out his hand and touched a head.

"It's only a boy's size to be sure," said he, then he slid his hand down
the face and withdrew it quickly.

"There are whiskers on it," said he soberly. "What the devil can it be?
I never met whiskers so near the ground before. Maybe they are false
ones, and it's just the boy yonder trying to disguise himself." He put
out his hand again with an effort, felt his way to the chin, and tugged.

Instantly there came a yell, so loud, so sudden, that every man of them
jumped in a panic.

"They are real whiskers," said the sergeant with a sigh. "I wish I knew
what it is. His voice is big enough for two men, and that's a fact. Have
you got another match on you?"

"I have two more in my waistcoat pocket," said one of the men.

"Give me one of them," said the sergeant; "I'll strike it myself."

He groped about until he found the hand with the match.

"Be sure and hold him tight, Shawn, the way we can have a good look at
him, for this is like to be a queer miracle of a thing."

"I'm holding him by the two arms," said Shawn, "he can't stir anything
but his head, and I've got my chest on that."

The sergeant struck the match, shading it for a moment with his hand,
then he turned it on their new prisoner.

They saw a little man dressed in tight green clothes; he had a broad
pale face with staring eyes, and there was a thin fringe of grey whisker
under his chin--then the match went out.

"It's a Leprecaun," said the sergeant.

The men were silent for a full couple of minutes-at last Shawn spoke.

"Do you tell me so?" said he in a musing voice; "that's a queer miracle
altogether."

"I do," said the sergeant. "Doesn't it stand to reason that it can't be
anything else? You saw it yourself."

Shawn plumped down on his knees before his captive.

"Tell me where the money is?" he hissed. "Tell me where the money is or
I'll twist your neck off."

The other men also gathered eagerly around, shouting threats and
commands at the Leprecaun.

"Hold your whist," said Shawn fiercely to them. "He can't answer the
lot of you, can he?" and he turned again to the Leprecaun and shook him
until his teeth chattered.

"If you don't tell me where the money is at once I'll kill you, I will
so."

"I haven't got any money at all, sir," said the Leprecaun.

"None of your lies," roared Shawn. "Tell the truth now or it'll be worse
for you."

"I haven't got any money," said the Leprecaun, "for Meehawl M