o mar its splendid beauty with the wild indulgence of
its fiercer passions. A strong light was gleaming from the interior of
Nanny's cabin, which we have already said was situated on the mountain
side; and the noisy sounds of revelry were heard proceeding from
within. Could any of the superstitious have summoned courage to approach
sufficiently near, and listen for a moment, the idea of spirits would
soon be dissipated in the bluff, hoarse voices which were laughing
and grumbling, and singing, sometimes alternately, and sometimes all
together. But we had better introduce the reader to the interior, and
then he will be a better judge of the nature of the orgies carried on.

The cabin consisted of but one small apartment, in the centre of which
blazed a, huge fire (summer though it was) of dried peat. The smoke
sought egress where it might, but still left a sufficient canopy over
the heads of the occupants, as completely to hide the dingy and charred
rafters, and did not seem in the slightest degree to annoy the optical
powers of any one, so accustomed where they to this kind of atmosphere.
Round this fire about ten were seated or squatted down, and were all at
the time busily employed in some noisy and apparently angry disputation.
However, this did not prevent the bottle from being freely passed
amongst them; and so cordial were they in embracing it, that Nanny,
who sat a little apart, was often called on to replenish it with
mountain-dew. On a table or dresser that stood by the wall, were three
or four large pistols, besides an old sword or two, and a few rusted
bayonets: piled against it were two large muskets, evidently kept with
more care than the rest of the arms, for they were brightly polished,
and looked even new. A couple of powder-horns, a tin box containing
shot and bullets, and a large iron mallet, used in breaking open doors,
completed the array, which could leave no doubt as to the men who
occupied the cabin.

"Come, Nanny acushla, give us another dhrop of that you gev us
last," exclaimed one, whose rolling eyes gave token, of approaching
intoxication; "you're not used to be sparin', an' considherin' the way
you get id, needn't be so--eh? Dick, what do you say to another drink?"

"Game to the last," answered the man addressed--"never refuse id."

"Why, Nanny," observed a low but muscularly formed man, who seemed
from his manner to exercise some slight command amongst his associates,
"what's the matther