e clattering down, and the boat glided swiftly past, and
entered a little natural creek close beneath where they stood.

"Who has got a horse and a jaunting-car?" cried the Corporal, as he
jumped on shore. "I want one for Clifden directly."

"It's fifteen miles--devil a less," cried one.

"Fifteen! no, but eighteen! Kiely's bridge is brack down, and you 'll
have to go by Gortnamuck."

"Well, and if he has, can't he take the cut?"

"He can't."

"Why not? Did n't I go that way last week?"

"Well, and if you did, did n't you lame your baste?"

"'T was n't the cut did it."

"It was--sure I know better--Billy Moore tould me."

"Billy's a liar!"

Such and such-like comments and contradictions were very rapidly
exchanged, and already the debate was waxing warm, when Mr. Craggs's
authoritative voice interposed with--

"Billy Moore be blowed! I want to know if I can have a car and horse?"

"To be sure! why not?--who says you can't?" chimed in a chorus.

"If you go to Clifden under five hours my name isn't Terry Lynch," said
an old man in rabbitskin breeches.

"I 'll engage, if Barny will give me the blind mare, to drive him there
under four."

"Bother!" said the Rabbitskin, in a tone of contempt.

"But where's the horse?" cried the Corporal.

"Ay, that's it," said another; "where's the horse?"

"Is there none to be found in the village?" asked Craggs, eagerly.

"Divil a horse, barrin' an ass. Barny's mare has the staggers the last
fortnight, and Mrs. Kyle's pony broke his two knees on Tuesday carrying
sea-weed up the rocks."

"But I must go to Clifden; I must be there to-night," said Craggs.

"It's on foot, then, you'll have to do it," said the Rabbitskin.

"Lord Glencore's dangerously ill, and needs a doctor," said the
Corporal, bursting out with a piece of most uncommon communicativeness.
"Is there none of you will give his horse for such an errand?"

"Arrah, musha!--it's a pity!" and such-like expressions of compassionate
import, were muttered on all sides; but no more active movement seemed
to flow from the condolence, while in a lower tone were added such
expressions as, "Sorra mend him--if he wasn't a naygar, wouldn't he have
a horse of his own? It's a droll lord he is, to be begging the loan of a
baste!"

Something like a malediction arose to the Corporal's lips; but
restraining it, and with a voice thick from passion, he said,--

"I 'm ready to pay you--to pay you ten times over the worth