226 LIFE, AS IT WAS, IN IRELAND. 66 slip accidentally, while dismounted at the coverside. Hundreds of country-people had collected to witness "the red rascal" make his burst. "Oh, blessed God!" exclaimed the Lord of Mullaghmore; "will nobody stop the gauger's horse?" Stop a gauger's horse! Musha, bad luck to him, the thief of the world!" exclaimed fifty voices in full concert-every man flinging his caubeein at the flying charger as he passed, and adding to the terror of the frightened quadruped. The fox broke cover-away went the fieldwhile the unhappy dragoon plodded sorrowfully back six miles, to his barracks, to raise a "hue and cry" after his missing steed. That night the Rangers gave their annual ball. Now, the Captain generally considered dancing to be a waste of time, and stuck steadily to the bottle. On this occasion, however, he departed from his general rule, and at midnight came to the determination of visiting the gay throng collected in the ball-room. One difficulty presented itself. In his movements, the gallant Captain adopted light-marching order-his wardrobe was confined to the habiliments upon his back-a tattered red coatee-leathers and jockey-bootsboth the worse for constant service-three shirts, worn one above the other, and removed seriatim, as the wearer deemed clean linen should be sported. Well, this costume was not the one LIFE, AS IT WAS, IN IRELAND. 227 which fashion demanded; and the Captain remembered that the overgrown fellow who enacted chief-waiter, had figured at dinner in a suit of black. The pantler was summoned to the presence; and partly by entreaty, and partly through bodily fear, was induced to accede to the request, and lend his sables for "the nonce," taking, however, a lien for safe return upon the whole of the Captain's personals—boots, breeches, saddle, bridle, and coatee. But, alas, the costume was incomplete!-the waiter had lent his stockings-the shops were closed-and, had they been open, it would not have matteredthe Captain dealing upon credit—a system not approved of in Dundalk. The Captain gazed sorrowfully at his black tights and brawny legs, which, like Paddy Carey's, would "make a chairman stare." "I have it!" exclaimed the commander; and "Boots" was rung for. The expedient was short and simple: the captain's legs blacked and polished; and, thus adorned, he modestly joined the fair assembly, none questioning the correctness of his cos tume. I recollect that he occasioned rather a sensation at the supper-table, by offering a bet that he would draw, roast, and eat a badger, within a given time; but none accepted the wager, and the pleasant feat was not performed. This elegant exhibition, undoubtedly intended 228 LIFE, AS IT WAS, IN IRELAND. for the especial gratification of the fair sex, was not appreciated as it deserved. I heard the Captain solicit unsuccessfully several fair hands when dancing had been resumed after supperbut all recoiled, as if he had been actually a cannibal-and, instead of demolishing a badger, had proposed to devour a child, CHAPTER XVII. FORT AUGUSTUS-MILITARY ROADS-FALL OF FOYERS-ROAD TO DORES INVERNESS-CIVIC ANECDOTES-RATE OF LIVING, AULD LANG SYNE-LIFE OLIM, IN INVERNESS-CULLODEN-MISTAKE IN ACCEPTING BATTLE-DEFEAT OF THE HIGHLAND ARMYVILLAGE OF AULDEARN-MONTROSE'S VICTORY-VISIT TO FORT GEORGE-DREARINESS OF ITS SITUATION. FORT AUGUSTUS-the weakest of the Highland keys-is now dismantled, and left to the care of two or three invalids. In forty-five it was taken by the Highland army; and, after the final defeat of the insurgents at Culloden, afterwards occupied by the Duke of Cumberland, the site of whose sod-built cabin may still be traced. The unsparing severity by which the royal duke dimmed the brilliancy of success, was exercised from this, a central point for operations; and many a Highland glen received cruel visitations from the moveable columns of the English army, while marauding from this fortress. I proceeded by an uninteresting route and hilly road towards the celebrated cascades formed by the waters of the river Foyers, and stopped at a small inn erected on the site of the hut occupied by General Wade,* when employed in constructing the military roads, which, by rendering the Highlands accessible, took from these fastnesses that security which hitherto had made them safe haunts for the outlaw and the disaf fected to retire upon. The beneficial effects conferred by establishing easy communications with the Lowlands was soon evidenced, not only in the pacification but the improvement of those wild districts which they opened up; and those who had viewed their commencement with distrust, lived to bear testimony to their utility. And yet in those days the Highlanders appear to have been a thankless generation-for the only laudatory notice I have seen of this important undertaking, is a couplet composed by an Irish officer, who, by a curious species of deuteroscopia, perceived their value before they were made, and bequeathed his blessing to the inventor.+ *This must be a mistake. The cantonments of Wade's corps were on the eastern bank, above the bridge of Inverfarikaig; and it is not likely, considering the unsettled state of the country and the unpopular work he was engaged in, that the general would take up his quarters two miles distant from his camp. The hut was probably used only as a bivouac, when visiting the workmen, or inspecting the progress of distant operations. "Had you but seen these roads before they were made, You would lift up your eyes, and bless General Wade !" |