisfy any
reasonable person of the practicabiity of
breaking his neck. He undertook to act his
part, and with much the same sort of grateful
feelings to my considerate friends, prepared
for mine. -Four soldiers, with their officer,
were to be my escort; seven more, with a cor
poral, and the remainder of the yolun teering
party, were to stop on the cliff and watch the
proceedings above. Just as we were about to
descend, the officer called the corporal aside,
and whispered in his ear, as be afterwards told
me- to keep close watch on their guide, whom
he had every reason TO suspect was not true
man.
then began to lead the way. Aswe should
descend with our faces to the rock it was re-
ssOlved that our guns should be fixed behind
our backs until we reached the turn in the
path. On we went, and had just descended
little below the turn, when. as L was taking
my gun rightly in my hand shril whistle
from above rang among the rocks. In a mo-
ment we had our guns fixed, and every eye
below the turn was directed towards the mouth
of the cavern. In about half a minute we OBJ
served the head of a man extended from be-
hind piece of jutting rock; and almost at the
same instant we heard the report OF gun
above us, and saw the slate and dusty gravel
of the rock dashed about the face, which dis
appeared before we could learn whether or not
ii was hit.
No sooner had heard the shot, when the
officer cried, Now, my lads, down upon
them" We rolled, tumbled, slid, jumped,
down the remainder of the path, and were
at the mouth Of the cavern before we would
have thought it possible the minute before.
To cock our guns, present bayOnets, and charge
was the work of moment-we were IN the
centre of the cavern.
ssHoly Vargin and blessed Saints denied
us" cried shrill, squeaking voice, from one
side of the strange retreat. blessed Mother
keep us-whats this at all at ali?''
sHoIlo, my old lady" cried the officer;
sswhere are you2 Come out my old damsel,
and let Us get glimpse of you" And SO say
ing, he, with one or two of the soldiers, groped
his way towards the side from whence the voice
proceeded.
''Oh, what are yees at all at all? Sure, an
| thought it was my own Mick that was coming
home to me, and driving the cows before him,
God bless him. Oh, thin, what
Cows. my good friend" said the officer.
How the devil could cows get here; unless
they were sea calves, you mean!'
Och, thin, sure enough; but thought
was at home; an where am /, my jewel; an
who aro yees?"
Why, first and foremost you are in posses
SIGN Of his Majesty the kings troops; and we
are come here TO take and possess ourselves of
the person Of man called Shawn Buie, if you
know such an one"
SHAWN Buie. Is ii him that was drownded
at the cliffs Of the Mahir you mane?-an' it IL
be long before yees find him"
Indeed I'm thinking so, with you for our
guide" said one of the men, $50 think we
must put you out Of our way for a while"
Thur q mon dioul,' said a voice from be-
hind; and at the same moment the soldier stag
gered back beneath blow from the direction
in which the voice came. A figure darted to
the mouth of the cavern; several shots were
fred after him; but the darkness and the smoke
prevented correct aim. A plunge into the sea
was heard, and We all rushed out. He had
dived, and the direction which he had taken
under water We could not at once perceive.
The noise Of the shoa below had awakened the
attention Of those above, and now every eye
was strained to mark the spot when he rose.
"wurrah sthru, wurrah sthru! will yees
7
never did hurt nor harm to bsste nor Chris
THAN? Let him alone, I say agin; or I'll
be the death of yees-you red lobster ~
said the old hag, who, at the first alarm,
had sprung up, and following rs out, had seized
hold Of the officer by the throat One of the
soldiers struck her with the butt end Of his
musket, to make her let 60 her hold; and in
return received a blow from stone on the
head, which leveled him with the earth The
row now became general. Several soldiers
fred into the cavern at once. Acry was heard
followed by deep groan. For moment
felt horrifsd; and would have given my best
Bigby that we had not fred. The next thing
however, was to see what work we had done
We groped our way in, unmolested by the poel
old woman, whom the violence Of the blow
and the cry of the wounded person had quite
oyercome-she had tainted. After short time
we found the body Of little boy, who wa
sent with the fugitive from the dancing party
few Sundays before. The poor little fellow
was quite dead-he had been shot through The
heart
In the mean time, our friends above kept
sharp look out. As soon rs Shawn Buie hat
risen 10 the surface Of the water, he was salutet
of, skafrv which