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.
This damp grass is very different from our warm room, says one.
I was obliged to drop a fine pigs foot, says another.
I didnt get a tayspoonful of my last tumbler, says another.
And all the Lord of Dunlavins gold and silver that we left behind! says the last.
I think Ill venture back, says the captain, and see if we can recover anything.
Thats a good boy! said they all, and away he went.
The lights were all out, and so he groped his way to the fire, and there the cat flew in his face, and tore him with teeth and claws. He let a roar out of him, and made for the room door, to look for a candle inside. He trod on the dogs tail, and if he did, he got the marks of his teeth in his arms, and legs, and thighs.
Thousand murders! cried he; I wish I was out of this unlucky house.
When he got to the street door, the cock dropped down upon him with his claws and bill, and what the cat and dog done to him was only a flay-bite to what he got from the cock.
Oh, tattheration to you all, you unfeeling vagabones! says he, when he recovered his breath; and he staggered and spun round and round till he reeled into the stable, back foremost, but the ass received him with a kick on the broadest part of his small clothes[31], and laid him comfortably on the dunghill.
When he came to himself, he scratched his head, and began to think what happened him; and as soon as he found that his legs were able to carry him, he crawled away, dragging one foot after another, till he reached the wood.
Well, well, cried them all, when he came within hearing, any chance of our property?
You may say chance, says he, and its itself is the poor chance all out. Ah, will any of you pull a bed of dry grass for me? All the sticking-plaster in Enniscorthy will be too little for the cuts and bruises I have on me. Ah, if you only knew what I have gone through for you! When I got to the kitchen fire, looking for a sod of lighted turf, what should be there but an old woman carding flax, and you may see the marks she left on my face with the cards. I made to the room door as fast as I could, and who should I stumble over but a cobbler and his seat, and if he did not work at me with his awls and his pinchers you may call me a rogue. Well, I got away from him somehow, but when I was passing through the door, it must be the divel himself that pounced down on me with his claws, and his teeth, that were equal to sixpenny nails, and his wings ill luck be in his road! Well, at last I reached the stable, and there, by way of salute, I got a pelt from a sledgehammer that sent me half a mile off. If you dont believe me, Ill give you leave to go and judge for yourselves.
Oh, my poor captain, says they, we believe you to the nines[32]. Catch us, indeed, going within a hens race of that unlucky cabin!
Well, before the sun shook his doublet next morning, Jack and his comrades were up and about[33]. They made a hearty breakfast on what was left the night beforehand then they all agreed to set off to the castle of the Lord of Dunlavin, and give him back all his gold and silver. Jack put it all in the two ends of a sack and laid it across Neddys back, and all took the road in their hands. Away they went, through bogs, up hills, down dales, and sometimes along the yellow high road, till they came to the hall door of the Lord of Dunlavin, and who should be there, airing his powdered head, his white stockings, and his red breeches, but the thief of a porter.
He gave a cross look to the visitors, and says he to Jack, What do you want here, my fine fellow? There isnt room for you all.
We want, says Jack, what Im sure you havent to give us and that is, common civility.
Come, be off, you lazy strollers! says he. While a cat ud be licking her ear, or Ill let the dogs at you.
Would you tell a body, says the cock that was perched on the asss head, who was it that opened the door for the robbers the other night?
Ah! Maybe the porters red face didnt turn the colour of his frill, and the Lord of Dunlavin and his pretty daughter, that were standing at the parlour window unknownst to the porter, put out their heads.
Id be glad, Barney, says the master, to hear your answer to the gentleman with the red comb on him.
Ah, my lord, dont believe the rascal; sure I didnt open the door to the six robbers.
And how did you know there were six, you poor innocent? said the lord.
Never mind, sir, says Jack, all your gold and silver is there in that sack, and I dont think you will begrudge us our supper and bed after our long march from the wood of Athsalach.
Begrudge, indeed! Not one of you will ever see a poor day if I can help it.
So all were welcomed to their hearts content, and the ass and the dog and the cock got the best posts in the farmyard, and the cat took possession of the kitchen. The lord took Jack in hand, dressed him from top to toe in broadcloth, and frills as white as snow, and turnpumps, and put a watch in his fob. When they sat down to dinner, the lady of the house said Jack had the air of a born gentleman about him, and the lord said hed make him his steward. Jack brought his mother, and settled her comfortably near the castle, and all were as happy as you please.
The Shee an Gannon and the Gruagach Gaire
The Shee an Gannon was born in the morning, named at noon, and went in the evening to ask his daughter of the king of Erin.
I will give you my daughter in marriage, said the king of Erin; you wont get her, though, unless you go and bring me back the tidings that I want, and tell me what it is that put a stop to the laughing of the Gruagach Gaire, who before this laughed always, and laughed so loud that the whole world heard him. There are twelve iron spikes out here in the garden behind my castle. On eleven of the spikes are the heads of kings sons who came seeking my daughter in marriage, and all of them went away to get the knowledge I wanted. Not one was able to get it and tell me what stopped the Gruagach Gaire from laughing. I took the heads off them all when they came back without the tidings for which they went, and Im greatly in dread that your headll be on the twelfth spike, for Ill do the same to you that I did to the eleven kings sons unless you tell what put a stop to the laughing of the Gruagach.
The Shee an Gannon made no answer, but left the king and pushed away to know could he find why the Gruagach was silent.
He took a glen at a step, a hill at a leap[34], and travelled all day till evening. Then he came to a house. The master of the house asked him what sort was he, and he said, A young man looking for hire.
Well, said the master of the house, I was going tomorrow to look for a man to mind my cows. If youll work for me, youll have a good place, the best food a man could have to eat in this world, and a soft bed to lie on.
The Shee an Gannon took service, and ate his supper. Then the master of the house said, I am the Gruagach Gaire; now that you are my man and have eaten your supper, youll have a bed of silk to sleep on.
Next morning after breakfast the Gruagach said to the Shee an Gannon, Go out now and loosen my five golden cows and my bull without horns, and drive them to pasture; but when you have them out on the grass, be careful you dont let them go near the land of the giant.