A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE 175 



mane, cold light with all yer blinkin', and no fire beneath 

 to give 'im the good uv a cup o' tay or put a warm heart 

 in 'im ! Two nights agone 'twas suspicion o' rats kep' 

 me from shlapin', yesternight 'twas thought o' what wud 

 become of poor Oireland (Mary rest her) had we 

 schnakes there ter fill the drames o' nights loike they 

 do here whin a man's a drap o'er full o' comfort. 'Tis 

 a good roof above ! Heth, thin, had I a whisp o' straw 

 and a bite, wid this moonlight fer company, I'd not shog 

 from out this the night to be King ! 



"Saints! but there's a dog beyant the bark!" he 

 cried a minute after, as the pup crept over to him and 

 began to be friendly, "I wonder is a mon sinsible 

 to go to trustin' the loight o' any moon that shines full 

 on a pitch-black noight whin 'tis rainin' ? Och hone ! 

 but me stomach's that empty, gin I don't put on me 

 shoes me lungs'll lake trou the soles o' me fate, and gin 

 I do, me shoes they're that sopped, I'll cough them up 

 o-whurra-r-a ! whurra-a ! but will I iver see Old Oire- 

 land agin, I don't know !" 



Bart shut off the light, slipped on his shoes, and draw- 

 ing a coat over his pajamas lighted the oil stable lan- 

 tern, hung it with its back toward me, on a long hook 

 that reached down from one of the rafters, and bore 

 down upon Larry, whose face was instantly wreathed 



