There was not a man about the fire who did not stand up, as if struck with a sudden recollection, and offer him a seat.

“No,” said he, “thank you, my good fellows, I am very well as it is:  I suppose, mistress, you are the landlady,” addressing Nancy; “if you be, I’ll thank you to bring me a gill of your best whiskey,—­your best, mind.  Let it be as strong as an evil spirit let loose, and as hot as fire; for it can’t be a jot too ardent such a night as this, for a being that rides the devil.”

Nancy started up instinctively, exclaiming, “Indeed, plase your honor’s reverence, I am the landlady, as you say, sir, sure enough; but, the Lawk save and guard us! won’t a gallon of raw whiskey be too much for one man to drink?”

“A gallon!  I only said a gill, my good hostess; bring me a gill—­but I forget—­I believe you have no such measure in this country; bring me a pint, then.”

Nancy now went into the bar, whither she gave Ned a wink to follow her; and truly was glad of an opportunity of escaping from the presence of the visitor.  When there, she ejaculated—­

“May the holy Mother keep and guard us, Ned, but I’m afeard that’s no Christian crathur, at all at all!  Arrah, Ned, aroon, would he be that ould Square Grame, that Shane Fadh, maybe, angered, by spakin’ of him?”

“Troth,” said Ned, “myself doesn’t know what he is; he bates any mortal I ever seen.”

“Well, hould agra!  I have it:  we’ll see whether he’ll drink this or not, any how.”

“Why, what’s that you’re doin’?” asked Ned.

“Jist,” replied Nancy, “mixin’ the smallest taste in the world of holy wather with the whiskey, and if he drinks that, you know he can be nothing that’s bad."*

* The efficacy of holy water in all Roman Catholic countries, but especially in Ireland, is supposed to be very great.  It is kept in the house, or, in certain cases, about the person, as a safeguard against evil spirits, fairies, or sickness.  It is also used to allay storms and quench conflagrations; and when an Irishman or Irishwoman is about to go a journey, commence labor or enter upon any other important undertaking, the person is sure to be sprinkled with holy water, under the hope that the journey or undertaking will prosper.

Nancy, however, did not perceive that the trepidation of her hand was such as to incapacitate her from making nice distinctions in the admixture.  She now brought the spirits to the stranger, who no sooner took a mouthful of it, than he immediately stopped it on its passage, and fixing his eyes earnestly on herself, squirted it into the fire, and the next moment the whiskey was in a blaze that seemed likely to set the chimney in flames.

“Why, my honest hostess,” he exclaimed, “do you give this to me for whiskey?  Confound me, but two-thirds of it is water; and I have no notion to pay for water when I want spirits:  have the goodness to exchange this, and get me some better stuff, if you have it.”