Page:The Snake's Pass (Stoker).djvu/32

 Well, what do ye want wid me?' sez the Shnake.

I want to know why you didn't lave Irish soil wid all th' other Shnakes,' sez the Saint.

Ye tould the Shnakes to go,' sez the King, 'an' I am their King, so I am; and your wurrds didn't apply to me!' an' with that he dhrops like a flash of lightnin' into the lake agin.

"Well! St. Patrick was so tuk back wid his impidence that he had to think for a minit, an' then he calls again:—

Hi! here! you!'

What do you want now?' sez the King iv the Shnakes, again poppin' up his head.

I want to know why you didn't obey me ordhers?' sez the Saint. An' the King luked at him an' laughed; and he looked mighty evil, I can tell ye—for be this time the sun was down and the moon up, and the jool in his crown threw out a pale cold light that would make you shuddher to see. 'An',' says he, as slow an' as hard as an attorney (saving your prisence) when he has a bad case:—

I didn't obey,' sez he, 'because I thraverse the jurisdiction.'

How do ye mane?' asks St. Pathrick.

Because,' sez he, ' this is my own houldin',' sez he, 'be perscriptive right,' sez he. 'I'm the whole govermint here, and I put a nexeat on meself not to lave widout me own permission,' and he ducks down agin into the pond.