ank Heaven," said I, aloud, "that I see all this with
my sense and my intellects clear about me." Had I suddenly awoke to such
a prospect from the disturbed slumber of sickness" the chances were ten
to one I had jumped overboard, and swam for my life. In fact, it
could convey but one image to the mind, such as we read of, when some
infuriated and reckless men, despairing of safety, without a hope left,
resolve upon closing life in the mad orgies of drunken abandonment.

Here were the meek, the tranquil, the humble-minded, the solitary, the
seasick, all suddenly converted into riotous and roystering feasters.
The lips that scarcely moved, now blew the froth from a porter cup with
the blast of a Boreas: and even the small urchin in the green face and
nankeen jacket, bolted hard eggs with the dexterity of a clown in a
pantomime. The end of all things (eatable) had certainly come. Chickens
were dismembered like felons, and even jokes and witticisms were bandied
upon the victuals. "What, if even yet," thought I, "the wind should
change!" The idea was a malicious one, too horrible to indulge in. At
this moment the noise and turmoil on deck apprised me that our voyage
was near its termination.

[Illustration: 2-0049]

The night, as I have said, was dark and stormy. It rained too--as it
knows only how to rain in Ireland. There was that steady persistence,
that persevering monotony of down-pour, which, not satisfied with
wetting you to the skin, seems bent upon converting your very blood into
water. The wind swept in long and moaning gusts along the bleak pier,
which, late and inclement as it was, seemed crowded with people.
Scarcely was a rope thrown ashore, when we were boarded on every side,
by the rigging, on the shrouds, over the bulwarks, from the anchor to
the taffrail; the whole population of the island seemed to flock in upon
us; while sounds of welcome and recognition resounded on all sides--

"How are you, Mister Maguire?" "Is the mistress with you?" "Is that you,
Mr. Tierney?" "How are you, ma'am?" "And yourself, Tim?" "Beautiful,
glory be to God!" "A great passage, entirely, ma'am." "Nothing but rain
since I seen you." "Take the trunks up to Mrs. Tun-stall; and, Tim,
darling, oysters and punch for four."

"Great mercy!" said I, "eating again!"

"Morrisson, your honour," said a ragged ruffian, nudging me by the
elbow.

"Reilly, sir; isn't it? It's me, sir--the Club. I'm the man always
drives your honour."