96 BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK. 



that the grasshopper, or its equivalent, the hand- 

 satchel, had become a burden. Griffith Roberts 

 might scorn us as companions, but he should not 

 ignore his duties as a hireling. We hailed him, 

 and having bestowed the satchel upon him, Miss 

 O'Flannigan made a determined plunge into con- 

 versation. 



" I suppose you have often been up Snowdon } " 

 she began, in the strong, loud voice which is 

 believed to force comprehension on the for- 

 eigner. 



She had to say it thrice, and Griffith Roberts 

 finally replied, " Oh yess, one time." 



This was a confession of startling frankness ; and 

 Miss O'Flannigan and I, recalling in a lightning- 

 flash the Mahntooroch tourist's tales of incom- 

 petent guides, and of a clergyman whose bones 

 had been picked clean by Snowdon wild cats, 

 regretted that our five-shilling fee had been squan- 

 dered upon an amateur. 



"And yesterday," continued Griffith Roberts, 

 after a pause, during which I suppose he was 



