s the road azy
to find?' continued he. 'For I'm goin', mylone, where I never was
afore.'

"'It's as plain as a pikestaff to the very door. Only take tent of the
bridge at the slough, two miles beyant; for there's a broken balk that
may upset ye.'

"'I'll warrant I'll look out for that. Have one more noggin. _Here's a
safe journey and a dacint berrin' to us both._'

"With this rather Irish toast, the two separated, Matthew seeing the
stranger safe off the moss, and then commencing his short but fatiguing
journey over the narrow mountain path which lay between him and his
destination.

"Long before sunset, the careful Katty had had the delph teapot
simmering among the hot peat ashes; and the well-browned bacon and mealy
potatoes, carefully covered to retain the heat, only awaited the return
of 'the master' from the distant bog. They had no children; but Andy,
Katty's brother (a _gossoon_ of thirteen), eyed the simple supper
anxiously, going from time to time to the door to see if he could see
the well-known gray horses coming by the old buckthorn, where the little
lane joined the main road.

"The sunset, the night, came on, and Katty became hungry and out of
temper.

"'Andy, _alannah_,' said she, 'run to the hill beyant, and try can you
see aught of the masther; for I'm tired wid the day's spinnin', and
hungry, and wake.'

"The boy went, but returned, saying that no team was in sight.

"'Thin, Andy, jewel, we'll have our supper anyhow; for the tay'll be
black wid thrawin', and the bacon and praties spilt intirely.'

"Accordingly the two sat down and finished their evening meal, expecting
every moment to hear the cheery voice of Matthew as he urged his
_garrons_ with their heavy load up the steep lane beside the cottage.

"About nine o'clock, the wife became alarmed, and with Andy went to a
neighbor's. Tim O'Connell, the village blacksmith, had just fallen
asleep after a hard day's work, and woke in no very amiable frame of
mind as Katty rapped at the door.

"'Who's there at all at this time of night?' said he, gruffly.

"'Only meself, Katty Collins, and Andy,' said Katty, rather dolorously,
for she was now thoroughly alarmed.

"'Alice, _colleen_, up and unbar the dure. Come in, neighbor, and tell
us what is the matther at all.'

"'O, Tim! Matthew's been gone all day to the bog, and isn't home yet.
Could ye go wid the lad down the road, and see if anything has happened
to himself or the bastes, the crate