Page 300 - The snake's pass

288 THE snake's pass.
" I'm lookin' for poor ould Moynahan. He was out
'
on the hill in the evenin', but he hasn't kem home,
an' I'm anxious about him, for he had a sup in him,
an' I fear he may have fallen into the bog. I've been
out lukin' for him, but I can't find him. I thought he
might have kem in here.'
'
" No, he has not been here. Are you sure he was on
'
the hill ?
" ' Well, I thought so—but what ought I to do ? I'd
be thankful if ye'd advise me. Be the way, what o'clock
'
might it be now ?
" Norah, who had joined her father, ran in and looked
at the clock.
" ' It is just ten minutes past twelve,' she said.
" ' I don't know what's" to be done,' said Joyce.
'
' Could he have got to the shebeen ?
'
" That's a good idea ! I suppose I'd betther go there
an' luk afther him. Ye see, I'm anxious about him, for
he's been livin' wid me, an' if anythin' happened to him,
'
people might say I done it!
" ! said Norah
' That's a queer thing for him to say '
to her father.
"Murdock turned on her at once.
'
" Quare thing—no more quare than the things they'll
be say in' about you before long.'
'
" What do you mean ? ' said Joyce, coming out.
"'Oh, nawthin', nawthin' ! I must look for Moyna-
han.' And without a word he turned and ran. Joyce
and Norah went into the house. When Murdock had