tter. Do you take snuff? It doesn't signify; put your
hands in your pockets, and hum "Tatter Jack Walsh!"'

As I supposed there was no specific charm in the melody he alluded to,
nor if there had been, had I any time to acquire it, I consoled myself
by observing the first part of his direction, and strolled after him
into the field with a nonchalance only perhaps a little too perfect.

Mr. Burke and his friends, to the number of about a dozen persons, were
already assembled; and were one to judge from their loud talking and
hearty laughter as we came forward, it would seem difficult to believe
the occasion that brought them there was that of mortal combat. So, at
least, I thought. Not so, however, the Major; for with a hop, step, and
a jump, performed by about the shortest pair of legs in the barony, he
sprang into the midst of the party, with some droll observation on the
benefits of early rising which once more called forth their merriment.
Seating myself on a large moss-covered stone, I waited patiently for
the preliminaries to be settled. As I threw my eye among the group, I
perceived that Burke was not there; but on turning my head, I remarked
two men walking arm-in-arm on the opposite side of the hedge. As they
paced to and fro, I could see, by the violence of his gesticulations and
the energy of his manner, that one was Burke. It seemed as though his
companion was endeavouring to reason with and dissuade him from some
course of proceeding he appeared bent on following; but there was a
savage earnestness in his manner that would not admit of persuasion; and
at last, as if wearied and vexed by his friend's importunities, he broke
rudely from him, and springing over the fence, called out--

'Pigott, are you aware it is past six?' Then pulling out his watch, he
added, 'I must be at Ballinasloe by eleven o'clock.'

'If you speak another word, sir,' said the old Colonel, with an air
of offended dignity, 'I leave the ground. Major Mahon, a word, if you
please.'

They walked apart from the rest for a few seconds; and then the Colonel,
throwing his glove upon the grass, proceeded to step off the ground
with a military precision and formality that I am sure at any other time
would have highly amused me.

After a slight demur from the Major, to which I could perceive the
Colonel readily yielded, a walking-stick was stuck at either end of
the measured distance; while the two seconds, placing themselves beside
them, loo