Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

1 62 Fictions of the Irish Celts.
honey," says I, " what's troubhng you ? " " It's air I
want," says he ; " hft up the led a Uttle." I hfted up a
comer. " That won't do," says he ; " I'm stifling. Throw
off the led, body and bones." I did so, and there was a
wicked-looking old fellow inside, with a beard on him a
week old. "Thankee, ma'am," says he; "I think I'll
be the easier for that. This is a lonesome place them
thieves left me in. Would you please to join me in a
game of spoil-five V " Oh, musha, sir," says I, "isn't it
thinking of making your sowl you ought to be %" "I
don't want your advice," says he ; " maybe I haven't a
soul at all. There's the cards. I deal— you cut."
Well, I was so afeard that I took a hand with him ;
but the dirty divel, he done nothing the whole time but
cursin', and swearin', and cheatin'. At last, says I to myself,
" I can't be safe in such company." So I threw
down the cards, though I was within three of the game,
and walked off. " Come back and finish the game,
Cauth Morrisy," says he, shouting out, " or I'll make it
the bad game for you." But I didn't let on to hear him,
and walked away. "Won't you come back, Cauth?"
says he ; " then here goes." Well, the life had like to
leave me, for I heard him tearing after me in his coffin,
every bounce it gave striking terror into my heart.
I run, and I bawled, and he bawling after me, and
the coffin smashing against the stones. At last, where
did I find myself but at the old gentleman's door, and
if I didn't spring in and fasten the bolt, leave it till
again.
" Ah, is that you, my little colleen ? I thought you
were asleep. Maybe you have a story for me now."
" Indeed an' I have, sir," says I, an' I told him all that
happen me since I saw him last. " You suffered a good
deal," says he. " If you told me that story before, all
your trouble i'd be spared to you." " But how could I
tell it, sir," says I, " before it happened % " " That's true,"
says he, and he began to scratch his wig. I was getting
drowsy, and I didn't remember anything more till I woke