en her own, called him by his name.

Seymour started at the sound of the voice, opened his eyes, and in the
beauteous form which was reclining over him, beheld his dear, dear
Emily.

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN.

Ah me! what perils do environ
The man that meddles with cold iron;
What plaguey mischiefs and mishaps
To dog him still with after-claps.
HUDIBRAS.

The melancholy loss of lives which we have detailed, occurred upon a
reef of rocks close to Cape ---, on the coast of Galway, and not four
miles from the castle and property held by Mr Rainscourt. The
intelligence had been communicated to McElvina by some of his tenants,
early in the morning of the day on which the survivors had gained the
shore. The western gales, sweeping the Atlantic, and blowing with such
fury on the coast, would not permit any vegetation or culture so near
the beach; but when once past the range of hills which exposed their
rugged sides as barriers to the blast, the land was of good quality, and
thickly tenanted. The people were barbarous to an excess, and, as they
had stated, claimed a traditionary right to whatever property might be
thrown up from the numerous wrecks which took place upon the dangerous
and iron-bound coast. This will account for the tragical events of the
day.

When McElvina was informed of vessels having been stranded, he
immediately went up to the castle to procure the means of assistance,
which were always held there in readiness, and as many of Rainscourt's
people as could be collected. This, however, required some little
delay; and Emily, shocked at the imperfect intelligence which had been
conveyed to her, determined to ride down immediately, in company with
Mrs McElvina, and a young friend who was staying with her during her
father's absence. On their arrival at the sea-range of hills, the
explosion of the shealing, and subsequent conflict between the parties,
met their eyes. Emily's fears, and knowledge of the Irish peasantry,
immediately suggested the cause, and, aware of her influence with the
Rainscourt tenants, she made all the haste that the roads would permit
to arrive at the spot, galloping down the hill, in so bold and dexterous
a style, that her companions neither could nor would have dared to keep
pace with her. How fortunate was her arrival need hardly be observed,
as in all probability the English seamen would eventually have been
sacrificed to the cupidity and resentment of the nativ