The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-03-02
THE. DEVILS SCRAUGH.

~ IA - - - AAA I
In the year 1877 I was CHARTERED at Athlone,
in the County Westmeath, Ireland. 1t Is not
q bad military station-for nh Irish one-es-
pecially for a man who cares for outdoor
sports. There are good fishing and boating
on Loug!, Rec; and by the kindness Of the
landowners of the n%eigliborhond, many a days
good shooting OF n miscellaneous kind may be
had over the interminable hogs that lie all
around. Icnjoyed myself greatly, having q
tsste for solitary shooting excursions, and
liking that uncertainty as to what bird or
ouadrupel would next rise from the heather,
whicl, is chiefly to be found in Irish sport.
Generally, I started on such expeditions
alone, save for the company of q smart
young gossoon of the town, Peter Farrell
by name, who, having been born with the
national love Of shooting and fishing.
was only too glad to accompany me for a
nominal consideration, and make himself
useful in pointing out the "mearnes" which
divided the property OF different owners,
sometimes consisting in a narrow trench
running for miles through a hog, and some
times Of ON imaginary line, which I had to
accept in faith, not being able to see a trace
of it for myself. He also carried my game
bag, and would think nothing OF a twelve
mile tramp over spongy bog land with q
couple of lares over his shoulder and q full
bag at his side.
One November afternoon we had gone
farther abroad than usual, and reached a bog
on which / had never been before. Peter
declared he knew it well, but I rather doubted
the statement. We had had a very fair days
sport, and it was getting time to think Of re-
turning home, as the short winter daylight
was drawing to- close. l had an idea that q
short cut might be made to reach the high
road by holding a due northwest course, but
Peter inclined to a southwesterly one. The
argument ran high. when at length we dis
,cerned a cottage with a matched roof at the
bottom of a hollow where the high bog land
.sloped downwards to the bank of a stream.
/ sent Peter down to the cottage to in
quire the way, and meanwhile directed
my steps toward a little pool of water, some
100 yards in diameter, which perceived at
q few furlongs of. and on which l hoped to
surprise a stray teal or wild duck. Sure
enough there was a flock Of the former birds
feeding in fancied security near the edge. l
selected a stunted thorn bush growing on the
margin as o good shelter behind which to ap-
proach them unperceived, and began steathily
advancing under it's cover. The pond was
surrounded by a large patch Of light green
moss; and as soon as I stepped upon it l be-
came aware that 1t was what is called, in
Irish parlance, a Shaking scraugh;;" that is
to say, the water was here covered only by
floating mass of weeds and peat moss, closely
interlaced and forming a curious combine
As you walk upon such a place it sinks be.
-nnkt~ ~,o, aud NOR N a ~ a vp,nnSn~ 01onD
before you just as when you shake a carpet.
However, there is generally little danger of
breaking through. 80 closely matted are the
6bers, md I advanced with cat on, bent on
having my shot. Suddenly, without the least
warning, my foot went through, and in an in
slant I was up to my neck in the black, peaty
water beneath, just keeping my head above the
surface by the bearing my spread arms
had on the moss. 1t was q terrible situation!
II once / sank, no power on earth could save
melt would be like drowning under ice,
only that, ice being transparent, there would
be some hope Of being cut. out in that case;
and here, under the messy blanket, absolutely
none. I shouted at the top my voice for
help, but with a painful conviction that il it
did not come within three minutes it would
be too late, as I felt myself slowly sinking.
Suddenly I felt something thrust through
the collar Of my coat from behind, and heard
aman's voice saying coolly: "IAave a good
hold on ye with: the graip now, your honor;
IL you make a good offer at it, you can
scramble out!' '.as
Most comforting were tho words, in my
desperate case. ! made a violent struggle,
vigorously assisted by my unknown friend
With his "graip" "a sort Of three pronged
drag, which he had inserted under my COL
lar). The cloth held; and I scrambled Oh to
knees, and in that ignominious position,
with my clothes streaming with black water,
reached the comparatively firm ground Of
the bog.
aMusha, then, your honor is ba.ly off for
sport, when You must look for it in the DEVILS
Scrnugh!" said my preserver, as I turned to
look him in the face.
He was q strong, burly, Irish peasant, clad
in the costume that is now rapidly becoming
extinct-a chimney pot hat, a frieze coat,
knee breeches and gray worsted stockings.
His features were striking. I thought-bushy
black eyebrows meeting each other over the
nose; gray keen eyes; a mouth that seemed
like a straight line drawn across the face, so
tightly were the lips compressed; and a square
chin, with q weeks growth of bristly black
beard upon it. Altogether, not the sort of
IIl0n YOU WOulu C6Ec 10 nave 1OE Uu CIeMY.
II am really very grateful to you" said
I. III you had not pulled me out
when you did, I could not possibly
have kept my head above water five
longer. It seems like q special
your graip.n
Ny prcserver scowled, and his face became
inviting than over. ~ saw your gossoon
going down the hill to the cottage beyont,"
he said. II suppose it was to ask tho way.
no one lives there but myself, 30 lie +
get much by his walk. If you want to
get back to Athlone, just cross over the bog
there where you see the tree growing its lone, !
and you'll strike the road. No!'-as lie saw
mt drawing my purse from my saturated |
pocket-"Turlough O'Brien wants money !
from no man; God forbid When you sec q
scraugh again, maybe you won't be !
10 ready to venture on It'll" Whereat he gave
. ghastly sort Of chuckle and walked of, with
his graip over his shoulder, just as Peter came
up. The action surprised me-, rs the Irish
have their full share Of curiosity, and rarely
resist the opportunity Of asking questions
they get q chance. Peters face Of dis.
nay when he saw my wet clothes, thu lake,
md my new acquaintance, was a study. I
to look for my gun, which I had lost
. my immersion; but he drew me away in
haste.
"See now, sir-never mind the gun. It's
zone for ever and ever. and it's well you're
lot gone with it. Murther'n Irish! did ever
one see the likel And sorra q bit Of me
Knows if we'll get home tonight at all at all,
lfter this!"
ave just found out where the road is"
aid !. 'It is exactly where I told you-over
he bog there"
1.-THE road. is it?' said Peter. sab, then, il
hat were all, sorra much matter it would be.
But We must only make the best Of it, now
we're here; and may the Holy Virgin have a
ARE of US and be betune us and evil" And
crossing himself he drew me- way
Needless to say that, on the way home, I
demanded an explanation of him; and after q
deal OF cross-examination drew from
,im q curious a story as I had ever heard,
md which I here give. divssted of the many
ligreaions from the point, and the rich vo-
,abulary Of Irish phrases with which it was
odd me-.
John O'Brien, the original owner of the
cottage we had seen, had two sons, Patrick
md Turlough. No one knew whence he him
elf had come, or on what terms he
aad purchased the land on which he |