Page:Life and adventures of David Haggart.pdf/14

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alongside of him, and thinking he was unobserved, eased him first of his pocket-book, next of his purse, and lastly of his watch. On moving round the pit, a gentleman accosted him, and said, "you are the switcher, some take all, but you leave nothing." He answered, "If I had left him an halfpenny, he would have gained all the money in the pit in tho twinkling of a bed-post." The gentleman replied, "he believed it was true, for he has got all mine, or at least, you havo it now." They immediately left the pit, and heard no more about it. O'Brien witnessed the whole conversation, and Haggart never got another name from him after but the Switcher.

After their return to Dublin they remained about ten days; finding their cash getting scarce, Haggart resolved on taking a journey by himself, and started on foot to Mullingar, where a famous cattle market is held; here he picked a gentleman's pocket, but only got £13 by the adventure. Next morning he started for Tullamore, and arrived at night. A fair was held the following day, which ho attended, and was not long on the ground till he eased a gentleman of £7. Towards the evening ho observed a pig-drover putting a large sum of monoy in his pocket, which was too tempting for him to let pass. He priced a pig, and of courso could not agree; but during the discourse he picked his pocket, and then went off.

About au hour afterwards, while walking through tho market-place, he got a bat on the ear with a shillelah, which brought him to the ground. Getting up, and looking round him, he asked who had done it. The pig-drover, flourishing his sprig, said, "By jappers, it was me, my boy; you have token my muny from me. "By jappers, you're a