Hudy IX

Chapter IX - A Hunt - A New Acquaintance

It was after having given, as usual, practical proofs of extraordinary powers, during a long day's hard hunting, where our hero on two feet, his daring hound, "Touch," on four, were first "in at the death," that he made a most valuable acquaintance in the person of Colonel Heyland, of Glendaragh Lodge. That gentleman, through all the toils of the day, had observed, with much surprise, the extraordinary agility of a person, totally unencumbered by clothing, who occasionally followed, but as frequently took the lead of the dogs, during their long and weary chase, over a not very favourable country. Burning with anxiety to learn the name and character of this strange customer, he frequently pressed upon the mettle of his noble steed; but all to little purpose: he merely outstripped the horsemen, but could make nothing of the footman; who, as it would appear, had chalked out a particular course for Master Reynard, and availing himself of all the well-known near-cuts, was, therefore, more than a match for both man and horse. The poor fox had paid the debt of nature, and was hanging over Hudy's shoulder, when the Colonel came up. Somewhat exasperated that the honor should be thus snatched from his hands, and by such a fellow, he accosted the Clift rather roughly:

"Damn your naked soul, you scoundrel!"

But, ere he could finish his sentence, the Clift's ready tongue burst in on him with,

"Bi do hocht Colonel jewel. Faix you made a mistake; it's the body you mean surely: who tould you the sowl was naked? eh!"

And he laughed archly in the Colonel's face; but that gentleman was more irritated than soothed by the easy indifference of Hudy, and he continued,

"You abominable scoundrel, who gave you liberty to spoil our sport? What brought you here, pray?"

"Faix, then, Colonel, to tell you the truth, I just took the liberty. And sure you might parsave I came here on Shank's mare, a better courser nor your garron, do you mind; but, by my sowl, that was your fault, for divil a purtier frame of a horse in the county, after all."

Unaccustomed to such replies, the Colonel was half indignant; but the perfect nonchalance, and piquant retort of the semi-savage, convinced him, that here his ire would spend itself unheeded; and loving an original, wherever he met one, he softened his useless asperity of tone and said,

"It appears you know my name."

"Augh, in thrath I knowed your name before ivir I seed your parson; and, by my sowl, it wudn't be an aisy job for me to forget that same, afther the first sight I got of you."

"Well, I really am not cognizant of the fact; but you must have seen me before now."

"In thrath I did, and was in your company too; but I wasn't jist in my present dhress, you parsave, so you can't well mind me; but, by the powers, I kept foot wid you, for seven long miles, the day you rode the race round Lough Neagh, when divil a man nor horse in the gatherin', but myself, could come widin whistle of you, - becase why, you were mounted on Mr. Mulhollan's racer, - 'ould Eel-Skinner from Toome', do you mind."

"And are you really the boy that followed me so far, and made such surprising leaps, during the performance of that mad freak ?"

"Faix I'm the man that was the boy then, and divil a doubt indeed!"

"Well, upon my honor, I believe we will not readily forget each other! for, I think, the impression you have made on my mind, today, will be quite as lasting as that which I may have had the good fortune of making on yours. But where, pray, could I find you again, should I require the honor of your company, on an occasion similar to the present?"

"Whew! by my sowl, Colonel, I hate gosther. Compliments is only a cloak: the naked thruth and a clane skin needs none, do you mind; but, if you want me, you have only to ax for Hudy McGuigan of Stramore, in Ballinascreen, and divil a man in the parish'll say he doesn't know me, I'll be bound."

The Colonel felt rebuked by the unsophisticated strictures of the Clift; and, as his friends were coming up, he was rather anxious to get quit of his acquaintance. He happened to be the only man at the hunt ignorant of our hero's character, and he, rather in a hurried manner, offered to purchase the fox.

"No, no, Colonel, acushla, I lifted him, and, by my sowl I'll keep him, becase why, he has a capitial brush, and I want a false tail to stick to my helmet, and divil a betther I could get and search the county, do you mind."

The Colonel saw there was no use in contesting the point. He departed, but not without pressing upon our hero a handsome mark of his good wishes and esteem.

About ten days after this occurrence, Hudy was delighted one morning with a visit from the Colonel, who was then on his journey to Dungiven mountains, there to spend some weeks with Lord O'Neill, Lord Caledon, and many other gentlemen of great respectability, assembled for the purpose of opening the game campaign, with great éclat. The season was particularly fine, and each nobleman and gentleman, attended by a retinue of servants, was provided with tents, and all the necessary apparatus for rendering their sojourn as comfortable as possible. After the usual salutations, the Colonel lost no time in laying open his views.

"Well, Hudy, my boy, any spare time on hands at present?"

"Plenty, by the powers, at your sarvice Colonel, acushla!"

"Could you spend a week with me at present?"

"Augh, blood-an-oundhers, a month, if you plaise!"

"Would you have any objection to go to the Dungiven mountains?"

"Divil have all! - To the well of the world's end, by my sowl, if you only lade the way."

"I have made a bet on you, Hudy, will you stand it?"

"By the powers I don't know, Colonel, but let me hear it, and I'll tell you my mind."

"Well, I have undertaken to produce a man that will beat any other on the field, at running, leaping, or throwing the stone."

"Whew! your sowl! Augh, by the powers, I'm your man! Tare-an-ages, why didn't you put in fencing too? but may be you could hook them yet, do you mind!"

"Well, perhaps I could. But, Hudy, remember the bets are high, and the crack men of three counties - Antrim, Derry, and Tyrone - will be there."

"Augh, naboclish! Bad scran to me, Colonel, but it's all one to me; only, you parsave, you must let me have my own way. When must I be there?"

"The day after tomorrow, at twelve o'clock, precisely."

"Well, by the powers, if there's breath in my body I won't twin you; so you may cut now, as soon as you like - but stap! where'll I find you?"

"The tents will be pitched in the Grassy Hollow, at Glenadry, or the Crooked Burn."

"I know the spot - Beanacht lat!"

And the two friends parted in high spirits, as well as on the best possible terms.

This page was last updated 7 Nov 2018