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never find out how I got into it; and my ⟨heart⟩ grew cold with fear, for sure and certain I ⟨was⟩ that it would be my berrin place. So I sat ⟨down⟩ upon a stone which, as good luck would have it was close by me, and I began to scratch my ⟨head⟩ and sing the Ullagon—when all of a sudden ⟨the⟩ moon grew black, and I looked up, and saw something for all the world as if it was moving ⟨down⟩ between me and it, and I could not tell what ⟨it⟩ was. Down it came with a pounce, and ⟨looked⟩ at me full in the face; and what was it but ⟨an⟩ eagle? as fine a one as ever flew from the ⟨kingdom⟩ of Kerry. So he looked at me in the face, ⟨and⟩ says he to me, 'Daniel O’Rourke,' says he, '⟨how⟩ do you do?' 'Very well, I thank you,' say I: 'I hope you’re well;' wondering out of ⟨my⟩ senses all the time how an eagle came to speak ⟨like⟩ a Christian. 'What brings you here, Dan?' ⟨says⟩ he. 'Nothing at all, sir,' says I: only I ⟨wish⟩ I was safe home again.' 'Is it out of the ⟨island⟩ you want to go, Dan?' says he. '’Tis, sir,’ ⟨says⟩ I: so I up and told him how I had taken a ⟨drop⟩ too much, and fell into the water; how I ⟨swam⟩ to the island; and how I got into the bog and ⟨did⟩ not know my way out of it. 'Dan,' says he, ⟨after⟩ a minute’s thought, 'though it is very ⟨improper⟩ for you to get drunk on Lady-day, yet as you ⟨are⟩ a decent sober man, who ’tends mass well, ⟨and⟩ never flings stones at me or mine, nor eries ⟨out⟩ after us in the fields—my life for yours,’ says he 'so get up on my back, and grip me well, for ⟨fear⟩ you’d fall off, and I’ll fly you out of the bog.’—'I am afraid,' says I, 'your honour’s making ⟨game⟩ of me; for who ever heard of riding a ⟨horseback⟩ on an eagle before?' 'Pon the honour of a gentleman,’ says he, putting his right foot on his ⟨breast⟩ 'I am quite in earnest: and so now either take ⟨my⟩
