Two Irish hod-carriers were arguing about their ability to carry their
hods safely to the top of a high building. One said he could carry a
tumbler of water on top of his load without spilling a drop. And Pat
said, "Ach! a tumbler of water! Why, Mike, I could carry you in my hod
to the top of this ten-story buildin' without spillin' you." And Mike
said, "I bet you tin dollars you can't." "Done!" said Pat. "Get into my
hod."
Mike got in, and up Pat went quickly and safely until he came to the
sixth floor, when all of a sudden his foot slipped off the rung of the
ladder and his hod pitched, threatening to deposit its cargo on the
sidewalk seventy-five feet below. But with a mighty effort he steadied
himself, grasped his hod tight and proceeded to the top safely, where he
deposited Mike on the floor of the scaffolding with, "There, Mike, I've
won the bet. Out wid yer tin dollars." "Sure, ye did, Pat," said Mike,
"the tin is yours, but whin ye got to the sixth flure, an' stoombled--be
gob, I thought I had ye!"