58 Simpson's snipe 



of siege, in consequence of a succession of raids 

 upon the rookeries adjoining the house. 



" We can try Mr Pringle's woods, Billy." 



" Yez had betther lave thim alone, or the coroner 

 'ill be afther havin' a job. Pringie wud shoot his 

 father sooner nor he'd let a bird be touched." 



" This is very awkward," I muttered. 



" Awkward ! sorra a shurer shake in Chrisendom. 

 It's crukkeder nor what happened to ould Major 

 Moriarty beyant at Sievenaculliagh, that me father 

 — may the heavens be his bed this day ! — lived 

 wud, man an' boy." 



Billy was full of anecdote, and being anxious to 

 pull my thoughts together, I mechanically requested 

 him to let me hear all about the dilemma in which 

 the gallant Major had found himself. 



" Well, sir, th' ould Major was as dacent an ould 

 gintleman as ever swallied a glass o' sperrits, an' 

 there was always lashins an' lavins beyant at the 

 house. If ye wor hungry it was yerself that was 

 for to blame, and if ye wor dhry, it wasn't be raisin 

 av wantin' a goUiogue. Th' ould leddy herself was 

 aiqual to the Major, an' a hospitabler ould cupple 

 didn't live the Shannon side o' Connaught. Well, 

 sir, wan mornin' a letther cums, sayin' that some 

 frind was comin' for to billet on thim. 



" ' Och, I'm bet ! ' says the Mrs Moriarty. 



