J. F. Campbell Collection > Fireside stories of Ireland

JACK THE CUNNING THIEF. 45
home if you wish to see the poor mistress alive ! I'm run-
ning for the surgeon. She fell down tw^o flights of stairs,
and her neck, or her hip, or both her arms are broke, and
she's speechless, and it's a mercy if jou find the breath in
her. riy as fast as the baste will carry you." "But had-
n't you better take the horse 1 it's a mile and a half to the
surgeon's." " Oh, anything you like, master. Oh, V2ii/a,
Vuya ! misthress akmna, that I should ever see the day !
and your purty body disfigured as it is !" "Here, stop your
noise, and be off like wildlire ! Oh, my darling, my darling,
isn't this a trial !"
He tore home like a fury, and wondered to see no stir
outside, and when he flew into the hall, and from that to
the parlour, his wife and daughter that were sewing at the
table screeched out at the rush he made, and the wild look
that was on his face. " Oh, my darling ! " said he, when he
could speak, " how's this ] are you hurt 1 didn't you fall
down the stairs 1 What happened at all 1 tell me ! " " "Why,
nothing at all happened, thank God, since you rode out :
where did you leave the horse ] " Well, no one could de-
scribe the state he was in for about quarter of an hour, be-
tween joy for his wife and anger witli Jack, and sharoose for
being tricked. He saw the beast soon coming up the ave-
nue, and a little gorsoon in the saddle with his feet in the
stirrup leathers. The servant didn't make his appearance
for a week, but what did he care with Jack's ten golden
guineas in his pocket.
Jack didn't show his nose till next morning, and it was
a queer reception he met. " That was all foul play you
gave," says the squire. "I'll never forgive you for the
shock you gave me. But then I am so happy ever since,
that I think I'll give you only one trial more. If you will
take aw^ay the sheet from under my wife and myself to-night,
the marriage may take place to-mornnv." " We'll try," says
Jack, " but if you keep my bride from me any longer, I'll
steal her away if she was minded by fiery dragons."
When the squire and his wdfe were in bed, and the moon
shining in through the window, he saw a head rising over
the sill to have a peep, and then bobbing down again.
" That's Jack," says the squire : " I'll astonish him a bit,"