MARTIN RATTLER. 17

The room in which he sat—or rather the hut, for
there was but one room in it—was destitute of all
furniture, except that already mentioned, besides one
or two roughly-formed stools; but the walls were
completely covered with strange-looking implements
and trophies of the chase; and in a corner lay a con-
fused pile of books, some of which were, from their
appearance, extremely ancient. All this the benighted
wanderers observed as they continued to approach
cautiously on tiptoe. So cautious did they become as
they drew near and came within the light of the
lamp, that Barney at length attempted to step over
his own shadow for fear of making a noise, and in
doing so tripped and fell with considerable noise
through a hedge of prickly shrubs that encircled the
strange man’s dwelling.

The hermit—for such he appeared to be—be-
trayed no symptom of surprise or fear at the sud-
den sound, but rising quietly though quickly from
his seat, took down a musket that hune on the
wall, and stepping to the open door demanded
sternly, in the Portuguese language, “Who goes
there ?”

“ Arrah, then, if ye’d help a fellow-cratur to rise,
instead o’ talkin’ gibberish like that, it would be more

to yer credit!” exclaimed the Irishman, as he scram-