The Irish standard., 1886-06-12

|ly at half tide, that tits quite impossible
for sail boat to stem it; except under
strong breeze from the mouth of thu
Tough. Lanty saw the ebb tide was be
ginning to tell upon him as he reached
this spot, and making the helm ant
sheet fast, ;he, stepped forward ane
shipped the. bow oars to help hin
against the stream; but hardly had b
taken half dozen strokes, when large
boat, rowed by four stout men ant
steered by tall old woman, wrapped il
a gray cloak, shot out from one of tht
dark corners under the headland, ane
passing the jutting rock, round whict
he was endeavoring to make his way
struck his little craft SO violently as al
most to jerk his unsuspeciing passen
gers into the sea. As it was, he los
one Of his oars, which, breaking the
thole pins, came within an inch o1
breaking his own head, as it swept
round and fell overheard.
''Hah!'' cried Lanty, when the boat
righted again after the stem Of the other
had shaved its way down her side, and
fell off across her stern into the stream,
-:that was near nickin.''
"Whe are they?" demanded the
priest, turning suddenly to look after
the boat.
SsIf she's living, that's Else Curley, Of
the Cairn, in the stern sheets,'' said
Lauty.
What, is it possible?''
1.-The very woman, sir; and that is
young Berry, the rebel, beside her.
s'He is a: very foolish young man, I
fear," said the priest; she must certain
|ly be caught if he stay here"
After some little exertion, Mr.. Guirkie
succeeded in extricating his limbs from
their disagreeable position, and with
Lanty's help, found himself safe at last
on terra firma. The three gentlemen
then came together, to consult about
transporting the negro to Greenmount
Uncle Jerry was for sending immed-
lately to the next village for a horse a nd
cart, and stretching him on mattress
laid Oh Che bottom of it. DR.. Henshaw,
on the other hand, thought he might do
very we'll in the boat house, for the
night, with some clean straw, and Lanty
to watch with him; more especially as
the boat house was close at hand, aud
the night pleasant and warm; while they
could return home themselves, and send
over an easy conveyance next morning.
But the priest was OF a different opinion
from both, and thought it much better
for all parties to sleep at Castle Greg
ory. 'The night would be very dark, -
he said, "the roads both deep and rutty
after the late rains, and, besides, it
would take two hours, at least, to pro-
duce suitable conveyance for the negro
if they carried him hone, or for them
selves if they left him behind" AS to
accommodations for the invalid, he had
no doubt Captain Petersham would
cheerfully order him comfortable
berth, and send his servants to carry
him up to the castle. After some OBJ
jections on tho part Of Uncle Jerry, on
tina score Of delay and the immediate
necessity for medical attendance,--ob-
jections which We fear very much were
q little aggravated by the dread Of Mrs.
Motherly's grave displeasure at his long
absence, and Oh the part Of DR.. Hen
shaw against what he called an unpar-
donable intrusion into gentleman 8
family, particularly at SO late al hour,
and accompanied, as they we're, by q
notorious poacher and half-dead negro,
hawking the latter aboot all day." he
added gruhiy, sin q most absurd and
redeeculous manner, from house to
house and rock to rock, till he expected
the whole country round should ring
with it for the next twelve-months to
come"-after these objections, we say,
were made and disposed Of, the party, at
last, concluded to leave the negro with
Lanty, in the boat house, and put up at
Castle Gregory for the night. Accord
ingly, they advanced to the house, and
Father John, raising the knocker,
knocked loudly on the door.
CHAPTER TX.
BEING TIE SHORTEST CHAPTER IN THE
RnnR TT Is nEynrEn ExGrI1sIYELY TO