Page:Beside the Fire - Douglas Hyde.djvu/220

 158 "I did," says Donal; "but he did not do me any harm."

They were drinking till they were half drunk, then said Donal: "It's time for us to be going to sleep, what place would you like best, the outside of the bed, or next the wall?"

"I'll go next the wall," said the poor man. They went to bed leaving the candle lit.

They were not long in bed till they saw three men coming in, and a bladder (football) with them. They began beating bayrees (playing at ball) on the floor; but there were two of them against one. Donal said to the poor man: "It is not right for two to be against one," and with that he leaped out and began helping the weak side, and he without a thread on him. Then they began laughing, and walked out.

Donal went to bed again, and he was not long there till there came in a piper playing sweet music. "Rise up," says Donal, "until we have a dance; it's a great pity to let good music go to loss." "For your life, don't stir," says the poor man.

Donal gave a leap out of the bed, and he fell to dancing till he was tired. Then the piper began laughing, and walked out.

Donal went to bed again; but he was not long there till there walked in two men, carrying a coffin. They left it down on the floor, and they walked out. "I don't know who's in the coffin, or whether it's for us it's meant," said Donal; "I'll go till I see." He gave a leap out, raised the board of the coffin, and found a dead man in it. "By my conscience, it's the cold place you have," says Donal; "if you were able to rise up, and sit at the fire, you would be better." The dead man rose up and warmed himself. Then said Donal, "the bed is wide