so while some were barring the gates , the young devil climbed up and took down the iron flail that had the handstaff and booltheen both made out of red - hot iron . the little vagabond was grinning to think how it would burn the hands off of tom , but the dickens a burn it made on him , no more nor if it was a good oak sapling . " thankee , " says tom ; " now would you open the gate for a body and i 'll give you no more trouble . " " oh , tramp ! " says ould nick , " is that the way ? it is easier getting inside them gates than getting out again . take that tool from him , and give him a dose of the oil of stirrup . " so one fellow put out his claws to seize on the flail , but tom gave him such a welt of it on the side of his head that he broke off one of his horns , and made him roar like a divel as he was . well , they rushed at tom , but he gave them , little and big , such a thrashing as they did n't forget for a while . at last says the ould thief of all , rubbing his elbows , " let the fool out ; and woe to whoever lets him in again , great or small . " so out marched tom and away with him , without minding the shouting and cursing they kept up at him from the tops of the walls . and when he got home to the big bawn of the palace , there never was such running and racing as to see himself and the flail .
how it would burn the hands off of tom .
what did the little vagabond think about ?
what did the little vagabond think about ?