"'It is not,' sez I, 'for he could bate any boy in Kilballyowen, an' if his fist hit that table 'twould knock it to smithereens.' "'Whist?' sez the majum; 'it's John's Bunions.' "'Ax him 'bout his progress,' sez a woman wid a face like a bowl of stirabout. "'Ah, bathershin!' sez I. 'Let John's bunions alone and bring Luke Corrigan to the fore.' "'Hish!' whispers the majum; 'I feel a sperrit nare me.' "'Feel av it has a wart on its nose,' sez I, 'for be that token ye'll know it's Luke.' "'The moment is suspicious,' says the majum. "'I hope yer don't want to asperge me character,' sez I. "'Whist!' sez she; 'the sperrits is droopin.' "'It's droppin' yer mane,' sez I, pickin' up a small bottle she let fall from her pocket. "'Put that woman out,' sez an ould chap. "'Who do ye call a woman?' sez I. 'Lay a finger on me, an' I'll scratch a map of the County Clare on yer ugly phiz.' "'Put her out!' 'Put her out!' sez two or three others, an' they med a lep for me. But, holy rocket! I was up in a minute. "'Bring an yer fightin' sperrits,' I cried, 'from Julus Sazar to Tim Maconle, an' I'll bate 'em all fur the glory av ould Ireland!' "The big chap as had me money kem behin' me, an' put his elbow in me eye; but me jewel, I tassed him over as if he bin a feather, an' the money rowled out his pocket. Wid a cry av 'Faugh-a-ballah!' I grabbed six dollars, runned out av the doore, an' I'll never put fut in the house ag'in. An' that's how I kem be the eye." A story like this gives the magician's assistant plenty of time to work the trick. Sometimes a magician whose confidence in his assistant is not strong, or whose paraphernalia is limited, will have only the box, and will satisfy himself with merely "tying" his assistant in a sack on top of the box. This way the trick is surer and a great deal easier than when the basket is used. CHAPTER XXXII. VENTRILOQUISM.