THE GIANT'S STAIRS. 469 



The next object that met their attention was a little, fat, bald* 

 headed man, with his coat off, hard at work at a good-sized still, which 

 was sending out smoke as rapidly as the chimney of Captain O'Brien's 

 Cove steam-boat. They surveyed him for a short time very intently, 

 and thought it prudent not to come upon him too suddenly ; while 

 moving along as silently and cautiously as they conveniently could, 

 our host of the mountain broke forth in an ecstacy with *' The Whish- 

 key is getting on ilegantly" He then went round to the other side 

 of his manufactory to see that all was progressing properly there- 

 abouts, and the little fat man soon returned capering and singing 



" 'Twas to brew the strong drink that we paddies were made, 

 And he who of stiff whiskey punch is afraid 

 Had better be put with a shovel to bed, 

 With a tree at his feet, and a turf at his head. 



" Derry down." 



Before the little man could accomplish a second verse, Paddeen ex- 

 claimed to his companions, " If ever any short-bodied man on two 

 legs spoke with another man's voice, that little man spakes with the 

 voice of ould Macarthy of Ballintemple." " Somebody's a whishper- 

 ing sure," says the little man cocking his ear. "Thai's him" (said 

 Paddeen listening), "That's ould Macarthy, or else he has been 

 sprited away, and this poor crature left in his place." This exclama- 

 tion was shouted forth in so loud a tone, that the little old man 

 turned round and recognized his visitors in less than no time. " Oh, 

 ho !" (says Paddeen,) "you are the giant are you?" " Your sarvant, 

 Mr. Timothy Macarthy, of Ballintemple." " And pray sir, what do 

 giants live upon hereabouts ?" ** Why," (says Macarthy, for so in 

 truth he was,) " what's most natter al to them. We are fairy people, 

 and of coorse we're very fond of spirits." At this joke the fishermen 

 thought it only consistent with the politeness of real Irish gentlemen 

 to set up a laugh. " May be," (continues old Macarthy,) " you'd 

 like to make the acquaintance of some of our spirits." " With the 

 greatest pleasure in life," (replies Paddeen,) "what say you boys?" 

 ** Faith and we would," exclaimed all the visitors at one and the 

 same time. "And so you shall lads," says Macarthy, and without 

 any more bother he made them seats around his still, this he effected 

 by turning up a couple of tubs, and turning out a three-corner joint 

 stool. He then supplied them with plenty of pipes and tobacco, and 

 they soon fell to work vigorously. 



They demolished huge quantities of the mountain dew of the little 

 old man's brewing, and while thus laudably employed they told a 

 choice variety of marvellous and facetious stories, and kept smoking, 

 singing, and punch drinking until their host began to think it was 

 high time each gentleman should consider of the propriety of putting 

 on his night-cap. Old Macarthy accordingly ventured to give them 

 the most delicate hint in the world, arid they instantly felt that they 

 were intruding, for be it known, that although the Irish are an ill- 

 used and hard-drinking people, they possess notions of etiquette of 

 the most sensitive description. 



Each made shift in his own peculiar eloquence to bid " good night" 

 to old Macarthy, and to compliment him after the Munster fashion, 



M,M. No. 5. 2 L 



