“However did you know that we wanted to kiss it?” cried Coppertop in astonishment. “Sure, the North Wind had a gossip wid me, not ten minutes agone, on this very subject!” explained Biddy, with a twinkle in her eye. Whilst this conversation was going on, Kiddiwee had discovered Pimby, the Flying Pig, and the two had struck up a fast friendship. Pimby was quite a dear, but, being an inflated pig, he was apt to give himself airs; he had two really beautiful wings, and--well--Flying Pigs are rare, and Pimby knew it. As for the Black Cat, it had scuttled up the chimney as soon as the children appeared, and was seen no more. “But Oi know the Keeper of the Castle,” said Biddy-be-sure, going back to her former conversation, “and Oi jist smoile at him, and look at him wid me little eye, and ‘Bedad,’ he’ll say, ‘Biddy-be-sure, ye can go up and come down a hundred toimes a day, if ye’ve a moind, for jist such another smoile as that, bedad!’” “Come on, let’s start at once!” suggested Tibbs, who did not want to run the risk of being kissed. “We’ve no time to spare.” “Oh, but ye have!” cried Biddy-be-sure, wagging her old head wisely; “ye spare Toime, and Toime ’ill spare ye!” “But if it isn’t troubling you too much,” cried Coppertop, “we are rather in a hurry. You see,” she added, “Mummie and Daddy may arrive home at any moment now.” “Then, begorrah, we’ll start at once. Come, Pimby! Pimby!” she called to the Flying Pig. Then off they started, she riding upon the broomstick, and the children upon the magic sword of the Samurai. CHAPTER XXV. COPPERTOP KISSES THE BLARNEY STONE Upon arriving at Blarney Castle, Biddy-be-sure tried her wiles upon the Keeper most successfully, and they were given full permission to enter the Castle. Up a dark winding staircase they went, and then round the gallery of the old banqueting hall, and so out on to the parapet under which the Blarney Stone lies. Pimby, the Flying Pig, got stuck in the staircase once or twice on the way up, but otherwise the party reached the top without mishap. Upon arriving at the spot, there was some argument as to which of them should kiss the stone, but Coppertop reminded her brothers that the North Wind had distinctly told her to do so; and besides, Tibbs, being so strong and manly, was just the one to hold her legs and prevent her from falling. For, in order to kiss the stone properly, she had to be lowered over the edge of the parapet, head foremost. It was a very dangerous thing to do, for, if she fell, she would be dashed to pieces at the foot of the Castle. The sword of the Samurai lay upon the parapet and kept guard, and Coppertop kissed Smiler, hugged and kissed Tibbs and Kiddiwee, and prepared to be lowered over the parapet. Of course, she was nervous--“terrifikly”--but she just grit her teeth, and determined to do this last thing to gain her precious December day, and thus to be able to greet her Mummie and Daddy with sunshine and beauty.