Page:West Irish folk-tales and romances - William Larminie.djvu/144

 112 them. They went to the field where the sheep were. They were in bad condition. There wasn't a sheep or a head of cattle that Jack and the tailor hadn't eaten the flesh off.

The king went home, and he didn't know what to do. He went to the old man who was in the town to tell him what happened to them.

“There's some neighbour of yours that's smart.”

“I don't know how I can get hold of him.”

“I know,” said the old man. “The first fine day that comes take some gold and silver, spread it out, and leave it outside till the dark comes. Whoever is playing the tricks on you will spy it. He'll try for it. When night comes, take in the money and put out a barrel of pitch.”

The king did so. Jack looked out at the window. He saw the king spread out the money. “Do you see,” said he, “ what the man is doing yonder?” Jack was watching the money all day. Night was coming on, and nobody was going near the money. “He has forgotten it,” said Jack; “no one will come near it till morning.”

When night came Jack and his master went drawing near the money, to take home the full of a bag with them. They went to the place where the money was. There was a barrel of pitch there. “Which will you do, stoop into the barrel, or watch?” The tailor said he would stoop. He stooped into the barrel; he stretched his two