Page 104 - The snake's pass

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92 — THE snake's pass. —
" Well, Andy ! what is it ? " said Dick.
" I've heerd," said he, " that yer 'an'rs isn't goin' in the
mornin' to Shleenanaher, and I thought that yez couldn't
do betther nor dhrive over to Knocknacar to-morra an'
spind the day there."
"And why Knocknacar?" said I.
Andy twirled his cap between his hands in a sheepish
way. I felt that he was acting a part, but could not
see any want of reality. With a little hesitation he
said :
"I've gother from what yer 'an'rs wor savin' on the car
this mornin', that yez is both intherested in bogs—an'
there's the beautifulest bit iv bog in all the counthry
there beyant. An', moreover, it's a lovely shpot intirely.
If you gintlemin have nothin' betther to do, ye'd dhrive
over there—if ye'd take me advice."
"What kind of bog is it, Andy?" said Dick. "Is
there anythin' peculiar about it. Does it shift?"
Andy grinned a most unaccountable grin:
" Begor, it does, surr!" he answered quickly. "Sure
all bogs does shift ! " And he grinned again.
" Andy," said Dick, laughing, " you have some joke in
"
your mind. What is it ?
" Oh, sorra wan, surr—ask the masther there."
As it did not need a surgical operation to get the joke
intended into the head of a man—of whatever nation-
ality—who understood Andy's allusion, and as I did not
want to explain it, I replied :
" Oh, don't ask me, Andy ; I'm no authority on the