fall dark, I preferred taking my chance for shelter under this crag, where I shall lie dry, at least, to my chance of a drenching, and perhaps something worse, among the bogs and crags that lie about half a mile beyond us. If you will proceed, you are like enough to have a hard night. Do you not hear the Cashen* roar?" "I do; but the fear of a little rain must not deter me. I have been out on worse nights." "There are other dangers, sir, no less worthy to be avoided than the chances of pit and bog."

Oh, I remember that too-my head is filled with tales of the Kerry mountains, and their marauders, and banathees, and phukas; but for the one, I am provided with this amulet (brandishing his beads), and here is a charm for the other," elevating his stout black-thorn in a gay humour.

The stranger was again silent for a short time, during which he seemed to canvass the whole person of the young collegian with a

* The Cashen is a stream which empties itself into the Shannon, at no great distance from Ballylongford, in Kerry. At the approach of rainy weather, the sound of its waters can be heard distinctly at a distance of many leagues.

curious eye, at the same time that, whether accidentally or otherwise, his own features were almost entirely concealed by his position. At length, taking from his pocket a sealed letter, he handed it towards Aylmer, and said, "I had orders to leave this at Bally-Aylmer, for some one of the family there. If you will pardon the liberty of my offering it, you will do me a great service, and save me a long journey out of my way."

Aylmer readily took the letter, and in placing it in his pocket-book, caught, for the first time, a view of the stranger's countenance. It was that of an aged man, with nothing very uncommon in its character; though a flashing, yet wavering and doubtful recollection, seemed to rush on Aylmer's mind the instant he looked upon it. He felt satisfied that he had never seen the countenance before, and yet its expression startled him with a feeling of sudden recognition, for which he afterwards could in no manner account. He had not an opportunity of pursuing his scrutiny farther, for at that instant the muttering of a distant thunder-peal, preceded by the falling of a few large drops of

rain, induced the old man to return to his shelter beneath the rock. Wishing him a courteous farewell, the youth proceeded on his way, puzzled a little at he knew not what.

"If I were a Pythagorean," said he with himself, “this adventure might help to strengthen my faith, for unless it be a glimpse into another state of existence, I am at a loss what I shall make of it."

After casting a rather uncomfortable glance at the heavens, which were now darkening above him so rapidly as to leave him little hope of clearing the mountains so speedily as he intended, he pushed on at a vigorous rate. The storm which had been threatening, however, in a very short time burst forth in all its violence. The sky became one dense mass of black, illuminated only at intervals by the blue and sheeted lightning, that served to reveal to him the perils among which he was entangled, without assisting to guide him out of them. He could perceive that the beaten path which he now followed, lay through a wide morass, or bog, and so indistinctly was it marked out, that he found himself obliged to proceed with the utmost cau

tion, although the rain had already begun to descend in torrents upon him.

He was mincing his steps in this manner, and beginning to feel a greater respect than he had hitherto done for the recommendation of the old man, when he was startled by feeling some living creature brush swiftly by his legs, so as almost to touch them, and presently after, in a pause of the storm, a loud ringing whistle, followed by a shouting and hallooing at a distance, greeted his ear. A low grumbling bark, very near him, seemed to give answer to the sounds; and Aylmer heard the animal which had been snuffing inquisitively about him just before, bound and scamper off in the direction from whence the voice proceeded. In the hope of obtaining some assistance, the adventurer put his lungs to their best uses, and endeavoured to outroar the warring of the elements themselves; but the effort proved to be a total failure, for he was not heard, or at least not attended to. He hurried on, nevertheless, with a feeling of greater security, on the path which the dog had taken, and in a short time was rewarded for his perseverance, by feeling the firm mountain heath

beneath his feet. He now looked round him in the hope of finding himself in the neighbourhood of some human habitation, and for once was not deceived. Not more than a hundred yards to his right, in a sudden declivity of the mount, he perceived a cabin, with half the wicker-door thrown open, and revealing, in the strong light of a well-furnished hearth, an abode which seemed to promise much comfort and accommodation. He made no more ado, but straightway presented himself at the en

trance.

"Boloa irath!"* he exclaimed, as he bent forward over the half-door, willing to conciliate the good-will of the inmates, by affecting a familiarity with their habits and language.

"And you likewise," was the answer returned by the "all" whom he had blessed; a plain looking aged woman, who sat enjoying the delights of ease and a dhudheen (short pipe) in the chimney-corner. Aylmer drew back the bolt of the wicker and entered. The old woman continued smoking her pipe without expressing either displeasure at his intrusion, or

* Bless all here.