He went on with these pranks for some years, till
he took a fit of the blue devils.
"'Come away, Ned, to the - - lake, with me,' said he; 'I am weary of
my life, and I want a change.'
"'Shall we take the fishing-tackle?' says I. 'The black bass are in
prime season, and F - - will lend us the old canoe. He's got some
capital rum up from Kingston. We'll fish all day, and have a spree
at night.'
"'It's not to fish I'm going,' says he.
"'To shoot, then? I've bought Rockwood's new rifle.'
"'It's neither to fish nor to shoot, Ned: it's a new game I'm going
to try; so come along.'
"Well, to the - - lake we went. The day was very hot, and our path
lay through the woods, and over those scorching plains, for eight
long miles. I thought I should have dropped by the way; but during
our long walk my companion never opened his lips. He strode on
before me, at a half-run, never once turning his head.
"'The man must be the devil!' says I, 'and accustomed to a warmer
place, or he must feel this. Hollo, Brian! Stop there! Do you mean
to kill me?'
"'Take it easy,' says he; 'you'll see another day arter this - I've
business on hand, and cannot wait.'
"Well, on we went, at the same awful rate, and it was mid-day when
we got to the little tavern on the lake shore, kept by one F - -, who
had a boat for the convenience of strangers who came to visit the
place. Here we got our dinner, and a glass of rum to wash it down.
But Brian was moody, and to all my jokes he only returned a sort of
grunt; and while I was talking with F - -, he steps out, and a few
minutes arter we saw him crossing the lake in the old canoe.
"'What's the matter with Brian?' says F - -; 'all does not seem right
with him, Ned. You had better take the boat, and look arter him.'
"'Pooh!' says I; 'he's often so, and grows so glum nowadays that I
will cut his acquaintance altogether if he does not improve.'
"'He drinks awful hard,' says F - -; 'may be he's got a fit of the
delirium-tremulous. There is no telling what he may be up to at this
minute.'
"My mind misgave me, too, so I e'en takes the oars, and pushes out,
right upon Brian's track; and, by the Lord Harry!
