ng near us, and are loading their guns; so let's leave
before the vicinage is dangerous."

"Why, Charley," said Waring, in astonishment, "there's no danger. Those
fellows wouldn't shoot at us. I know them."

"And so do I, my dear fellow; and that's just the reason I want to get
out of the way. If I didn't know what drunken men will do in the way of
'sporting casualties,' or felt certain that their object was to shoot
us, I should feel perfectly easy on the subject;" and setting off at
full speed, followed by Waring and the sledge, La Salle led the way to
the ice-houses, which they reached about an hour before sunset.

Drawing up by the boat, La Salle examined the load of the day, and from
it took a little case made of a candle-box with stout hinges and a
padlock. He opened it, and found, as he had ordered, a "Crimean
cooking-lantern," with spring candlestick and a pound of candles, a
small tin canister of coffee, another of sugar, some pilot bread, and
several boxes of sardines. Taking all but two of the latter from the
box, he relocked it, and carefully removing the matted straw in the
stern of his boat, placed the box under the decking, and replacing the
compressed straw, effectually hid it from sight.

"We can now have a lunch, with a hot cup of coffee, whenever we please,
and you will find some weather even yet when it will be very welcome.
Come, let us go home to-night, and get ready for to-morrow's
_charivari_, for noise will not be wanting, although game may;" and
adding his brent to the load, La Salle covered his boat, and, joined by
Davies and Creamer, who greeted the boys warmly, all went up to their
welcome, if somewhat narrow, quarters.

After tea, which boasted of fried bacon and eggs, the usual circle was
formed, and Mr. Davies, being called upon to entertain the company, said
that he was "not much of a story-teller, but had learned some facts
relating to a terrible political tumult, which took place years ago, but
was still spoken of everywhere on the island as the great 'Belfast
Riot.' I shall term it, unless some one offers a better name, the most
lively specimen we ever had of

"A CONTESTED ELECTION.

"It need hardly be said, in this company, that an election among us is a
far more exciting occasion than among our less-favored American
neighbors, who ignore the superior advantages of voting _viva voce_, and
adopt the less manly and unobtrusive medium of the ballot.

"Why, gentlemen, I ventur