Jack and His Comrades
Once there was a poor widow, as often there has been, and she had one son. A very scarce summer[23] came, and they didnt know how theyd live till the new potatoes would be fit for eating. So Jack said to his mother one evening, Mother, bake my cake, and kill my hen, till I go seek my fortune; and if I meet it, never fear but Ill soon be back to share it with you.
So she did as he asked her, and he set out at break of day on his journey. His mother came along with him to the yard gate, and says she, Jack, which would you rather have, half the cake and half the hen with my blessing, or the whole of em with my curse?
O Musha, mother, says Jack, why do you ax me that question? Sure you know I wouldnt have your curse and Damers estate along with it.
Well, then, Jack, says she, heres the whole lot of em, with my thousand blessings along with them. So she stood on the yard fence and blessed him as far as her eyes could see him.
Well, he went along and along till he was tired, and neer a farmers house he went into wanted a boy. At last his road led by the side of a bog, and there was a poor ass up to his shoulders near a big bunch of grass he was striving to come at.
Ah, then, Jack asthore, says he, help me out or Ill be drowned.
Never sayt twice[24], says Jack, and he pitched in big stones and sods into the slob, till the ass got good ground under him.
Thank you, Jack, says he, when he was out on the hard road; Ill do as much for you another time. Where are you going?
Faith, Im going to seek my fortune till harvest comes in, God bless it!
And if you like, says the ass, Ill go along with you; who knows what luck we may have!
With all my heart, its getting late, let us be jogging.
Well, they were going through a village, and a whole army of gossoons were hunting a poor dog with a kettle tied to his tail. He ran up to Jack for protection, and the ass let such a roar out of him, that the little thieves took to their heels as if the ould boy was after them[25].
More power to you, Jack, says the dog. Im much obleeged to you; where is the baste and yourself going?
Were going to seek our fortune till harvest comes in.
And wouldnt I be proud to go with you! says the dog. And get rid of them ill-conducted boys; purshuin to em.
Well, well, throw your tail over your arm, and come along.
They got outside the town, and sat down under an old wall, and Jack pulled out his bread and meat, and shared with the dog; and the ass made his dinner on a bunch of thistles. While they were eating and chatting, what should come by but a poor half-starved cat, and the moll-row he gave out of him would make your heart ache.
You look as if you saw the tops of nine houses since breakfast[26], says Jack; heres a bone and something on it.
May your child never know a hungry belly! says Tom. Its myself thats in need of your kindness. May I be so bold as to ask where yez are all going?
Were going to seek out fortune till the harvest comes in, and you may join us if you like.
And that Ill do with a heart and a half, says the cat, and thankee for asking me.
Off they set again, and just as the shadows of the trees were three times as long as themselves, they heard a great cackling in a field inside the road, and out over the ditch jumped a fox with a fine black cock in his mouth.
Oh, you anointed villain! says the ass, roaring like thunder.
At him, good dog! says Jack, and the word wasnt out of his mouth when Coley was in full sweep after the Red Dog. Reynard dropped his prize like a hot potato, and was off like shot, and the poor cock came back fluttering and trembling to Jack and his comrades.
O Musha, naybours! says he. Wasnt it the heigth o luck that threw you in my way! Maybe I wont remember your kindness if ever I find you in hardship; and where in the world are you all going?
Were going to seek our fortune till the harvest comes in; you may join our party if you like, and sit on Neddys crupper when your legs and wings are tired.
Well, the march began again, and just as the sun was gone down they looked around, and there was neither cabin nor farm house in sight.
Well, well, says Jack, the worse luck now the better another time[27], and its only a summer night after all. Well go into the wood, and make our bed on the long grass.
No sooner said than done.[28] Jack stretched himself on a bunch of dry grass, the ass lay near him, the dog and cat lay in the asss warm lap, and the cock went to roost in the next tree.
Well, the soundness of deep sleep was over them all, when the cock took a notion of crowing.
Bother you, Black Cock! says the ass. You disturbed me from as nice a wisp of hay as ever I tasted. Whats the matter?
Its daybreak thats the matter: dont you see light yonder?
I see a light indeed, says Jack, but its from a candle its coming, and not from the sun. As youve roused us we may as well go over, and ask for lodging.
So they all shook themselves, and went on through grass, and rocks, and briars, till they got down into a hollow, and there was the light coming through the shadow, and along with it came singing, and laughing, and cursing.
Easy, boys! says Jack. Walk on your tippy toes[29] till we see what sort of people we have to deal with.
So they crept near the window, and there they saw six robbers inside, with pistols, and blunderbushes, and cutlashes, sitting at a table, eating roast beef and pork, and drinking mulled beer, and wine, and whiskey punch.
Wasnt that a fine haul we made at the Lord of Dunlavins! says one ugly-looking thief with his mouth full. And its little wed get only for the honest porter! Heres his purty health!
The porters purty health! cried out every one of them, and Jack bent his finger at his comrades.
Close your ranks, my men, says he in a whisper, and let everyone mind the word of command.
So the ass put his fore-hoofs on the sill of the window, the dog got on the asss head, the cat on the dogs head, and the cock on the cats head. Then Jack made a sign, and they all sung out like mad.
Hee-haw, hee-haw! roared the ass; Bow-wow! barked die dog; Meaw-meaw! cried the cat; Cockadoodle-doo! crowed the cock.
Level your pistols! cried Jack, and make smithereens of em. Dont leave a mothers son of em alive; present, fire!
With that they gave another halloo, and smashed every pane in the window. The robbers were frightened out of their lives[30]. They blew out the candles, threw down the table, and skelped out at the back door as if they were in earnest, and never drew rein till they were in the very heart of the wood. Jack and his party got into the room, closed the shutters, lighted the candles, and ate and drank till hunger and thirst were gone.
Then they lay down to rest Jack in the bed, the ass in the stable, the dog on the doormat, the cat by the fire, and the cock on the perch.
At first the robbers were very glad to find themselves safe in the thick wood, but they soon began to get vexed.