Every one knows that Sliabh-Mish, County Kerry, is haunted. The figure
of a man, accompanied by a huge black dog, is frequently seen standing
on a high crag, but as the traveller approaches, the forms disappear,
although they rise up again before him on another crag, and so continue
appearing and disappearing as he journeys on. Many travellers have
seen them, but no one has ever yet been able to meet the man and the
dog face to face on the mountain side, for they seem to melt away in
the mist, and are seen no more on reaching the spot. It happened, once
upon a time, that a man journeying alone over the mountain path, took
out his snuff-box to solace himself with a pinch, and was putting it up
again in his waistcoat pocket, when he heard a voice near him saying,
“Not yet! not yet! I am near you, wait.”
He looked-round, but not a soul was to be seen. However, he thought
it right to be friendly, so he shook some snuff from the box in the
palm of his hand and held it out in the air. But his hair stood on
end, and he trembled with fright, when he felt invisible fingers on
his hand picking up the snuff, and when he drew it back the snuff had
disappeared.
“God and the saints between us and harm!” exclaimed the poor man, ready
to drop down from terror.
“Amen,” responded the clear voice of some invisible speaker close
beside him.
Then the man quickly made the sign of the cross over the hand touched
by the spirit, and so went on his way unharmed.