‘What is the meaning of this, my man?’ he demanded.

‘Meanin’ which, sor?’ Devoy cocked a black and swollen eye at the officer, and smiled innocently over a lacerated chin.

‘Meaning this.’  The trooper waved a white glove over the congregation.

‘Sure, it’s a bit of a game only—­a bit of a friendly game o’ football, as ye may see wid the own eyes of ye.’

Dick’s football had just bounced in between the opposing bodies.  The officer ran an eye over the crowd, noting the bloodstains.

‘You play football in a funny way at Waddy,’ he said.

‘We play it wid enthusiasm.’

’Enthusiasm!  I should say you played it with shillelahs.  Do you always get cracked skulls and black eyes when you play football?’

‘It’s our pleasant way, sor.’

’Is it?  Well, how the devil do you play football?  What is the meaning of this pile of logs?’

’Meaning the fines, sergeant?  It’s this way:  we of Waddy stands on this side, an’ thim of Cow Flat forninst us on the other side, an’ we kicks it over t’ thim, an’ they kicks it back to ourselves, an’, sure, the side what kicks it over the most frequent wins.  Would you like t’ see, sergeant?’

The miners grinned, the troopers giggled, and the sergeant began to feel huffy.

‘’Tention!’ he cried.  ‘Who won this precious game?’

Devoy pinched hi chin tenderly and grimaced.  It was hard to abandon the glory of a well-won battle, but there was no option.

‘It was a dthraw,’ he said manfully.

‘And what were you playing for?’

‘Playin’ for?  Oh, fer natural love an’ affection, nothin’ more, barrin’ a few goats.’

’Goats, eh?  Now look here, my fine fellow, we were told there was to be riot and fighting here over those goats.  I don’t believe a word of your cock-and-bull story about football, and for two pins I’d clap a few of you where you wouldn’t play again for some time to come.  Now you’d all better settle this goat business while my men are here, and take my advice and drop football if you want to keep on the comfort able and airy side of a gaol.  Now then, you fellows from the Flat, round up your goats and look slippy in getting out of this.’

Devoy was the picture of outraged innocence.

‘Tut, tut, tut!’ he said mournfully, ‘an’ see how they take off the characther of dacent, paceable, lovin’ min.  ‘Twas a tinder an’ frindly game we was playin’, sergeant, but if ye will break it up, sure I’m a law-abidin’ man.  We did intund t’ axe the min av Cow Flat t’ have the bite an’ sup wid us at the banquit this night, but we rispict the law, an’ we say nothin’ agin it.  But, sor, if ever yer men would be likun’ a game of football, we—­’

‘Get down, you ruffian!’ said the sergeant, grinning, and rode his horse at Devoy.

So the Great Goat Riot was settled, and under the eye of the sergeant and his troopers the goats of Cow Flat were drafted from those of Waddy.  It was a difficult task, and was not accomplished without trouble and argument and minor hostilities:  but the judgment of the sergeant, who seemed to be aware of the whole merits of the case, was final, so that in due time the men of Cow Flat departed driving their goats before them, and comparative peace fell upon Waddy once more.