Now, though the Knight had heard of red Jews and white Negroes, he had never happened to read any account of an African Irishman; so, he listened very closely, and by degrees, not only the words were known to him, but the very voice was familiar.

At length, something he heard, left no further doubt upon his mind, and, turning to the savage, he addressed him in Irish, at the same time fixing a look of most scrutinizing import upon him.
"'Who are you, you scoundrel' said the Knight.
"'Billy M'Cabe your honour.' "'And what do you mean by playing off these tricks here, instead of earning your bread like an honest man ?' "'Whisht,' said Billy, 'and keep the secret.

I'm earning the rent for your honour.

One must do many a queer thing that pays two pound ten an acre for bad land.' "This was enough: the Knight wished Billy every success, and left him amid the vociferous applause of a well satisfied audience.

This adventure, it seems, has made the worthy Knight a great friend to the introduction of poor laws; for, he remarks very truly, 'more of Billy's countrymen might take a fancy to a savage life, if the secret was found out.'" It was impossible for me to preserve my incognito, as Mr.O'Leary concluded his story, and I was obliged to join in the mirth of Trevanion, who laughed loud and long as he finished it..