lly active between sundown and
sunrise, so that there was always a danger that they might flood the
valley and destroy the people. As security against this the citizens had
built the great well with its monster lid, and each evening the lid was
locked over the well by means of a secret lock and a secret key.

The most famous person in the town of the Seven Sisters was the Keeper
of the Key. He was a man of dignified bearing, important airs, wearing
white silk knee-breeches, a green swallow-tail coat, and a cocked hat.
On the sleeve of his coat was embroidered in gold the image of a key and
seven sprays of water. He had great privileges and authority, and could
condemn or reprieve any sort of criminal except, of course, a sheep
stealer. He lived in a mansion beside the town, and this mansion was
almost as famous as the seven famous springs. People travelled from far
places to see it. A flight of green marble steps led to a broad door of
oak. On the broad oaken door he had fashioned one of the most remarkable
knockers and the most beautiful door knob that were known to Europe.
Both were of beaten gold. The knocker was wrought in the shape of a key.
The door knob was a group of seven water nymphs. A sensation was created
which agitated all Ireland when this work of art was completed by five
of the foremost goldsmiths in the land. The Keeper of the Key of the
Seven Sisters issued a Proclamation declaring that there was a flaw in
the rounding of one of the ankles of the group of seven water nymphs. He
had the five goldsmiths suddenly arrested and put on their trial. "The
Gael," said the Keeper of the Key, "must be pure-blooded in his art. I
am of the Clann Gael, I shall not allow any half-artist to come to my
door, there work under false pretence and go unpunished." The goldsmiths
protested that their work was the work of artists and flawless as the
design. Not another word would they be allowed to speak. Bards and
artists, scholars and men skilled in controversy, flocked from all parts
to see the door knob. A terrible controversy ensued. Sides were taken,
some for, others against, the ankle of the water nymph. They came to be
known as the Ankleites and the anti-Ankleites. And in that tremendous
controversy the Keeper of the Key proved the masterly manner of man he
was. He had the five goldsmiths convicted for failure as supreme
artists, and they were sentenced to banishment from the country. On
their way from the shore to th