’And then some one came in and asked would the young people come in and join a dance, for there was a piper in the next house.  And the stranger asked to go with them.  But at every dance-house there is a blackguard, and there was one there; and he began to mock at the strange gentleman.  And one of his brothers that didn’t know he was his brother, said to the blackguard:  “It’s a very mean thing of you to mock at a stranger.”  But he went on doing it.

’Then the stranger got up and went over to where his sister was, and slipped a letter into her apron that told who he was.  And then he quenched the dip-candle over her, that was lighting the house, and he made for the man that mocked him, and gave him a blow that sent him into the hearth, and then he made away.

’And it was a long time before they could find the candle; and when it was lighted, the man was found dead on the hearth.  And the sister read the letter; but she did not tell it was her own brother had come home.

’But after that he got a good place in the West Indies, and sent for them all there.’

* * * * *

Then an old man said:  ’I was minding a man in the hospital one time, and he was lying quiet in the bed; and the priest came in to see him, Father Kearns.  And all of a sudden he made one leap, and was out of the bed, and bade the priest to be off out of that.  And the priest made for the door; and I stood in the way of the man till he got out; and then I got out myself, and shut the door.  He was brought away to Ballinasloe Asylum after.  But if it wasn’t for me, Father Kearns wouldn’t have got safe out.

‘That’s my story.’

* * * * *

The first old man said:  ’There was a man one time went to the market to sell a cow; and he sold her, and he took a drop of drink after; and instead of going home, he went into a sort of a barn where there was straw stored, and he fell asleep there.

’And in the night some men came in, and he heard them talking.  And they had a lot of silver plate with them, they were after stealing from some house in the town, and they were hiding it in the straw till they would come and bring it away again.

’And he said nothing, and kept quiet till morning; and then he went out; and the people in the town were talking of nothing else but the great robbery of silver plate in the night.  And no one knew who had done it; and the man came forward, and told them where the silver plate was, and who the men were that stole it; and the things were found, and the men convicted.  But he did not let on how he had come to know it, or that he had slept in the barn.

’So he got a great name; and when he went home, his landlord heard of it; and he sent for him, and he said:  “I am missing things this good while, and the last thing I lost was a diamond ring.  Tell me who was it stole that,” he said.  “I can’t tell you,” said the man.  “Well,” said the landlord, “I will lock you up in a room for three days; and if you can’t tell me by the end of that time who stole the ring, I’ll put you to death.”