the other, Morgan, living in the
upper apartments. Both at the same moment invited a Spanish captain, who
had come into the port, to dine with them. The foreigner, embarrassed by
their hospitality, and not wishing to show an undue preference--as
neither brother would give way--agreed to give his company to whichever
gentleman had his repast cooked first. The brothers repaired with speed
to the castle, and Morgan was chagrined when he had mounted to his
rooms, to find that Shawn had barricaded the entrance behind him, to
prevent his servants from drawing water to cook the dinner. But he
was not to be foiled, for, broaching a cask of wine, he cooked in it
what he wanted, and as his dinner was first prepared, the Spaniard and
his brother Shawn were his guests! In the wars of the Commonwealth the
castle was reduced. ~Derriana Lake~, in the bed of the mountains--with
wisps of mist on its further shores--is like a dream picture. The fair
isle floating in its centre is freighted down with oak and arbutus trees
standing out in relief against the mountain, and reflected in the
mirror-faced waters. The coloured setting of the surroundings is
exquisite. The cliffs bristle crest high with rigid firs, the young oak
copse is entangled with an undergrowth of guelder rose, and in the
sedges near the heron-frequented reeds, white water lilies open their
wonderful eyes. Close by, ~Cloonaghlin Lake~, when it is dark with
mountain shadows and frowning clouds, is sufficiently desolate to awe
the least susceptible, but when auspiciously the sky is brightened, we
feel--

"Truly the light is sweet, and
A pleasant thing it is for the
Eyes to behold the sun."

The shadows recede into the depths of the water or the hollows of the
hills, the many colours of the trees show themselves; and song-birds
begin anew their music, as though a great hawk had been near, and had
passed them by scathless.

VALENCIA ISLAND

May truly be termed the "Next parish to America," and should be visited
for its noble cliffs, wild headlands, and wonderful jungle of fuschia
trees. From Valencia Harbour a ferry, manned for upwards of a century by
the O'Neills, brings passengers and mails across to Knightstown, the
principal village, and a busy port of industry during the fishing
season. Glenleam, the Knight of Kerry's residence--about one mile
inland--is surrounded by beautiful gardens, where, besides arbutus and
myrtle, many tropical exotics thrive. The fus