Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-02-21
THE IRISH INFORMER.

call Sutherland, was several years
ago shooting one day on the noun
tains of Innishowen. The wea
ther, which had been dark and
cloudy all the morning, threaten
ing rain, had finally settled down
into thick heavy mist as the eve
ming closed in.
The sportsman could hardly see
a yard before him. There was NJ
path to guide him over the moor,
and the long slopes of heather and
bog, as he surmounted them sue.
cessively, gave no distinguishing
marks by which to direct his steps,
He was cold, hungry, tired, utter,
ly and irrecoverably lost.
All of a sudden tall, shadowy
figure rose up before him, out of
the mist.
"My good fellow" hesshcuted,
''can you guide me to the neigh
boring town 2"
'Is it the town, ava? Shure,
your honor, l could not guide my
self there, let alone another, on
such a murky night" was the
frank, hearty reply.
"Can you direct me to some
place of shelter, then, and ! will
pay you well p
The figure came close up to him;
a great brawny, broad-shouldered
Celt, with twinkling black eyes
and broad, grinning mouth.
"Let me look at your honor's
face" The young soldier turned
his open, honest eyes towards him.
otis a fair one if the world
don't spoil it" the man muttered.
"Now, sir, I'll deal fairly with you,
if you'll do the same belikes to
me. Will you give your word
that you'll never let on to any
man, woman, or child what your
eyes may see, or your ears hear,
this blessed night?"
The promise was given.
"Come, then, your honor, and
I'll give you the pattern of a lodg-
ing, and the best I can offer, and
maybe something more besides. "
He then led the way in a con-
trary direction to that in which
the young soldier had been going,
and after a quarter of q miles
walking paused. The sportsman
listened; he thought that he heard
the murmurof voices near him,
but he could distinguish no sign
of a dwelling. Presently, howev-
er, he thought that he perceived
a black smoke rising up out of the
heather through the mist, and be-
came more certain of it as the
vapor was mingled occasionally
with sparks of fire. = s
His guide came nearer to him,
and put his finger to his mouth,
with an odd good-natured look OF
warning.
"Your promise, your honor
you mind it?'' s5
"On my OATH" was the reply
"Come on, then," and Suther'
land followed his guide to the side
of a hillock, in which was a door,
from whence the smoke and the
| flames and voices clesrly- proceed
ed.
The man now gave low whis
per, which was answered iron
/ within, and a rugged head was
thrust out from the door, and {
short parley ensued, at the close
of which his guide returned t.
Sutherland, saying that it was al
right; and then, clasping his hane
and uttering more sternly thai
before his brief admonition-
eRemember your promise -ies
him into the secret chamber.
II was in cave followed on
in the hill, and only consisted OF
one apartment, at the end of which
iblazed an enormous turf fire, witt
a huge caldron upon it, containing
what Sutherland knew at once t
be a private still, SO that The mys
iterv of the secret habitation. an,
promise was at once explained
There were no persons IN tn
cave but the owner OF the rusge'
head aforesaid, an old blear,eye'
man, who appeared to be thorough
,Sly smoke-dried in his vocation
land a bare-legged nrchin OF tFely