"When suddenly I touched 'Paul' in both flanks, down he dropped, like a
parish clerk, stiff and motionless as a statue.

"'What's that?' cried two or three behind.

"'He's setting, said I, in a whisper.

"'What is it, though?' said one.

"'A hare!' said I, and at the same instant I shouted to lay on the dogs,
and tipping Paul's ears, forward I went. Out bolted puss, and away we
started across the country, I leading, and taking all before me.

"We killed in half an hour, and found ourselves not far from the first
cover; my friend Tim, being as before in advance, making the same signal
as at first. The same performance was now repeated. 'Paul' went through
his part to perfection; and notwithstanding the losses, a general cheer
saluted us as we sprung to our legs, and dashed after the dogs.

"Of course I didn't spare him: everything now depended on my sustaining
our united fame; and there was nothing too high or too wide for me, that
morning.

"'What will you take for him, Mr. O'Kelly?' was the question of each
man, as he came up to the last field.

"'Would you like any further proof?' said I. 'Is any gentleman
dissatisfied?'

"A general 'No' was the answer; and again the offers were received from
every quarter, while they produced the bank-notes, and settled their
bets. It was no part of my game, however, to sell him; the trick might
be discovered before I left the country, and if so, there wouldn't be a
whole bone remaining in my skin.

"My refusal evidently heightened both _my_ value and _his_, and I
sincerely believe there was no story I could tell, on our ride back to
town, which would not have met credence that morning; and, indeed, to do
myself justice, I tried my popularity to its utmost.

"By way of a short cut back, as the fair was to begin at noon, we took a
different route, which led across some grass fields, and a small river.
In traversing this, I unfortunately was in the middle of some miraculous
anecdote, and entirely forgot my pony and his acquirements; and as he
stopped to drink, without thinking of what I was doing, with the common
instinct of a rider, I touched him with the spur. Scarcely had the rowel
reached his side, when down he fell, sending me head foremost over his
neck into the water. For a second or two the strength of the current
carried me along, and it was only after a devil of a scramble I gained
my legs, and reached the bank wet through, and heartily ashamed of
myself.

"'E