Hudy XIII

Chapter XIII - The Race - Leap over Glenadry

Sir Walter Scott was a worthy - a true Scotch worthy, though differing much in spirit from those on whom the title has been rather ludicously conferred. Had Hudy McGuigan known the Baronet, he would have admired him with unbounded admiration: he would have loved, venerated, yea almost adored him, for that indomitable, that holy spirit of nationality, which throws its eternal blazonry over all his works! Scotland was to him what Ireland was to the Quarterclift - the sole object of his best affections; and to raise her name and her fame, and to give her proud distinction among the nations of the earth, was the grand aim of all his thoughts, wishes, toils and labours. He succeeded, and had his reward; for while her barren crags, her heath-clad hills, her silvery lakes, her sweet secluded dells, her wild savage but sublime scenery, resist the attacks of time, they shall all remain the adamantine chronicles of his never-dying fame.

Alas for Ireland! on how few of her sons can a similar glory rest! One might have earned as much: yea, his genius could have secured more; but he mistook his course. He condescended to burn incense at the shrine of power, who himself might have received the homage of millions! And Moore is contented to shine as the knight of the boudoir, the prince of lyrists; while he should, for he could, have stood the first object of a gratified nation's most fervent devotion.

How different was the conduct of Hudy McGuigan! With a burning love of his native land, and a due sense of his own dignity, he spurned the degrading idea of transferring the glory of his deeds to England, or of robbing his country of a single iota of that fame which the genius of her true sons is so well qualified to cast around her story. It may not be fair to say that Sir Walter followed in the footsteps of our hero, or that he at all made him his model; but though it is not clearly proved that they had any private understanding or direct communication, yet is it not singular that they hit upon the same line of action, and maintained their glorious determination with the same unyielding tenacity?

But the Baronet in his exuberant love of country, sometimes to the disparagement of other nations carried the joke too far; or as Hudy more elegantly expressed it: "he made too much of the monkey". He certainly had the happiest knack in the world of painting his heroes, and even their subordinates, in colours that left little doubt as to the hand which threw off the picture; yet is he not the less obnoxious to the charge of an occasional bounce, for which he must be taken to task more than once during the course of our labours. "Roderic Dhu", as all the world knows, was one of his favorite characters: and no wonder, for Hudy McGuigan himself declared that he was "a jewel of a boy - bad luck to the betther".

Yet forgetting the unity of action, and that prominence to which "Black Roddy" was entitled, he confers on his henchman the most extraordinary powers, and thus heralds the clansman's fame:

Speed, Malise, speed - the dun deer's hide
On fleeter foot was never tied.

And yet, notwithstanding this evident attempt at swelling, the canny Scot spoke his word with a warrant: for devil a dun deer's hide, whether green or tanned, ever wrapped the manly limb of Hudy McGuigan. Such buskins might do very well for Red Shanks or Highland Caterans, but had ill consorted with the more polished usage and enlightened ideas of our Irish Hero; so we can afford the grant the "Northern Wizard" the equivocal value of his boast.

But as neither lectures on patriotism nor critiques on romances were objects of our original design, it may be as well to return.

And yet we have been legitimately employed, for the Quarterclift was, and is, a patriot; and his life, could it be duly brought before the world, would indeed appear a varied, interesting and astonishing romance.

However, the moment for starting on the race had arrived - the ground was marked out - the runners were to make a circuit of a mile round a chain of pickets, or signal-staffs, with small pennons attached; at each of which three judges (one from each party) were stationed, to ensure fair play. The victor was to receive, from the hands of a gentleman placed at the last of these, a white flag in token of victory; and to take the shortest cut in return to the starting post.

Hudy had now gained a character: twice that morning under adverse circumstances had he turned the current of public opinion; and though two fresh competitors were started against him, he had certainly the advantage of standing the favorite. The Colonel offered to bet largely - ten to one - twenty to one - a hundred to one - but none would accept the terms - so the signal was given, and off in a breast bounded the racers.

For a length of time they kept together and appeared to be well matched, though it was observed that Hudy was skipping and frolicking along, exhibiting more the antics of a mountain goat than the anxiety of a person engaged in a serious and important struggle; at length, when within about a furlong of "the turning post", our hero good-naturedly addressed to his companions,

"Augh by the powers, boys darlin's, I'm sorry to lave ye but it's high time to be aff, do ye mind. The best of friends must part, so here goes."

And off he darted with the velocity of a tempest. On arriving at the last station, he seized the outstretched flag, waved it in triumph, and with unabated vigour in the return race doubled the ground on his flagging and dispirited companions. The cheers of the crowd were deafening, but highly disgreeable to the object that elicited them, and he could not resist a burning desire to rebuke their senseless and unmeasured acclamation.

"Bad luck attend yez, for a pack of gomerils! have yez no gumption at all? Divil a sowl among yez could tell what he's roaring at! Baugh! ye omadhons! ye would whuzza after a Jack Ass wid cadger's creels on his back just as fast, do ye mind! so divil thank ye for your pains! Will ye thry and hould yer wheesht now if you can? eh!"

The Colonel, in buoyant spirits, now advanced to his champion, and greeting him most cordially said,

"Well my noble fellow, you have gallantly borne me out today, and while I live you may rest satisfied of never wanting a sincere and grateful friend."

"Bi do hocht, Colonel darlin' - Say nothing about it - sure divil a betther sport myself would ax; becase ye see, as my ould mother would say, I was just in my ailayment; and," he added in a sincere and impressive tone, "by my sowl she's as good a dhrap of blood as in the seven counties, and that's the truth, do ye mind! But would any of the chaps give me a thrial at fencing, do ye think? becase why, now's jist the time: for the blood's up, ye parsave."

"I really do not think they would, Hudy," said the Colonel with an arch smile. "I am sure the sample of your talents already afforded is quite satisfactory to all present; but though the contests are over, I expect your company on the mountain during the week, where you will have ample opportunity of exhibiting your unrivalled powers in pursuit of the game."

"Well I'm behoulden to ye Colonel; but faix I'm not half satisfied yet, becase, ye parsave, there's wan wee thrick I want to let ye see before we have done; and bad luck to me, but that'll be a copy to the county till the day of judgment, do ye mind!"

"And what, pray, may that be?" said the Colonel, in kindest tone.

"Why, jist to lape acrass the Crooked Burn beyant there; and then, ye see, I'll put an my clothes, and appear like another Christian."

The Colonel was surprised, astonished, terrified. He was prepared to give the Clift credit for the most extraordinary agility and muscular power; but the accomplishment of the proposed feat seemed to him an absolute impossibility. He resolved at once to refuse it his sanction:

"Why surely Hudy you are but in jest?"

"Bad luck to all indeed!"

"Then you must be mad; for no man in his senses would make so unnecessary and so desperate an attempt."

"The divil a mad nor mad an me. Faix I'm as cool as a cowcumber; and by the powers I'm detarmed to thry it."

"Why Hudy, I tell you that birds alone may cross that chasm - there never breathed a man could leap it."

"By my sowl did there two, and that was Shane Crossagh and myself."

"But suppose you could, don't you perceive that if by any chance you missed your footing, you would be dashed to pieces in a moment."

"Bad luck to the fears! Whew! by the powers, I have laped more dangerous places nor that; besides, ye see, I'm not going blindly to work. Tam Gabha and me threw the sthring acrass it, and divil an inch is it from bank to brae but thirty feet cloth measure; and sure I can lape thirty-three on the level rig by the Dublin yard, and that's an inch-and-a-half more nor ours, do ye mind; so ye may as well tell the gentlemen I'll give them something to talk about; for bad luck to me but I'll lape the Crooked Burn or break my neck before half-an-hour. There now!!"

The Colonel was a dare-devil himself - he had performed as many mad feats as any gentleman in the country; but here he found himself fairly outdone: he was satisfied that there was one who ranked a grade higher than himself in the category of Clifts. And when he saw the wild excited flash of our hero's eye throwing its brilliant light over his deeply corrugated and determined countenance, he offered no further opposition; yet did he deeply regret being the innocent, or rather unintentional, spring that wound the Clift up to his present insane resolution. He was left however but short time to indulge in bitter reflection, as Hudy, to baffle all expostulation, not only announced his intention to the crowd, but began to take immediate steps for carrying his resolution into effect.

Hudy led the way to a little table-land on a level with the banks of the burn. He ranged the crowd in double lines, some three or four yards separate - he placed a handkerchief to serve as a trig, three feet distant from the brink - he then retired for a race, in order to gain the due velocity before his bound. Colonel Heyland, the noblemen and gentlemen were posted on the very bank; the personal friends of our hero saw that his course was cleared. The excitement was extreme - all knew the danger to be encountered; and a death-like silence was instinctively observed. The signal was given.

The Clift for a moment seemed struck with a solemn awe - he gazed wildly about him -

He looked to sun, to stream and plain,
As what he ne'er might see again.

Then, bracing himself for action, his accustomed firmness came in an instant, and -

"Whew! your sowls, here goes!"

With a flushed face, but an eye that never moved off its object, forward he came "like a soul in chase". A bound! a deep groan of uncontrollable agony from the multitude; but before it could strike upon his ear, the triumphant Quarterclift stood in safety upon the opposite bank of "Glenadry, or The Crooked Burn"!

It is natural to suppose that the feelings of our hero were excited to the highest pitch. He had suffered that day the contempt of the great, as well as the scorn of the humbler part of the crowd: he had borne himself gallantly throughout, and had earned golden opinions from his very antagonists; but now that he stood so vastly beyond any comparison, his moderation and dignity were as remarkable as his former fire and energy. Not an unfeeling allusion did he make to his unsuccessful competitors; not a sarcastic reference did he direct even against Lord Caledon: his patron was the only person to whom he vouchsafed a word:

"Whew! Colonel, how do ye like that spring? Sure I'm a sthrange fowl, eh? Will ye believe yer eyes now? Didn't I tell ye I would lave a copy for the county till the day of judgment? And haven't I kept my word? For bad luck to the man'll ivir play the same thrick till Shane Crossagh rises out of the grave, do ye mind!"

The delight of the Colonel was extreme. He had deemed that the failure of the Clift was inevitable, and looked on the consequences with torture; but now that all danger was removed, his joyous feelings rose in proportion with their late depression, and he received Hudy as a father would a son unexpectedly rescued from imminent danger. The sports being all terminated, the crowd dispersed; and the gentlemen and their retainers retired to more substantial enjoyments, in order to recruit for the fatigues of the coming day.

This page was last updated 11 Nov 2018