“When this expedient had been hit upon, several young men volunteered themselves to put it in practice; and in a short time a considerable number of both sexuals crossed over, without the occurrence of any unpleasant accident.  Paddy O’Hallaghan and his family had been stationed for some time on the bank, watching the success of the plan; and as it appeared not to be attended with any particular danger, they also determined to make the attempt.  About a perch below the planks stood John O’Callaghan, watching the progress of those who were crossing them, but taking no part in what was going forward.  The river, under the planks, and for some perches above and below them, might be about ten feet deep; but to those who could swim, it was less perilous, should any accident befall them, than those parts where the current was more rapid, but shallower.  The water here boiled, and bubbled, and whirled about; but it was slow, and its yellow surface unbroken by rocks or fords.

“The first of the O’Hallaghans that ventured over it was the youngest, who, being captured by the hand, was encouraged by many cheerful expressions from the young men who were clinging to the planks.  She got safe over, however; and when she came to the end, one who was stationed on the bank gave her a joyous pull, that translated her several yards upon terra firma.

“‘Well, Nancy,’ he observed, ’you’re safe, anyhow; and if I don’t dance at your wedding for this, I’ll never say you’re dacent.’

“To this Nancy gave a jocular promise, and he resumed his station, that he might be ready to render similar assistance to her next sister.  Rose Galh then went to the edge of the plank several times, but her courage as often refused to be forthcoming.  During her hesitation, John O’Callaghan stooped down, and privately untied his shoes, then unbuttoned his waistcoat, and very gently, being unwilling to excite notice, slipped the knot of his cravat.  At long last, by the encouragement of those who were on the plank, Rose attempted the passage, and had advanced as far as the middle of it, when a fit of dizziness and alarm seized her with such violence, that she lost all consciousness—­a circumstance of which those who handed her along were ignorant.  The consequence, as might be expected, was dreadful; for as one of the young men was receiving her hand, that he might pass her to the next, she lost her momentum, and was instantaneously precipitated into the boiling current.

“The wild and fearful cry of horror that succeeded this cannot be laid on paper.  The eldest sister fell into strong convulsions, and several of the other females fainted on the spot.  The mother did not faint; but, like Lot’s wife, she seemed to be translated into stone:  her hands became clenched convulsively, her teeth locked, her nostrils dilated, and her eyes shot half way out of her head.  There she stood, looking upon her daughter struggling in the flood, with a fixed gaze or wild and impotent frenzy, that, for fearful ness, beat the thunder-storm all to nothing.  The father rushed to the edge of the river, oblivious of his incapability to swim, determined to save her or lose his own life, which latter would have been a dead certainty, had he ventured; but he was prevented by the crowd, who pointed out to him the madness of such a project.