puts a good handful into our bag." The Churl sat on the
bench with the farmer who had a score of cows, with the blacksmith who
shod the King's horses, and with the merchant who had been in foreign
parts and who wore big silver rings in his ears. Half the people who
were there I could not tell you, but there were there--

Biddie Early
Tatter-Jack Walsh
Aunt Jug
Lundy Foot
Matt the Thresher
Nora Criona
Conan Maol, and
Shaun the Omadhaun.

Some said that the King of Ireland's Son was there too. The play was
"The Unicorn from the Stars." The mummers did it very well although they
had no one to take the part of the Unicorn.

They were in the middle of the play when Gilly of the Goatskin rushed
into the barn. "Master, master," he shouted, "your mill--your mill is
on fire." The Churl stood up, and then put his glass to his head and
drained what was in it. "Make way for me, good people," said he. "Let
me out of this, good people." Some people near the door began to talk
of what Gilly held in his hands. "What have you there, my servant?" said
the Churl. "A pair of horse's legs, Master. I could only carry two of
them."

The Churl caught Gilly by the throat. "A pair of horse's legs," said he.
"Where did you get a pair of horse's legs?"

"Off a horse," said Gilly. "I had trouble in cutting them off. Bad cess
to you for telling me to come here with horse's legs."

"And whose horse did you cut the legs off?" "Your own, Master. You
wouldn't have liked me to cut the legs off any other person's horse. And
I thought your race-horse's legs would be the most suitable to cut off."

The mummers and the people were gathered round them and they saw the
Churl's face get black with vexation.

"O my misfortune, that ever I met with you," said the Churl.

"Are you sorry for your bargain, Master?" said Gilly.

"Sorry--I'll be sorry every day and night of my life for it," said the
Churl.

"You hear what my Master says, good people," said Gilly.

"Aye, sure. He says he's sorry for the bargain he made with you," said
some of the people.

"Then," said Gilly, "strip him and put him across the bench until I cut
a strip of his skin an inch wide from his neck to his heel."

None of the people would consent to do that. "Well, I'll tell you
something that will make you consent," said Gilly. "This man made two
poor servant-boys work for him, paid them no wages, and took a strip of
their skin, so that they are si