148 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



thing'd put me back on it's the want iv a mount — unless 

 it be McLoughlin's ould cutty" (donkey). "I tell ye 

 what," he added jovially, " let's settle it wid a pair 

 iv the cobbler's cutties, an' we'll sit facin' the whip-end 

 iv them, an' it'll be for which iv us comes in last." 



" Ah, no, Denis," persisted Daly ; "it won't do. 

 Ye'U not pull your head out iv the loop in that way wid 

 your blarney. I'll back the Squire to see you mounted, 

 an' he's undher the roof this very minit, talkin' to the 

 landlord." 



" The divil he is ! " exclaimed C Grady, who hurried 

 from the taproom to the parlour, where the Squire was 

 chatting to the innkeeper. He was followed by the 

 company, most of whom suspected that he scented an 

 extra bottle of stout ; and some there were who had a 

 suspicion that he wished to elude the noose he was 

 drawing around his neck. But the young yeoman was 

 not to be put off, and, with a knowing look, he opened 

 on the Squire as follows : — 



" Good- evening, Squire ! An' it's Denis here's been 

 boastin' like a Salvation man tellin' his sins, that if he 

 only had a mount, he'd give a couple iv stone an' a 

 batin' over Punchestown steeplechase coorse, or three 

 miles an' a half iv fair huntin' counthry to any man for 

 ten miles around." 



" An' be the powers I would, your honour," said 

 Denis boldly, " as fast as I'd dhrink a bottle iv stout 

 if it stood before me this minit." 



" Ah ! Dublin porter is your favourite tipple, I 



