“And be the same token the toies extend to the very bottom o’ me feet,” said Barney.
The men laughed.
“Av coorse I don’t loike to be thought ongintlemonly and inquisitive, ye moind, but thin I’d loike to know be what manes I am here, so I would.”
“Ha, ha!” laughed the man on his left hand. “Puzzles you, does it? Well, my jolly screamer from the Emerald Isle, we just knocked you down, picked you up, and trotted you away.”
“An’ the fiddle?”
“You picked that up yourself when we marched you up to the wagon,” said the man, who appeared inclined to be communicative with the good-natured Irishman.
“Well, now,” said Barney, “it’s meself that’s under great obligations to ye for yer kindness, so I am, but, av coorse, now that ye’ve tould me so much, maybe ye may tell phat in the name of all that’s wondherful caused ye to carry me off whin yez could have whacked me a belt on the sconce that would have put an ind to me ructions?”
“You want to know why we took you prisoner instead o’ wipin’ you out?
“Faith I do.”
“Because we want you.”