70 Simpson's snipe 



this bangs Banagher. Is there a herrin' stirriii', or 

 anything for to set the dogs this way ? — it bates 

 me intirely." 



I naturally turned to my guest, who looked as 

 puzzled as I did myself. 



" I have it ! " he cried ; " it's the blood of the 

 sperm-whale that's causing this." 



" Arrah, how the blazes cud the blood av all the 

 whales in Ireland make thim shupayriour animals 

 set as if the birds were foreninst them ? " demanded 

 Billy, his arms akimbo. 



" I will explain," said Simpson. " Last autumn 

 I was up whaling off the coast of Greenland. We 

 struck a fine fish ; and after playing him for three- 

 and-twenty hours, we got him aboard. Just as we 

 were taking the harpoon out, he made one despair- 

 ing effort and spurted blood ; a few drops fell upon 

 this coat, just here," pointing to the inside por- 

 tion of his right-hand cuff, " and I pledge you my 

 veracity no dog can withstand it. They invariably 

 point ; and I assure you, Smithe, you could get up 

 a drag hunt by simply walking across country 

 in this identical coat, built by John Henry 

 Smalpage." 



This startling and sensational explanation satisfied 

 me. Not so my factotum, who gave vent in an un- 

 dertone to such exclamations as '' Nabodish ! Wirra. 



