'Come, Mickey, git up here.'
'Arrah now, but I never learnt to ride the divil when I was home in
the ould country,' replied the Irishman, backing away.
But both Ethan and Baldy united in their persuasions, and finally
Mickey consented, although with great trepidation. He timidly climbed
upon the wagon and took his seat beside the Yankee, looking very much
as a man may be supposed to look who mounts the hearse to attend his
own funeral.
'When yer wants to start, jist pull that 'ere gimcrack!' said Baldy,
pointing to the crook in the rod upon which his hand rested.
'Git eout, naow! do you think you're goin' to teach me that has
teached school fur five year in Connecticut?'
There were some peculiarities about the steam man which made him a
rather unwieldy contrivance. He had a way of starting with a jerk,
unless great skill was used in letting on steam; and his stoppage was
equally sudden, from the same cause.
When the Irishman and Yankee had fairly ensconced themselves on their
perch, the latter looked carefully round to make sure that no one was
in the way, and then he tuned the valve, which let on a full head of
steam.
For a second the monster did not stir. The steam had not fairly taken
'hold' yet; then he raised one immense spiked foot and held it
suspended in air.
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