e
was studyin' how he'd raise, he heard the throttin' av a horse on the
road. ''Tis meself 'ull get the lift now,' says he, and laid waitin', and
up comes the Pooka. Whin Dennis seen him, begob, he kivered his face wid
his hands and turned on the breast av him, and roared wid fright like a
bull.

[Illustration: Dennis and the Pooka]

"'Arrah thin, ye snakin' blaggard,' says the Pooka, mighty short, 'lave
aff yer bawlin' or I'll kick ye to the ind av next week,' says he to him.

"But Dennis was scairt, an' bellered louder than afore, so the Pooka, wid
his hoof, give him a crack on the back that knocked the wind out av him.

"'Will ye lave aff,' says the Pooka, 'or will I give ye another, ye
roarin' dough-face?'

"Dennis left aff blubberin' so the Pooka got his timper back.

"'Shtand up, ye guzzlin' sarpint,' says the Pooka, 'I'll give ye a ride.'

"'Plaze yer Honor,' says Dennis, 'I can't. Sure I've not been afther
drinkin' at all, but shmokin' too much an' atin', an' it's sick I am, and
not ontoxicated.'

"'Och, ye dhrunken buzzard,' says the Pooka, 'Don't offer fur to desave
me,' liftin' up his hoof agin, an' givin' his tail a swish that sounded
like the noise av a catheract, 'Didn't I thrack ye for two miles be yer
breath,' says he, 'An' you shmellin' like a potheen fact'ry,' says he,
'An' the nose on yer face as red as a turkey-cock's. Get up, or I'll lift
ye,' says he, jumpin' up an' cracking his hind fut like he was doin' a
jig.

"Dennis did his best, an' the Pooka helped him wid a grip o' the teeth on
his collar.

"'Pick up yer caubeen,' says the Pooka, 'an' climb up. I'll give ye such a
ride as ye niver dhramed av.'

"'Ef it's plazin' to yer Honor,' says Dennis, 'I'd laver walk. Ridin'
makes me dizzy,' says he.

"''Tis not plazin',' says the Pooka, 'will ye get up or will I kick the
shtuffin' out av yer cowardly carkidge,' says he, turnin' round an'
flourishin' his heels in Dennis' face.

"Poor Dennis thried, but he cudn't, so the Pooka tuk him to the wall an'
give him a lift an it, an' whin Dennis was mounted, an' had a tight howld
on the mane, the first lep he give was down the rock there, a thousand
feet into the field ye see, thin up agin, an' over the mountain, an' into
the say, an' out agin, from the top av the waves to the top av the
mountain, an' afther the poor soggarth av a ditcher was nigh onto dead,
the Pooka come back here wid him an' dhropped him in the ditch where