Knowing that they would soon return, I remained where I was.
I had not long to wait upon them. In a few minutes they came up, Barney carrying what I knew to be the devoted keg.
They sat down close to where I lay, and prising out the bung, filled the liquor into their tin cups, and commenced imbibing.
A drouthier pair of mortals could not have been found anywhere; and at the first draught, each emptied his cup to the bottom!
“It has a quare taste, hasn’t it?” said Barney, after he had taken the vessel from his lips.
“Oui! c’est vrai, monsieur!”
“What dev ye think it is?”
“Je ne sais quoi. It smells like one—one—”
“Is it fish, ye mane?”
“Oui! like one feesh: un bouquet très bizarre Fichtro!”