“'No,' says she, 'I think I'll be able to-get you over this, as well as the rest; so have a good heart, and be faithful' 'That's it,' replied Jack, 'that's it, acushla--my own _correcthur_ to a shaving; I've a heart worth its weight in bank notes, and a more faithful boy isn't alive this day nor I'm to yez all, ye darlings of the world.' “She then pulled a small white wand out of her pocket, struck the lake, and there was the prettiest green ridge across it to the foot of the tree that ever eye beheld. 'Now,' says she, turning her back to Jack, and stooping down to do something that he couldn't see, 'Take these,' giving him her ten toes, 'put them against the tree, and you will have steps to carry you to the top, but be sure, for your life and mine, not to forget any of them. If you do, my life will be taken tomorrow morning, for your master puts on my slippers with his own hands.' “Jack was now going to swear that he would give up the whole thing and surrender his head at once; but when life looked at her feet, and saw no appearance of blood, he went over without more to do, and robbed the nest, taking down the eggs one by one, that he mightn't brake them. There was no end to his joy, as he secured the last egg; he instantly took down the toes, one after another, save and except the little one of the left foot, which in his joy and hurry he forgot entirely. He then returned by the green ridge to the shore, and accordingly as he went along, it melted away into water behind him. “'Jack,' says the charmer, 'I hope you forgot none of my toes.' “'Is it me?' says Jack, quite sure that he had them all--'arrah, catch any one from my country making a blunder of that kind.' “'Well,' says she, 'let us see; so, taking the toes, she placed them on again, just as if they had never been off. But, lo and behold! on coming to the last of the left foot, it wasn't forthcoming. 'Oh! Jack, Jack,' says she, 'you have destroyed me; to-morrow morning your master will notice the want of this toe, and that instant I'll be put to death.' “'Lave that to me,' says Jack; 'by the powers, you won't lose a drop of your darling blood for it. Have you got a pen-knife about you? and I'll soon show you how you won't.' “'What do you want with the knife?' she inquired. “'What do I want with it?--Why to give you the best toe on both my feet, for the one I lost on you; do you think I'd suffer you to want a toe, and I having ten thumping ones at your sarvice?--I'm not the man, you beauty you, for such a shabby trick as that comes to.' “'But you forget,' says the lady, who was a little cooler than Jack, 'that none of yours would fit me.' “'And must you die to-morrow, _acushla?_' asked Jack, in desperation. “'As sure as the sun rises,' answered the lady 'for Your master would know at once that it was by my toes the nest was robbed.' “'By the powers,' observed Jack, 'he's one of the greatest ould vag--I mane, isn't he a terrible man, out and out, for a father?'