judge of the great
race. Three cheers for Mr. Connor!'

Two of the shantymen picked me up and hoisted me on their shoulders
while the cheers were given.

'Announce the Punch and Judy,' he entreated me, in a low voice. I did so
in a little speech, and was forthwith borne aloft, through the street to
the booth, followed by the whole crowd, cheering like mad.

The excitement of the crowd caught me, and for an hour I squeaked and
worked the wires of the immortal and unhappy family in a manner hitherto
unapproached by me at least. I was glad enough when Graeme came to tell
me to send the men in to dinner. This Mr. Punch did in the most
gracious manner, and again with cheers for Punch's master they trooped
tumultuously into the tent.

We had only well begun when Baptiste came in quietly but hurriedly and
whispered to me--

'M'sieu Craig, he's gone to Slavin's, and would lak you and M'sieu
Graeme would follow queek. Sandy he's take one leel drink up at de
stable, and he's go mad lak one diable.'

I sent him for Graeme, who was presiding at dinner, and set off for
Slavin's at a run. There I found Mr. Craig and Nelson holding Sandy,
more than half drunk, back from Slavin, who, stripped to the shirt, was
coolly waiting with a taunting smile.

'Let me go, Mr. Craig,' Sandy was saying, 'I am a good Presbyterian. He
is a Papist thief; and he has my money; and I will have it out of the
soul of him.'

'Let him go, preacher,' sneered Slavin, 'I'll cool him off for yez. But
ye'd better hold him if yez wants his mug left on to him.'

'Let him go!' Keefe was shouting.

'Hands off!' Blaney was echoing.

I pushed my way in. 'What's up?' I cried.

'Mr. Connor,' said Sandy solemnly, 'it is a gentleman you are, though
your name is against you, and I am a good Presbyterian, and I can give
you the Commandments and Reasons annexed to them; but yon's a thief, a
Papist thief, and I am justified in getting my money out of his soul.'

'But,' I remonstrated, 'you won't get it in this way.'

'He has my money,' reiterated Sandy.

'He is a blank liar, and he's afraid to take it up,' said Slavin, in a
low, cool tone.

With a roar Sandy broke away and rushed at him; but, without moving
from his tracks, Slavin met him with a straight left-hander and laid him
flat.

'Hooray,' yelled Blaney, 'Ireland for ever!' and, seizing the iron
poker, swung it around his head, crying, 'Back, or, by the holy Moses,
I'll kill the first man that inter