Page:Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland (Curtin).djvu/156

 to be a great hunting with hounds, in the same place where the races had been the year before.

When the day came, the fisherman's son said: "Come, father, let us go away to this hunting."

"Ah!" said the old man, "what do we want to go for? Have n't we plenty to eat at home, with money enough and to spare? What do we care for hunting with hounds?"

"Oh! they 'll give us more money," said the son, "if we go."

The fisherman listened to his son, and away they went. When the two came to the spot where the son had made a horse of himself the year before, he stopped, and said to the father: "I 'll make a hound of myself to-day, and when you bring me in sight of the game, you 'll see me wild with jumping and trying to get away; but do you hold me fast till the right time comes, then let go. I 'll sweep ahead of every hound in the field, catch the game, and win the prize for you.

"When the hunt is over, so many men will come to buy me that they 'll put you in a maze; but be sure you get three hundred pounds for me, and when you have the money, and are giving me up, don't forget to keep my rope. Come to this place, shake the rope, and I 'll be here before you, as I am now. If you don't keep the rope, you 'll go home without me."