ason was veiled to almost every impulse but that of a wild
and touching humanity, tumbled down the boiling torrent, helpless and
unresisting as a child, and utterly beyond the reach of assistance. My
own sensations and feelings I really cannot describe, because, in point
of fact, such was the tumult--the horror--of my mind at that moment,
that I have no distinct recollection of my impressions. I think for
a short space I must have lost both my sight and hearing, for I now
distinctly remember to have heard, only for the first time, the piercing
screams of his mother rising above the wild and alarming cries of the
others--but not until he had gone down the stream, and disappeared round
a sharp angle or bend, which it formed about eight or ten yards below
where he fell.

"There grew a little to the left of the spot where this shocking
disaster occurred, a small clump of whitethorn trees, so closely matted
together, that it was impossible to see through them. We all, therefore,
ran round as if by instinct, to watch the tumbling body of poor Raymond,
when what was our surprise to see a powerful young man, about eight or
ten yards below us, dashing into the stream; where, although the current
was narrower, it was less violent, and holding by a strong projecting
branch of hazel that grew on the bank, stretch across the flood, and,
as the body of Raymond passed him, seize it with a vigorous grasp, which
brought it close to where he stood. Feeling that both were now out of
the force of the current, he caught it in his arms, and ere any of
us had either time or presence of mind even to proffer assistance, he
carried, or rather dragged it out of the water, and laid it on the dry
bank.

"'Come,' said he, 'I am afraid there is little time to be lost--help
me up with him to my father's, till we see what can be done to recover
life, if life is left.'

"The fact is, however, that Raymond was not altogether insensible; for,
as young M'Loughlin--the same, by the way, who had sent the message to
Phil--had concluded, he opened his eyes, breathed, and after gulping up
some water, looked about him.

"'Ah!' said he, 'poor Mary--she's gone to them at last; but she'll be
happier with them. Take my hand,' said he to M'Loughlin, 'sure I thought
I could do it. Poor Mary!'

"This instantly directed our attention to the unhappy woman, whom we had
all overlooked and forgotten for the moment, and I need not say that
our satisfaction was complete