Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-03

caught a glimpse of shaggy head coming
up out of solid rock underneath that mys-
terious '.napping-table."
"Toss him over aisyp' said shaggy voice
out of the shaggy head; and was grabbed
again. There was no escaping those Anna
IONS. They did not "toss me over alsy,
but they gave me the most amazing rush
ever had in my life, for an eighth OF mile
down that rocky boreen, and with such
tongue-scourgings betimes, as no genius In
objurgation has power to describe; he OF the
shaggyphead now following on the run, and
between uncomfortable bursts of laughter,
begging and hallooing them to desist. Fin
ally they halted as in doubt, and The man
overlook US. He protested gliby in Celtic.
The women seemed crestfallen, but dog
gedly determined. 1 was gradually able to
comprehend that he was endeavoring to
make them know that an awful mistake
had been made (of which I was already
fully persuaded); and. finally, it was made
clear that was no spy, nor informer, nor
gauger, nor exciseman, and indeed only q
harmless American "thramping like mad
DER Ireland" as everybody down at the lit
tie hamlet of Roundstone knew; and, as
luckily for me he had himself heard from
Larry the boatman, and seen with his two
eyes by Michael LAWNS own fire, more
sbrcHSGH W tnc peat ne uuIuS!
A PLEASANT REACTION.
If Invent down that boreen under humili-
ating circumstances, went up again in
state; for, despite all struggles and protesta-
tions those Irish "Jael Dences' insisted on
form of recompense as nearly as possible
equivalent to the original punishment No
words could describe the amends attempted
in rude but earnest .hospitalities coupled
with distressingly profuse avowals of con-
Germ, and purring palayerings of: "God
bless us an save us, for the goms we are en-
tirely" "Indade an yer honor'll be takin'
us for bad altogetherp' can tor phat an
for why didn't ye be tellin' us the right
sort We are?" "Howly innocents, but We
were well nigh overP' "Wor ye hurted,
ayick railly?" ''De be forgiven av US,
dear!' "Ooh, murther, sherry. ooh, eter-
nal murderD but the great fools we are!''-
and the like, without end; their excess of
remorse and kindness furnishing day of
extraordinary experiences, and an open
sesame to one of the oldest mountain poteen
dens to be found in Ireland.
descended into the place with he of the
shaggy head. Some convulsion of nature
had opened large fssure in the solid rock,
forming cone-shaped apartment, perhaps
20 feet broad at the base. The floor of the
''napmill" above was reached by a ladder
to the edge of the hole beneath the "nap-
ping bench" which opening was snugly
fitted with thin piece of tagging. The
falling away of the rocks at the sides and
the roof, and the filling in evenly of broken
rubble and clay. Light came in, and
smoke went out, through an aperture at
the side of the cliff above the Tough.
Above this opening the little rill
fell in such yelling spray as rem
dered detection of the cavern itself,
or smoke issuing from it,wholly impossible.
Two large, clumsy iron kettles, something
like the American farmers ''cauldron ket-
tie" were set on pieces of stone above the
remains of extinguished fires; and three
queer little stills were arranged at ore side.
No work was then in progress, but "moun-
tain dew" galore was there; for within a
cleft of the rock which ran along beneath
the waterfall itself were stored numberless
little kegs holding no more than a gallon
each, filled with crystal liquid, of which
was entreated 10 partake to my hearts con.
tent; while in dark corner at the rearwert
grimy sacks of oats and various implements
used in the illegal vocation.
ALL AGIN THE LAW.
I asked the man frankly many questions
and got as frank answers; for he apparently
trusted me. Everybody in the west of Ire
land is "agin the law" That made his bust
ness safe one. The peasantry round abou
to man were friendly to it; first, because
the law was not; and second, because
how could marriage, birth, a christen
ing or wake be celebrated, friend vel
coined or given speed, or any grief or cheer
Crowned or lifted, without drop of thu
blessed poteen, the Irishman's right since
before the food. Few came to the place
themselves. The "nappers,' the wife anc
children, were workers, lookouts, agent.
and emissaries. When they went and came
poteen went away, and oats came back, in
the huge osier creels upon their backs be
meath the great black braideens. They will
tramp 20 or 80 miles, carrying
and bringing, and at the ole
Galway market you may find them now
and then squatting among the fish-wives
who secretly exchange their pennies for the
''swate dew" which thus trickles from thu
Connemara heights. Did the gaugers evel
come? o, yes, "wid their compliment
ahead o thim." This meant that officia
duty requires surveillance; but it alsc
meant :"friendly" visit, and the leaving
good charater" for the "nappers" behind
They are wise gaugers, these, and they
know the peorle WELL. But if one of thI
other kind should come? He of the shagg,
head looked at me quizzically for a mo
ment, as if to remind me of my own initia
tory experience. Then he took me to tn,
aperture beneath the waterfall, and pointed
downward. 1t was 500 feet to the darl
waters of the Tough below.
EDGAR T.. WAKEMAN.