The word “ankle” showed at once it was a woman of whom he spoke, and Andy shuddered. “The monsters! to eat a woman.”
“What a fool you are to be in love,” said the drunken giant with several hiccups, showing the increase of his inebriation.
“Is that what the brutes call love,” thought Andy, “to ate a woman?”
“I wish she was bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,” said the second giant. Of this speech Andy heard only “bone” and “flesh,” and had great difficulty in maintaining the serenity of his diaphragm.
The conversation of the giants was now more frequently interrupted by the wind which was rising, and only broken sentences reached Andy, whose senses became clearer the longer he remained in a state of safety; at last he heard the name of Squire Egan distinctly pass between the giants.
“So they know Squire Egan,” thought Andy.
The first giant gave a drunken laugh at the mention of Squire Egan's name, and exclaimed—
“Don't be afraid of him (hiccup); I have him undher my thumb (hiccup). I can crush him when I plase.”
“O! my poor owld masther!” mentally ejaculated Andy.
Another break in their conversation occurred, and the next name Andy overheard was “O'Grady.”