Page:The Land of Wonders - O Conaire.pdf/23

 Rh "And I've got a pain," said the Burla, growing pale.

"It's the sea-sickness, treasure," said his mother. "I will give you a drop of milk. Don't you remember we are aboard the Brideog?"

The Burla had to sit down, and so did Maire. Let us leave them to themselves in the corner until they get over the sea-sickness.

The Captain, on hearing two strokes of the ship's bell, got up. When he came out to where his wife was he had nothing on but pants, a blue shirt and a red night-cap.

He looked around and saw the holy pictures his wife had hung up.

"By Gum!" said he, and as he said it you would swear that his nose and chin snapped together.

He saw the black cat asleep in a box.

"By the backbone of my grandmother!" said he, his night-cap falling off with surprise, and you'd think that no hairier head than the Captain's ever wore a night-cap.

He saw the bottle of holy water over the children's bed and the Rosary-beads and the fox's head that used to be over the door at home.

"By the wits of the seven wise men who were drowned in a vat of wine long ago!" he exclaimed.

He was about to say a lot more, but he lost his power of speech when he saw the children. (D 405)