sure,' cried one of the boys, as with
difficulty ne sat the plunging beast under him.

"'No, sir,' shouted another, 'he's bigger nor Billy, but he has a look
of Hogan about the eyes.'

"'Hould your prate,' cried the master. 'Sure Hogan was hanged at the
summer assizes.'

"'I know he was, sir,' was the answer, given as coolly, as though no
contradiction arose on that score.

"'Who are you,' cried the leader? 'where do you come from?'

"'From Ephesus, my lord,' said I, bowing with stage solemnity, and
replacing my sword within my scabbard.

"'Where?' shouted he, with his hand to his ear.

"'From Kilrush, most potent,' replied I, approaching near enough to
converse without being overheard by the others: while in a few words
I explained, that my costume and appearance were only professional
symbols, which a hasty departure from my friends prevented my changing.

"'And where are you going now?' was the next query.

"'May I ask you the same,' said I.

"'Me, why I'm for Killaloe--for the fair tomorrow.'

"'That's exactly my destination,' said I.

"'And how do you mean to go?' retorted he, 'It's forty miles from here.'

"'I have a notion,' replied I, 'that the dark chesnut there, with the
white fetlock, will have the honour of conveying me.'

"A very peculiar grin, which I did not half admire, was the reply to
this speech.

"'There's many a one I wouldn't take under five shillings from, for the
day,' said I; 'but the times are bad, and somehow I like the look of
you. Is it a bargain?'

"'Faix, I'm half inclined to let you try the same horse,' said he.
'It would be teaching you something, any how. Did ye ever hear of the
Playboy?'

"'To be sure I did. Is that he?'

"He nodded.

"'And you're Dan Moone,' said I.

"'The same,' cried he, in astonishment.

"'Come, Dan, turn about is fair play. I'll ride the horse for you
to-morrow--where you like, and over, what you like--and in reward,
you'll let me mount one of the others as far as Killaloe: we'll dine
together at the cross roads.'--Here I slipped the mutton from under the
tail of my coat.--'Do you say done?'

"'Get upon the gray pony,' was the short rejoinder; and the next moment
I was seated on the back of as likely a cob as I ever bestrode.

"My first care was to make myself master of my companion's character,
which I did in a very short time, while affecting to disclose my own,
watching, with a sharp eye, how each portion of my history told upon
h