forgot the directing-post on the road, and got en-
tangled in a forest ; it happened to be deep snow,
and there was a large black bear lying at the loot
of a tree, which he did not observe till within a
few yards of him. ' Hurra, my darling !' says
he, ' here's one of them now at last queen of
glory ! such a nose as he has : they talk about
Loughey Fadaghan's nose ; why, the noses of all
the Fadaghans put together would not make this
fellow's nose. I never saw one of your sort be-
fore,' says Paddy ; ' why, man, you'll et your
death of cowld lying there ; I have an odd tester
yet left, that I brought from . Cushendall, and if
there's a shebeen near this, I'll give you a snif-
ter, for I'd like to have a talk with you.' ' Boo,'
says the bear. ' Lord, what a voice he has he
could sing a roaring song/ * Boo, boo !' again
cries the bear. * Who are you booing at, may I
ax ? for if it's fun you're making of rne, ram my
fist up to the elbow in you.' Up get the bear,
and catches Paddy by the shoulder. ' Is it for
wrestling you are ? Cushendall for that soul,
but you grip too tight, my jewel ; you had better
take your fist out of my shoulder, or I'll take an
unfair advantage of you.' Paddy went to catch
him by the middle ; ; O sweet bud luck to you,



24

\ ou thief, and the tailor that made your breeches
you're made for wrestling, but I'll nick you.*
Paddy pulled out his tobacco-knife, and gave him
a prod in the right place, and down he fell to rise
no more. * O murther; what will become of me
now ?' says he I've killed this big, ugly black
blackguard, and I'll be hanged for him. O mur-
der, murder ! O what will become of me !' A
proprietor of the place, comes up at the moment,
' What is aft this about ? what's the matter, my
good fellow ?' * Oh, your honour's glory, I'm a
stranger - I'm from Cushendall, your honour, I
never seen a blackamoor before, and I just asked
one of them to take a drop with me; but he would
do dothing but make fun of me, so I gave him a
prod, for I could not get hold of him Stop, stop
there's a bear lying there, take care.' ' the black-
amoor,' ( By the holy father', says Paddy, * is that
a bear ! faith then I'll engage I'll drop them to
you for a tester a-dozen.' The gentleman ad-
mired his courage so much, that he went to Bal-
timore, bought off his time, and made him an
overseer of his estate, which he filled with inte-
grity ; and after seventeen years, came home 1 t'
his native country, left what he had saved to oh!
Snouter's grand-children, and had his bones laid
in the same Tave with his old and loving muster.