PART II.
Tom. And how did you get safe out of Scotland at last?
Teag. By the law dear honey, when I came to Port Patrick, and saw my own kingdom, I thought I was safe at home, but I was clean dead and almost drowned before I could get riding over the water: for I, with nine passengers more, leapt in a little young boat, having but four men dwelling in a little house, in the one end of it, which was all thacked with deals: and after they had pulled up her tether-stick, and laid her long halter over her mane, they pulled up a long big sheet like three pair of blankets to the riggen of the house, and the wind blew in that, which made her gallop up one hill and down another, till I thought she would have run to the world’s end if some part of the world had not catch’t her by the foot.
Tom. I fancy, Pady, you was by this time very sick?
Teag. Sick, ay sick beyond all sickness, clean dead as a door-nail; for as I had lost the key of my backside, I bock’d up the very bottom of my belly, and I thought that liver and lungs, and all that I had should have gone together; then I called to the fellow that held by her tail behind, to pull down his sheet and hold her head, till I got leasure to die, and then say my prayers.
Tom. Well then, Pady, and got you safe ashore at last?
Teag. Ay, we came ashore very fast; but, by shaint Patrick, I shall never venture my dear shoul and body in such a young boat again, while the wind blows out of Scots Galloway.[167]
Tom. Well, Pady, and where did you go when you came to Ireland again?
Teag. Arra dear honey, and where did I go, but to my own dear cousin, who was now become very rich by the death of the old buck his father: who died but a few weeks before I went over, and the parish had to bury him out of pity, it did not cost him a farthing.