8
At last where should we come to, but to the moon itself. Now you can't see it from this, but there is, or there was in my time, a reaping-hook sticking out of the side of the moon, this way (drawing the figure on the ground, with the end of his stick.)
Dan said the eagle. I'm tired with this long fly; I had no notion 'twas so far. And my lord, sir, said I, who in the world axed you to fly so far-was it I? did not I beg, and pray, and beseech you to stop half an hour ago? There's no use talking, Dan, said he; I'm tired bad enough, so you must get off, and sit down on the moon until I rest myself. Is it sit down on the moon? said I; is it upon that little round thing, then? why; then, sure I'd fall off, in a minute, and be kilt and split, and smashed all to bits; you are a vile deceiver,—so you are. Not at all, Dan, said he: you can catch fast hold of the reaping-hook, that's sticking out of the side of the moon, and 'twill keep you up. I won't, then, said I. May be not, said he, quite quiet. If you don't, my man, I shall just give you a shake, and one slap of my wing, and send you down to the ground, where every bone in your body will be smashed as small as a drop of dew on a cabbage-leaf in the morning. Why, then, I'm in a fine way, said I to myself, ever to have come alone with the likes of you, and so giving him a hearty curse
