unprotected girl, and may be, I'll live to come back again wid the gowlden guines, plaze God, and meet the sisters and the brothers I'll lave behind me."
"By the powers but I'll purtect you" said the tall fellow, as he wrapped his freize coat around her, and was about pushing off the boat, when the boatman asked him for his fare.
"Sure, I've got my fair here, and I'll not part wid her," exclaimed "Big Mick," as he was familiarly called by his countrymen, placing his brawny arm round Rose Blaney's waist "to keep her steady," as he said, for the boat was rocking.
"I want sixpence of you," said the boatman.
"Och, murther !" said Mick, "it's sixpence you want of me, is it ? — well thin, I've only got four pince, and sure," Mick continued, coaxingly, "you wouldn't take that, and lave a poor divil to land in a furrin counthry without a rap."
"Come; none of your blarney," said the boatman; and he repeated his demand for the impossible sixpence.
"Bad scran to ye — ye hard-hearted vagabon — your sowl, if you have any, is as ugly as your face: — now boys," shouted Big Mick, turning about to his countrymen, "will yes make up the other tuppence for me?"
Many hands were immediately thrust into pockets — or rather, pocket-holes, in many cases; but which were quite sound enough for their owners' possessions. Before Hugh had time to carry his impulse into effect and pay the poor emigrant's fare, a handful of coppers were given to Mick. Selecting the required amount, he held it out with the fourpenny piece to the boatman, who was in the act of taking the money, when the Irishman withdrew his hand, and with the most annoying grin in the world said, "Maybe, you'd like to have it all in halfpence — it looks more." Hugh now beckoned Mick to come ashore to him, which he did with the agility of an experienced sailor, and presented him
