"'Upon my reputation, what he says is true, Jack,' says the dog, in his
turn, 'the lucky minute of your life is come: let it pass without doing
what them that wishes your mother's son well desire you, and you'll die
in a ditch.'

"'And what am I to do,' says Jack, 'that's to make me so rich all of a
sudden?'

"'Why only to sit down, and take a game of cards with myself says
black-brow, 'that's all, and I'm sure its not much.'

"'And what is it to be for?' Jack inquires; 'for I have no
money--tare-nation to the rap itself's in my company.'

"'Well, you have yourself,' says the dog, putting up his fore-claw
along his nose, and winking at Jack; 'you have yourself, man--don't be
faint-hearted: he'll bet the contents of this bag;' and with that the
ould thief gave it another great big shake, to make the guineas jingle
again. 'It's ten thousand guineas in hard goold; if he wins, you're
to sarve him for a year and a day; and if he loses, you're to have the
bag.'

"'And the money that's in it?' says Jack, wishing, you see, to make a
sure bargain, anyhow.

"'Ev'ry penny,' answered the ould chap, 'if you win it;' and there's
fifty to one in your favor.'

"By this time the dog had gone into a great fit of laughing at Jack's
sharpness about the money. 'The money that's in it, Jack!' says he; and