下载辰思小说免费APP
saidJack，bangingdownaguineaonthetable；"canyoucoverthat，oldfellow？"Themanofthethimblelookedatthegold，andthenathimwhoproducedit，andscratchedhishead。"Come，coverthat，orIshallbeoff，"saidthejockey。"Och，sure，mylord！—no，Imeanyourhonour—no，sure，yourlordship，"saidtheother，"ifIcoversitatall，itmustbewithsilver，fordivilabitofgoldhaveIbyme。""Well，then，producethevalueinsilver，"saidthejockey，"anddoitquickly，forIcan’tbestayinghereallday。"Thethimble—manhesitated，lookedatJackwithadubiouslook，thenatthegold，andthenscratchedhishead。
Therewasnowalaughamongstthesurrounders，whichevidentlynettledthefellow，whoforthwiththrusthishandintohispocket，andpullingoutallhissilvertreasure，justcontrivedtoplacethevalueoftheguineaonthetable。
"Themthatfindswins，andthemthatcan’tfind—LOSES，"
interruptedJack，liftingupathimble，outofwhichrolledapea。"There，paddy，whatdoyouthinkofthat？"saidhe，seizingtheheapofsilverwithonehand，whilsthepocketedtheguineawiththeother。Thethimble—engrostood，forsometime，likeonetransfixed，hiseyesglaringwildly，nowatthetable，andnowathissuccessfulcustomers；atlasthesaid，"Arrah，sure，master！—no，Imanesmylord—youarenotgoingtoruinapoorboy！""Ruinyou！"sailtheother；
"what！bywinningaguinea’schange？aprettysmalldodgeryou—ifyouhavenotsufficientcapital，whydoyouengageinsodeepatradeasthimbling？come，willyoustandanothergame？""Och，sure，master，no！thetwentyshillingsandonewhichyouhavecheatedmeofwereallIhadintheworld。"
"Cheatedyou，"saidJack，"saythatagain，andIwillknockyoudown。""Arrah！sure，master，youknowsthatthepeaunderthethimblewasnotmine；hereismine，master；nowgivemebackmymoney。""Alikelything，"saidJack；"no，no，Iknowatrickworthtwoorthreeofthat；whetherthepeawasyoursormine，youwillneverhaveyourtwentyshillingsandoneagain；andifIhaveruinedyou，allthebetter；I’dgladlyruinallsuchvillainsasyou，whoruinpoormenwithyourdirtytricks，whomyouwouldknockdownandrobontheroad，ifyouhadbutcourage；notthatImeantokeepyourshillings，withtheexceptionofthetwoyoucheatedfromme，whichI’llkeep。Ascramble，boys！ascramble！"saidhe，flingingupallthesilverintotheair，withtheexceptionofthetwoshillings；andascramblethereinstantlywas，betweentherusticswhohadlosttheirmoneyandtheurchinswhocamerunningup；thepoorthimble—engrotriedlikewisetohavehisshare；andthoughheflunghimselfdown，inordertojoinmoreeffectuallyinthescramble，hewasunabletoobtainasinglesixpence；andhavinginhisragegivensomeofhisfellow—scramblersacuffortwo，hewassetuponbytheboysandcountryfellows，andcompelledtomakeaningloriousretreatwithhistable，whichhadbeenflungdowninthescuffle，andhadoneofitslegsbroken。
Asheretired，therabblehooted，andJack，holdingupinderisionthepeawithwhichhehadoutmanoeuvredhim，exclaimed，"Ialwayscarrythisinmypocketinordertobeamatchforvagabondslikeyou。"
Thetumultover，Jackgone，andtherabbledispersed，I
followedthediscomfitedadventureratadistance，who，leavingthetown，wentslowlyon，carryinghisdilapidatedpieceoffurniture；tillcomingtoanoldwallbytheroadside，heplaceditontheground，andsatdown，seeminglyindeepdespondency，holdinghisthumbtohismouth。Goingnearlyuptohim，Istoodstill，whereuponhelookedup，andperceivingIwaslookingsteadfastlyathim，hesaid，inanangrytone，"Arrah！whatforareyoustaringatmeso？Bymyshoul，Ithinkyouareoneofthethaiveswhoareafterrobbingme。IthinkIsawyouamongthem，andifIwereonlysureofit，Iwouldtakethelibertyoftryingtogiveyouabigbating。""Youhavehadenoughoftryingtogivepeopleabeating，"saidI；"youhadbetterbetakingyourtabletosomeskilfulcarpentertogetitrepaired。Hewilldoitforsixpence。""Divilasixpencedidyouandyourthaivesleaveme，"saidhe；"andifyoudonottakeyourselfoff，joy，I
willbebreakingyouruglyheadwiththefootofit。"
"Arrah，Murtagh！"saidI，"wouldyebebreakingtheheadofyourfriendandscholar，towhomyoutaughttheblessedtongueofOiliennanNaomha，inexchangeforapackofcards？"Murtagh，forheitwas，gazedatmeforamomentwithabewilderedlook；then，withagleamofintelligenceinhiseye，hesaid，"Shorsha！no，itcan’tbe—yes，bymyfaithitis！"Then，springingup，andseizingmebythehand，hesaid，"Yes，bythepowers，sureenoughitisShorshaagra！Arrah，Shorsha！wherehaveyoubeenthismanyaday？
Sure，youarenotoneofthespalpeenswhoareafterrobbingme？""NotI，"Ireplied，"butIsawallthathappened。
Come，youmustnottakematterssotoheart；cheerup；suchthingswillhappeninconnectionwiththetradeyouhavetakenup。""Sorrowbefallthetrade，andthethiefwhotaughtitme，"saidMurtagh；"andyetthetradeisnotabadone，ifIonlyknewmoreofit，andhadsomeonetohelpandbackme。Och！theideaofbeingcheatedandbamboozledbythatone—eyedthiefinthehorseman’sdress。""Letbygonesbebygones，Murtagh，"saidI；"itisnousegrievingforthepast；sitdown，andletushavealittlepleasantgossip。
Arrah，Murtagh！whenIsawyousittingunderthewall，withyourthumbtoyourmouth，itbroughttomymindtaleswhichyouusedtotellmeallaboutFinn—ma—Coul。YouhavenotforgottenFinn—ma—Coul，Murtagh，andhowhesuckedwisdomoutofhisthumb。""SorrowabithaveIforgotabouthim，Shorsha，"saidMurtagh，aswesatdowntogether，"norwhatyouyourselftoldmeaboutthesnake。Arrah，Shorsha！whatyetoldmeaboutthesnake，batesanythingIevertoldyouaboutFinn。Ochone，Shorsha！perhapsyouwillbetellingmeaboutthesnakeoncemore？Ithinkthetalewoulddomegood，andIhaveneedofcomfort，Godknows，ochone！"SeeingMurtaghinsuchadistressedplight，Iforthwithtoldhimoveragainthetaleofthesnake，inpreciselythesamewordsasIhaverelateditinthefirstpartofthishistory。
Afterwhich，Isaid，"Now，Murtagh，titfortat；yewillbetellingmeoneoftheoldstoriesofFinn—ma—Coul。""Och，Shorsha！Ihaven’theartenough，"saidMurtagh。"Thankyouforyourtale，butitmakesmeweep；itbringstomymindDungarvontimesofold—Imeanthetimeswewereatschooltogether。""Cheerup，man，"saidI，"andlet’shavethestory，andletitbeaboutMa—Coulandthesalmonandhisthumb。""Arrah，Shorsha！Ican’t。Well，toobligeyou，I’llgiveityou。Well，youknowMa—Coulwasanexposedchild，andcamefloatingoverthesaltseainachestwhichwascastashoreatVeintryBay。Inthecornerofthatbaywasacastle，wheredweltagiantandhiswife，veryrespectableanddecentpeople，andthisgiant，takinghismorningwalkalongthebay，cametotheplacewherethechildhadbeencastashoreinhisbox。Well，thegiantlookedatthechild，andbeingfilledwithcompassionforhisexposedstate，tookthechildupinhisbox，andcarriedhimhometohiscastle，whereheandhiswife，beingdacentrespectablepeople，asItelledyebefore，fosteredthechildandtookcareofhim，tillhebecameoldenoughtogoouttoserviceandgainhislivelihood，whentheyboundhimoutapprenticetoanothergiant，wholivedinacastleupthecountry，atsomedistancefromthebay。
"Thisgiant，whosenamewasDarmodDavidOdeen，wasnotarespectablepersonatall，butabigoldvagabond。Hewastwicethesizeoftheothergiant，who，thoughbiggerthananyman，wasnotabiggiant；for，astherearegreatandsmallmen，sotherearegreatandsmallgiants—Imeansomearesmallwhencomparedwiththeothers。Well，Finnservedthisgiantaconsiderabletime，doingallkindsofhardandunreasonableserviceforhim，andreceivingallkindsofhardwords，andmanyahardknockandkicktoboot—sorrowbefalltheoldvagabondwhocouldthusill—treatahelplessfoundling。Itchancedthatonedaythegiantcaughtasalmon，nearasalmon—leapuponhisestate—for，thoughabigouldblackguard，hewasapersonofconsiderablelandedproperty，andhighsheriffforthecountyCork。Well，thegiantbringshomethesalmonbythegills，anddeliversittoFinn，tellinghimtoroastitforthegiant’sdinner；’buttakecare，yeyoungblackguard，’headded，’thatinroastingit—andIexpectyetoroastitwell—youdonotletablistercomeuponitsnicesatinskin，forifyedo，Iwillcuttheheadoffyourshoulders。’’Well，’thinksFinn，’thisisahardtask；however，asIhavedonemanyhardtasksforhim，Iwilltryanddothistoo，thoughIwasneversettodoanythingyethalfsodifficult。’Sohepreparedhisfire，andputhisgridironuponit，andlaysthesalmonfairlyandsoftlyuponthegridiron，andthenheroastsit，turningitfromonesidetotheotherjustinthenickoftime，beforethesoftsatinskincouldbeblistered。However，onturningitovertheeleventhtime—andtwelvewouldh
