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1. The Laughing Knights' Island Folktale (continued)

   

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   it hurt me so much to ask me why I didn't laugh that it set me nearly mad and I beheaded them. ''
   '' Well '' says Jack,
   '' have you any hounds now. ''
   '' I have a pack that seldom sees light. '' Well I'll give you a run for her life tomorrow. Where does she appear? ''
   '' Oh, its very easy to see here.
   I suppose she thinks I would follow her like my boys, and never come back either and I fear you will never come back. ''
   '' Troth and I'll come back you may depend on it. ''
   '' Well you can have the best steed in my stable and the best pack of hounds, that I have, or ever will keep, if they don't come back. ''
   '' Don't fret master all will be well Leave it to me. ''
   So next day Jack had his horses, brought by one of the grooms.
   Jack sounded his horn, and the cry of the hounds to get out the kennel was terrible. So the keeper set them. Away they dashed, and there was no beating the bush to raise the hare.
   She was there to be seen and the dogs took up the trail, and she stopped in front of them and such a cry of hounds it would be sweet music to any huntsman.
   The hare ran over about seven miles through the island. Some times the hounds would be within a perch of her but never any nearer.
   Then she set out for her cave, and the dogs were in such fury they followed her into

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Informant

   B. O Grady

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan