Page:Daniel O'Rourke's wonderful voyage to the moon (4).pdf/10

10 and out there walks who do you think but the man in the moon himself? I knew him by his bush.

Good morrow to you, Daniel O'Rourke, said he; How do you do? Very well, thank your honour, said I. I hope your honour's well. What brought you here, Dan? said he. So I told him how I was a little overtaken in liquor at the master's, and how I was cast on a dissolute Island, and how I lost my way in the bog and how the thief of an eagle promised to fly me out of it, and how instead of that he had fled me up to the moon.

Dan, said the man in the moon, taking a pinch of snuff when I was done, you must not stay here. Indeed, sir, says I, 'tis much against my will I'm here at all, but how am I to go back? That's your business, said he, Dan: mine is to tell you that here you must not stay, so be off in less than no time. I'm doing no harm, says I, only holding on hard by the reaping-hook, lest I fall off. That's what you must not do, Dan, says he. Pray, sit, says I, may I ask how many you are in family, that you would not give a poor traveller lodgings: I'm sure 'tis not so often you're troubled with strangers coming to see you, for 'tis a long way. I'm by myself, Dan, says he; but you'd better let go the reaping-hook. Faith, and with your leave, says I, I'll not let