he went, still holding him fast in her hand, and keeping her two
eyes fixed on him without so much as a wink, when, all of a sudden, what
do you think?

"She heard a whiz and a buzz behind her, as if all the bees in the world
were humming, and the little old man cries out, `There go your bees
a-swarming and a-going off with themselves like blazes!'

"She turned her head for no more than a second of time, but when she
looked back there was nothing at all in her hand.

"He slipped out of her fingers as if he were made of fog or smoke, and
sorrow a bit of him did she ever see after." [Note 1.]

"And she never got the gold at all," sighed Eileen.

"Never so much as a ha'penny worth," said Grannie Malone.

"I believe I'd rather get rich in America than try to catch Leprechauns
for a living," said Larry.

"And you never said a truer word," said Grannie. "'Tis a poor living
you'd get from the Leprechauns, I'm thinking, rich as they are."

By this time the teapot was empty, and every crumb of the cakeen was
gone, and as Larry had eaten two potatoes, just as Eileen thought he
would, there was little left to clear away.

It was late in the afternoon. The room had grown darker, and Grannie
Malone went to the little window and looked out.

"Now run along with yourselves home," she said, "for the sun is nearly
setting across the bog, and your Mother will be looking for you. Here,
put this in your pocket for luck." She gave Larry a little piece of
coal. "The Good Little People will take care of good children if they
have a bit o' this with them," she said; "and you, Eileen, be careful
that you don't step in a fairy ring on your way home, for you've a light
foot on you like a leaf in the wind, and `The People' will keep you
dancing for dear knows how long, if once they get you."

"We'll keep right in the boreen (road), won't we, Larry? Good-bye,
Grannie," said Eileen.

The Twins started home. Grannie Malone stood in her doorway, shading
her eyes with her hand, and looking after them until a turn in the road
hid them from sight. Then she went into her little cabin and shut the
door.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. Adapted from Thomas Keightley's _Fairy Mythology_.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE TINKERS.

After Larry and Eileen had gone around the turn in the road there were
no houses in sight for quite a long distance.

On one side of the road stretched the bro