THE DEAD HEAT 105 



hundred and ninety-nine pounds, d — n me if I'd 

 take it, for by the Rock of Cashel, I'll lick ye and 

 break your heart and neck over the country ; and 

 see now, Fortescue," he continued, " steer clear of 

 the heiress." 



"What do you mean, sir," retorted the young man, 

 firing up. " Steer clear of the heiress ? you forget 

 yourself ; do you presume to put a lady in the 

 question ? " and saying this, he turned away. 



" All devilish fine," said O'Eooney, sticking his 

 hands in his pockets and sauntering away from the 

 supper -table, humming a verse of Harry Lorrequer's 

 well-known song: — 



" The King of Oude 

 Is mighty proud, 



And so were onst the Caysars (Csesars) ; 

 But ould Giles Eyre 

 Would make them stare, 

 Av lie had tliem with the Blazers. 



To the devil I'd fling— ould Runjeet Singh 

 He's only a prince in a small way ; 



And knows nothing at all of a six-foot wall, 

 Oh ! he'd never do for Galway." 



" Won't he ? " muttered Fortescue to himself, as 

 he caught the last words, " perhaps I'll show you 

 he will." If the Captain had not been so blind with 

 passion, he might have heard the gallant Adjutant 



