on an excursion. In a cross-road, at
some distance from the Satanic hill, the animal which I rode cast a shoe.
By good luck a small village was at hand, at the entrance of which was a
large shed, from which proceeded a most furious noise of hammering.
Leading the cob by the bridle, I entered boldly. 'Shoe this horse, and
do it quickly, a gough,' said I to a wild grimy figure of a man, whom I
found alone, fashioning a piece of iron.

'Arrigod yuit?' said the fellow, desisting from his work, and staring at
me.

'Oh yes, I have money,' said I, 'and of the best'; and I pulled out an
English shilling.

'Tabhair chugam?' said the smith, stretching out his grimy hand.

'No, I shan't,' said I; 'some people are glad to get their money when
their work is done.'

The fellow hammered a little longer, and then proceeded to shoe the cob,
after having first surveyed it with attention. He performed his job
rather roughly, and more than once appeared to give the animal
unnecessary pain, frequently making use of loud and boisterous words. By
the time the work was done, the creature was in a state of high
excitement, and plunged and tore. The smith stood at a short distance,
seeming to enjoy the irritation of the animal, and showing, in a
remarkable manner, a huge fang, which projected from the under jaw of a
very wry mouth.

'You deserve better handling,' said I, as I went up to the cob and
fondled it; whereupon it whinnied, and attempted to touch my face with
its nose.

'Are ye not afraid of that beast?' said the smith, showing his fang.
'Arrah, it's vicious that he looks!'

'It's at you, then!--I don't fear him'; and thereupon I passed under the
horse, between its hind legs.

'And is that all you can do, agrah?' said the smith.

'No,' said I, 'I can ride him.'

'Ye can ride him, and what else, agrah?'

'I can leap him over a six-foot wall,' said I.

'Over a wall, and what more, agrah?'

'Nothing more,' said I; 'what more would you have?'

'Can you do this, agrah?' said the smith; and he uttered a word which I
had never heard before, in a sharp pungent tone. The effect upon myself
was somewhat extraordinary, a strange thrill ran through me; but with
regard to the cob it was terrible; the animal forthwith became like one
mad, and reared and kicked with the utmost desperation.

'Can you do that, agrah?' said the smith.

'What is it?' said I, retreating, 'I never saw the horse so before.'

'Go between his legs