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lest； blinded by the snow which was frequently borne into my eyes
by the wind； I might fall into the dyke； when all at once I heard a
shout to windward； and turning my eyes I saw the figure of a man；
and what appeared to be an animal of some kind； coming across the
bog with great speed； in the direction of myself； the nature of the
ground seemed to offer but little impediment to these beings； both
clearing the holes and abysses which lay in their way with
surprising agility； the animal was； however； some slight way in
advance； and； bounding over the dyke； appeared on the road just
before me。 It was a dog； of what species I cannot tell； never
having seen the like before or since； the head was large and round；
the ears so tiny as scarcely to be discernible； the eyes of a fiery
red： in size it was rather small than large； and the coat； which
was remarkably smooth； as white as the falling flakes。 It placed
itself directly in my path； and showing its teeth； and bristling
its coat； appeared determined to prevent my progress。 I had an
ashen stick in my hand； with which I threatened it； this； however；
only served to increase its fury； it rushed upon me； and I had the
utmost difficulty to preserve myself from its fangs。
'What are you doing with the dog； the fairy dog？' said a man； who
at this time likewise cleared the dyke at a bound。
He was a very tall man； rather well dressed as it should seem； his
garments； however； were； like my own； so covered with snow that I
could scarcely discern their quality。
'What are ye doing with the dog of peace？'
'I wish he would show himself one；' said I； 'I said nothing to him；
but he placed himself in my road； and would not let me pass。'
'Of course he would not be letting you till he knew where ye were
going。'
'He's not much of a fairy；' said I； 'or he would know that without
asking； tell him that I am going to see my brother。'
'And who is your brother； little Sas？'
'What my father is； a royal soldier。'
'Oh； ye are going then to the detachment at … ； by my shoul； I have
a good mind to be spoiling your journey。'
'You are doing that already；' said I； 'keeping me here talking
about dogs and fairies； you had better go home and get some salve
to cure that place over your eye； it's catching cold you'll be； in
so much snow。'
On one side of the man's forehead there was a raw and staring
wound； as if from a recent and terrible blow。
'Faith； then I'll be going； but it's taking you wid me I will be。'
'And where will you take me？'
'Why； then； to Ryan's Castle； little Sas。'
'You do not speak the language very correctly；' said I； 'it is not
Sas you should call me … 'tis Sassannach；' and forthwith I
accompanied the word with a speech full of flowers of Irish
rhetoric。
The man looked upon me for a moment； fixedly； then； bending his
head towards his breast； he appeared to be undergoing a kind of
convulsion； which was accompanied by a sound something resembling
laughter； presently he looked at me； and there was a broad grin on
his features。
'By my shoul； it's a thing of peace I'm thinking ye。'
But now with a whisking sound came running down the road a hare； it
was nearly upon us before it perceived us； suddenly stopping short；
however； it sprang into the bog on the right…hand side； after it
amain bounded the dog of peace； followed by the man； but not until
he had nodded to me a farewell salutation。 In a few moments I lost
sight of him amidst the snowflakes。
The weather was again clear and fine before I reached the place of
detachment。 It was a little wooden barrack； surrounded by a wall
of the same material； a sentinel stood at the gate； I passed by
him； and； entering the building； found myself in a rude kind of
guardroom； several soldiers were lying asleep on a wooden couch at
one end； others lounged on benches by the side of a turf fire。 The
tall sergeant stood before the fire； holding a cooking utensil in
his left hand； on seeing me； he made the military salutation。
'Is my brother here？' said I； rather timidly； dreading to hear that
he was out； perhaps for the day。
'The ensign is in his room； sir；' said Bagg； 'I am now preparing
his meal； which will presently be ready； you will find the ensign
above stairs；' and he pointed to a broken ladder which led to some
place above。
And there I found him … the boy soldier … in a kind of upper loft；
so low that I could touch with my hands the sooty rafters； the
floor was of rough boards； through the joints of which you could
see the gleam of the soldiers' fire； and occasionally discern their
figures as they moved about； in one corner was a camp bedstead； by
the side of which hung the child's sword； gorget； and sash； a deal
table stood in the proximity of the rusty grate； where smoked and
smouldered a pile of black turf from the bog； … a deal table
without a piece of baize to cover it； yet fraught with things not
devoid of interest： a Bible； given by a mother； the ODYSSEY； the
Greek ODYSSEY； a flute； with broad silver keys； crayons； moreover；
and water…colours； and a sketch of a wild prospect near； which；
though but half finished； afforded ample proof of the excellence
and skill of the boyish hand now occupied upon it。
Ah！ he was a sweet being； that boy soldier； a plant of early
promise； bidding fair to become in after time all that is great；
good； and admirable。 I have read of a remarkable Welshman； of whom
it was said； when the grave closed over him； that he could frame a
harp； and play it； build a ship； and sail it； compose an ode； and
set it to music。 A brave fellow that son of Wales … but I had once
a brother who could do more and better than this； but the grave has
closed over him； as over the gallant Welshman of yore； there are
now but two that remember him … the one who bore him； and the being
who was nurtured at the same breast。 He was taken； and I was left！
… Truly； the ways of Providence are inscrutable。
'You seem to be very comfortable； John；' said I； looking around the
room and at the various objects which I have described above： 'you
have a good roof over your head； and have all your things about
you。'
'Yes； I am very comfortable； George； in many respects； I am；
moreover； independent； and feel myself a man for the first time in
my life … independent did I say？ … that's not the word； I am
something much higher than that； here am I； not sixteen yet； a
person in authority； like the centurion in the book there； with
twenty Englishmen under me； worth a whole legion of his men； and
that fine fellow Bagg to wait upon me； and take my orders。 Oh！
these last six weeks have passed like hours of heaven。'
'But your time must frequently hang heavy on your hands； this is a
strange wild place； and you must be very solitary？'
'I am never solitary； I have； as you see； all my things about me；
and there is plenty of company below stairs。 Not that I mix with
the soldiers； if I did； good…bye to my authority； but when I am
alone I can hear all their discourse through the planks； and I
often laugh to myself at the funny things they say。'
'And have you any acquaintance here？'
'The very best； much better than the Colonel and the rest； at their
grand Templemore； I had never so many in my whole life before。 One
has just left me； a gentleman who lives at a distance across the
bog； he comes to talk with me about Greek； and the ODYSSEY； for he
is a very learned man； and understands the old Irish； and various
other strange languages。 He has had a dispute with Bagg。 On
hearing his name； he called him to him； and； after looking at him
for some time with great curiosity； said that he was sure he was a
Dane。 Bagg； however； took the compliment in dudgeon； and said that
he was no more a Dane than himself； but a true…born Englishman； and
a sergeant of six years' standing。'
'And what other acquaintance have you？'
'All kinds； the whole neighbourhood can't make enough of me。
Amongst others there's the clergyman of the parish and his family；
such a venerable old man； such fine sons and daughters！ I am
treated by them like a son and a brother … I might be always with
them if I pleased； there's one drawback； however； in going to see
them； there's a horrible creature in the house； a kind of tutor；
whom they keep more from charity than anything else； he is a Papist
and； they say； a priest； you should see him scowl sometimes at my
red coat； for he hates the king； and not unfrequently； when the
king's health is drunk； curses him between his teeth。 I once got
up to strike him； but the youngest of the sisters； who is the
handsomest； caught my arm and pointed to her forehead。'
'And what does your duty consist of？ Have you nothing else to do
than