stion to his next neighbour on the use and
meaning of so singular a rite: "Was it an indigenous Welsh custom, or a
custom adopted from France on this particular occasion in honour of
Capt. le Harnois?" His neighbour however happened to be somewhat
churlish and surly; and contented himself with replying--"The meaning
of it is this: there are a d---d number of dogs in this country: and
there's no keeping them in any order without cudgels: that's the use of
them."

For some time the procession advanced with great order and decorum:
and, so long as the sea continued to be visible in the rear, a profound
quietness and silence reigned throughout the multitude: but no sooner
had the windings of the hills and the inequalities of the road shut out
the sea-shore from their view, than a freer movement of feeling began
to stir through the train and to relax all the previous restraints. One
coughed: another hemmed and hawed: some began to unmuffle their voices
from the whispering way in which they had hitherto spoken: and others
who had acquaintances dispersed up and down the procession conversed
with them from a distance in loud and familiar tones. Once invaded, the
whole solemnity of the procession was speedily dissolved: and a
corpulent man, stepping out of the line, threw himself down upon a
stone; unbuttoned his coat and waistcoat; and at the same time sang
out--

"Let who will endure this devil's quick march: I'll not go a step
further without a dram. You there a-head, have you got any thing to
drink? Hearse ahoy,--have you no gin under hatches? I'm d---d, if I go
a step further without grog: and Capt. le Harnois may turn out, and
tumble to his grave head over heels for me, unless you bring us a
glass of something--I don't care what. D---n this walking on foot!
Come, bear a hand there--do you hear, you lubbers a-head! What the
devil! I say--Hearse ahoy!"

When once a mutineer steps forward, he is pretty sure of another to
second him: for it is but the first step over the threshold which
alarms men. So it was here. The standard of revolt, which the corpulent
man had set up, was soon flocked to by many others as well; corpulent;
as lean; and a general clamor was, raised for spirits or wine. This
meeting with no attention, a Dutch concert began of songs in every
possible, style--hunting songs, sea songs, jovial songs, love songs,
comic songs, political songs, together with the lowest obscenity and
ribaldry; all which, floated