hitherto begun nothing. Some thirty or forty wretched-looking men
were clustered together in the dirt and slop and mud, on the brow of
the hill, armed with such various tools as each was able to
find--with tools, for the most part, which would go but a little way
in making Ballydahan Hill level or accessible. This question of
tools also came to a sort of understood settlement before long; and
within three months of the time of which I am writing legions of
wheelbarrows were to be seen lying near every hill; wheelbarrows in
hundreds and thousands. The fate of those myriads of wheelbarrows
has always been a mystery to me.

"So you have begun, my men," said Herbert, addressing them in a
kindly voice. There was a couple of gangsmen with them, men a little
above the others in appearance, but apparently incapable of
commencing the work in hand, for they also were standing idle,
leaning against a bit of wooden paling. It had, however, been
decided that the works at Ballydahan Hill should begin on this day,
and there were the men assembled. One fact admitted of no doubt,
namely, this, that the wages would begin from this day.

And then the men came and clustered round Herbert's horse. They were
wretched-looking creatures, half-clad, discontented, with hungry
eyes, each having at his heart's core a deep sense of injustice done
personally upon him. They hated this work of cutting hills from the
commencement to the end,--hated it, though it was to bring them
wages and save them and theirs from actual famine and death. They
had not been accustomed to the discomfort of being taken far from
their homes to their daily work. Very many of them had never worked
regularly for wages, day after day, and week after week. Up to this
time such was not the habit of Irish cottiers. They held their own