"Just gi' me a wisp o' hay an' a han'ful iv oats," said Andy, "if I should have to coax him."--"Sartinly," said Owny, who entered the stable and came forth with the articles required by Andy, and a halter for the horse also. [Illustration: Handy Andy] "Now, take care," said Owny, "that you're able to ride that horse if you get on him."--"Oh, never fear, sir. I can ride owld Lanty Gubbin's mule betther nor any o' the other boys on the common, and he couldn't throw me th' other day, though he kicked the shoes av him." "After that you may ride any thing," said Owny: and indeed it was true; for Lanty's mule, which fed on the common, being ridden slily by all the young vagabonds in the neighbourhood, had become such an adept in the art of getting rid of his troublesome customers, that it might be well considered a feat to stick on him. "Now, take grate care of him, Andy, my boy," said the farmer.--"Don't be afeard sir," said Andy, who started on his errand in that peculiar pace which is elegantly called a "sweep's trot;" and as the river lay between Owny Doyle's and the bottom, and was too deep for Andy to ford at that season, he went round by Dinny Dowling's mill, where a small wooden bridge crossed the stream. Here he thought he might as well secure the assistance of Paudeen, the miller's son, to help him in catching the horse; an he looked about the place until he found him, and, telling him the errand on which he was going, said, "If you like to come wid me, we can both have a ride." This was temptation sufficient for Paudeen, and the boys proceeded together to the bottom, and they were not long in securing the horse. When they had got the halter over his head, "Now," said Andy, "give me a lift on him;" and accordingly by Paudeen's catching Andy's left foot in both his hands clasped together in the fashion of a stirrup, he hoisted his friend on the horse's back; and, as soon as he was secure there, Master Paudeen, by the aid of Andy's hand contrived to scramble up after him; upon which Andy applied his heels into the horse's side with many vigorous kicks, and crying "Hurrup!" at the same time, endeavoured to stimulate Owny's steed into something of a pace as he turned his head towards the mill. "Sure aren't you going to crass the river?" said Paudeen.--"No, I'm going to lave you at home." "Oh, I'd rather go up to Owny's, and it's the shortest way acrass the river."--"Yes but I don't like--" "Is it afeard you are?" said Paudeen.--"Not I, indeed," said Andy; though it was really the fact, for the width of the stream startled him; "but Owny towld me to take grate care o' the baste and I'm loath to wet his feet." "Go 'long wid you, you fool! what harm would it do him? Sure he's neither sugar nor salt that he'd melt."