“I have done worse however, before now,” returned a rough voice beside me, “and on my poor conscience, I think a few stones in the bottom of the bag would make all right, and save both time and trouble.” Supposing it no harm to share a conversation in which I was so essentially concerned, I muttered an indistinct dissent. “What’s that he’s mumbling about?” inquired a person in the boat’s bow. “And what’s that to you?” was politely responded by my next neighbour, as he applied knuckles, hard as ebony, to my ribs, I presume to enforce his admonition. “_Badda-hurst_, * or I’ll slip you across the gunnel before you have time to bless yourself. Pull, will ye? Hurry to the island; for before this time I should have been half way to Carrick Beg, instead of ferrying blackguard gaugers to Innisteagles.” * Hold your tongue. Ferrying blackguard gaugers! “What did the fellow mean? It was a singular observation, and I ventured to remark it. “What--muttering again!” replied the voice. “Can you swim, friend?” I managed to answer, that “I had never tried it, tied neck and heels together.” “Then by ------,” rejoined my agreeable companion, with a second application of his fist, “if you open your lips before we part company, over you go!” There was no mistaking him. We were on a deep lake, and I had a determined gentleman to deal with; so I resolved accordingly to remain still as a mouse, and preserve a dignified silence. I suspect that my decision was a wise one. From broken observations which I overheard, I soon found that the voyage was about to terminate. I felt in mortal tribulation. Suspense, however, was quickly ended. The keel grated on the sand--strange voices welcomed my guard of honour, and told that my island was not, “like Crusoe’s,” uninhabited. The sack being lifted out and laid upon the sward, a parting glass was emptied to my better health amidst uproarious peals of merriment. Presently, the parties bade each other good night; and those who had brought me re-embarked, rowed merrily away, and left me in a pleasant uncertainty on a very important point, and that was whether I should be sunk or smothered. And yet, from the jocular demeanour of the islanders and the immediate departure of my abductors, I felt half assured that no truculent design upon my life was meditated after all. This was consolatory, certainly; although an interrupted journey,--imprisonment in a sack,--a lost mare, and a despoiled portmanteau,--all these were bad enough. Short space for sombre communings was allowed. Two pair of lusty arms lifted me from the ground, bore me through a narrow and difficult pass, placed me on my legs, and untied the bag, when down dropped the canvass,--and when I could see distinctly, a strange scene presented itself.