“‘Why, the one I saw under the dog’s oxther,’ replied Jack.

“‘Under my oxther, you swindling rascal!’ replied the dog, giving him a pull by the other side of the collar; ’did ever any honest pair of gintlemen hear the like?—­but he only wants to break through the agreement:  so let us turn him at once into an ass, and then he’ll break no more bargains, nor strive to take in honest men and win their money.  Me a black-leg!’ So the dark fellow drew his two hands over Jack’s jaws, and in a twinkling there was a pair of ass’s ears growing up out of his head.  When Jack found this, he knew that he wasn’t in good hands:  so he thought it best to get himself as well out of the scrape as possible.

“‘Gintlemen, be aisy,’ says he, ’and let us understand one another:  I’m very willing to sarve you for a year and a day; but I’ve one requist to ax, and it’s this:  I’ve a helpless ould mother at home,—­and if I go with you now, she’ll break her heart with grief first, and starve afterwards.  Now, if your honor will give me a year to work hard, and lay in provision to support her while I’m away, I’ll serve you with all the veins of my heart—­for a bargain’s a bargain.’

“With this, the dog gave his companion a pluck by the skirt, and, after some chat together that Jack didn’t hear, they came back and said that they would comply with his wishes that far:  ’So, on to-morrow twelvemonth, Jack,’ says the dark fellow, ’the dog here will come to your mother’s, and if you follow him he’ll bring you safe to my castle.’

“‘Very well, your honor,’ says Jack; ’but as dogs resemble one another so much, how will I know him when he comes?’

“‘Why,’ answers the other, ’he’ll have a green ribbon and a spy-glass about his neck, and a pair of Wellington boots on his hind legs.’

“’That’s enough, sir,’says Jack, ’I can’t mistake him in that dress, so I’ll be ready; but, jintlemen, if it would be plasing to you both I’d every bit as soon not go home with these,’ and he handled the brave pair of ears he had got, as he spoke.  ’The truth is, jintlemen, I’m deluding enough without them; and as I’m so modest, you persave, why if you’d take them away, you’d oblige me!’

“To this they had no objection, and during that year Jack wrought night and day, that he might be able to lave as much provision with his poor mother as would support her in his absence; and when the morning came that he was to bid her farewell, he went down on his two knees and got her blessing.  He then left her with tears in his eyes, and promised to come back the very minute his time would be up.  ‘Mother,’ says he, ’be kind to your little family here, and feed them well, as they are all you’ll have to keep you company till you see me again.’

“His mother then stuffed his pockets with bread, till they stuck out behind him, and gave him a crooked six-pence for luck; after which, he got his staff, and was just ready to tramp, when, sure enough, he spies his ould friend the dog, with the green ribbon about his neck, and the Wellington boots upon his hind legs.  He didn’t go in, but waited on the outside till Jack came out.  They then set off, but no one knows how far they travelled, till they reached the dark gintleman’s castle, who appeared very glad to see Jack, and gave him a hearty welcome.