Page 35 - The snake's pass

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THE LOST CROWN OF GOLD. 23
he tuk. The mountain wid the lake on top used to be the
fertilest shpot in the whole counthry ; but iver since the
bog began to shift this was niver the same."
Here a hard-faced man named McGlown, who had
been silent, struck in with a question :
"
" But who knows when the bog did begin to shift ?
" Musha Sorra one of me knows ; but it was whin
!
th' ould Shnake druv the wather iv the lake into the
hill!"—There was a twinkle in the eyes of the story-
teller, which made one doubt his own belief in his
story.
" Well, for ma own part," said McGlown, ** A don't
believe a sengle word of it."
" An' for why not ? " said one of the women. " Isn't
the mountain called ' Knockcalltecrore,' or ' The Hill of
the Lost Crown iv Gold,' till this day ? " Said another :
" Musha ! how could Misther McGlown believe any-
thin', an' him a Protestan'."
"A'll tell ye that A much prefer the facs," said
McGlown. ** Ef hestory es till be believed, A much
prefer the story told till me by yon old man. Damn
me! but A believe he's old enough till remember the
theng itself."
He pointed as he spoke to old Moynahan, who,
shrivelled up and white-haired, crouched in a corner
of the ingle-nook, holding close to the fire his wrinkled
shaky hands.
"What is the story that Mr. Moynahan has, may I
ask ? " said I. " Pray oblige, me, won't you ? I am