. Despite her white woollen shawl
and the work she was engaged upon, it was quite evident, from her
voice and manner, that the shepherdess was of the educated class, and
the shepherd, albeit dressed in a leather jacket, carried himself with
the true military air. Both were obviously amateurs at sheep-driving,
and the smart, intelligent bull terrier was as much an amateur as
either of them, for shepherd, shepherdess and dog were only doing what
a good collie would achieve alone and unaided. Behind the shepherd
were two tall members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in full uniform
and with carbines loaded. As the shepherd entered the field the
constables followed him everywhere at a distance of a few yards. All
his backings and fillings, turnings and doublings, were followed by
the armed policemen. This combination of the most proverbially
peaceful of pursuits with carbines and buckshot was irresistibly
striking, and the effect of the picture was not diminished by the
remarks of Mr. and Mrs. Boycott, for the shepherd and shepherdess were
no other than these. The condition of Mr. Boycott and his family has
undergone not the slightest amelioration since he last week wrote a
statement of his case to a daily contemporary. In fact, he is in many
respects worse off. It will be recollected that about a month ago a
process-server and his escort retreated on Lough Mask House, followed
by a mob, and that on the following day all the farm servants were
ordered to leave Mr. Boycott's employment. I may mention that Mr.
Boycott is a Norfolk man, the son of a clergyman, and was formerly an
officer in the 39th Regiment. On his marriage he settled on the Island
of Achill, near here, and farmed there until he was offered some land
agencies, which occupied so much of his time, that he, after some
twenty years' residence in Achill, elected to take a farm on the
mainland. For seven years he has farmed at Lough Mask, acting also as
Lord Erne's agent. He has on his own account had a few difficulties
with his workpeople; but these were tided over by concessions on his
part, and all went smoothly till the serving of notices upon Lord
Erne's tenants. All the weight of the tenants' vengeance has fallen
upon the unfortunate agent, whom the irritated people declare they
will "hunt out of the country." The position is an extraordinary one.
During his period of occupation Mr. Boycott has laid out a great deal
of money on his farm, has improved the roads,