"He was a shoemaker by trade," said the old man, "and a better never left Ireland; he was 'prentice to ould Finucane in Ennis, and might have done well, if he had n't the turn for Americay."
"But he'll do better here, rely upon it," said I, inviting some further disclosures; "I'm certain he's not disappointed with having come out."
"No, indeed; glory be to God! he's doing finely; and 't was that persuaded my son Joe to sell the little place and come here; and a wonderful long way it is!"
After expending a few generalities on sea voyages in general, with a cursory glance at naval architecture, from Noah's "square" stern, down to the modern "round" innovation, we again returned to Dan, for whom I already conceived a strong interest.
"And is it far to New Orleans from this?" said the old man, who, I perceived, was struck by the air of sagacity in my discourse.
"New Orleans! why that's in the States, a thousand miles away!"
"Oh, murther, murther!" cried the old fellow, wringing his hands; "and ain't we in the States?"
"Joe, Joe!" cried he, pulling his son by the collar, "listen to this, acushla. Oh, murther, murther! we're kilt and destroyed intirely!"
"What is it, father?" said a tall, powerfully built man, who spoke in a low but resolute voice; "what ails you?"
"Tell him, darlint, tell him!" said the old man, not able to utter his griefs.
"It seems," said I, "that you believed yourselves in the States; now, this is not so. This is British America,--Lower Canada."
"Isn't it 'Quaybec'?" said he, standing full in front of me.
"It is Quebec--, but still, that is Canada."
"And it's ten thousand miles from Dan!" said the old fellow, whose cries were almost suffocating him.
"Whisht, father, and let me talk," said the son; "do you know New Orleans?"
"Perfectly.--every street of it," said I, with an effrontery the darkness aided considerably.
"Something like thirteen or fourteen hundred miles, at a rough guess."
"Oh, th' eternal villain! if I had him by the neck!" cried Joe, as he struck the ground a blow with his blackthorn which certainly would not have improved the human face divine; "he towld me they were a few miles asunder,--an easy day's walk!"
"The chap on Eden Quay, in Dublin, where we took our passage."