s his wife
sprang out of bed shrieking, and his children collected round him.
Almost out of his wits with terror, the poor fellow declared that he
had obeyed the notice, that he had relinquished his office, and that
he was out of work, and full of trouble in consequence.

After some little consultation the chiefs of the Blackfaces consented
to swear Griffin as to the truth of his statement, and while guns were
held to his breast and to each side of his head, he swore solemnly
that he had obeyed the notice, that he was no longer watching
Sullivan's farm, and that he would never offend in such wise again.

When an end was made of swearing him, poor Griffin, more dead than
alive, was marched out alone between his guards into the road, where
he found himself among a score more of men, all with blackened faces.
Then, so far as I could understand Griffin, the leader of the men
outside displayed some dissatisfaction at the way in which things had
passed off, and expressed his determination that the unhappy caretaker
should not go scot free.

"What did we come out for to-night?" growled the chief; "did we come
out for nothing?" Muffled groans followed this appeal, and encouraged
the spokesman to add, "Shall we go back as we came, boys?" the answer
to which was a decided negative. Then the unlucky man, Griffin, saw
something glitter in the chief's hand, and while he was kept steady by
gun barrels pressing against each side of his head, he felt a sharp
pain in his left ear, and the blood running down his neck.

As to what followed he was very incoherent; but it seems that the
Blackfaces departed, leaving him with his wife and children nearly
frightened to death, and with the top of his ear cut clean off.

I may add, as an indication of the state of Kerry, that a gentleman
invited to meet me last night postponed the meeting till daylight, on
the ground that night air is not good for landlords. Not a single
person directly or indirectly connected with land ventures out unarmed
even in broad daylight. It is needless to say that no money would hire
a man to watch Sullivan's farm.

XIV.

IN KERRY.

TRALEE, CO. KERRY, _Wednesday, December 8th._

The character of the principal estates in counties Cork and Kerry
appears to be like that of their bacon and beef--streaky. There are to
be seen some admirable specimens of skilful and liberal management, as
well as instances of almost insane blundering on the part of both
l