School: Druim Mór

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1. The Trade He Knows Best (continued)

   

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   place and he set off for it. When he reached their hut he went to the window and looked in. He saw the robbers dividing the money. When they saw the queer monster at the window they were scared and thought it was the devil. They cleared out of the hut without waiting to bring the money with them. When they were gone Jack went in to the hut, collected the money, took their two horses and set off for home. He arrived home with the two horses and the money. There was great welcome for him and his father thought he must have learned his trade when he arrived home with so much money and two fine horses. Next day he told the landlord Jack was back and that he had two horses the like of which were never seen in the district. "Has he his trade off" said the landlord. "He tells me he has" said the old man. "Well tomorrow we'll see if he has trade off. If he is able to steal the red mare out of the stable with two guards on the door he has his trade off. "But that is impossible" said the old man. "Well if he has his trade off he will" said the landlord. Jack appeared in the gentleman's yard disguised and pretending he was drunk. He had two quarts of whiskey in his pocket. He approached the guards on the door of the stable and reeled into the stable, tripped and fell and lay there as if asleep. The two guards thought he might have some whiskey on him. When they heard him snoring they searched him, found the two quarts of whiskey and helped themselves to some of whiskey. Before long they had demolished the two quarts and as was natural became intoxicated. When Jack saw that they were well drunk he jumped up, put the bridle on

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Folktales index

   AT1525: The Master Thief

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Seosamh Ó Catháin

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Múinteoir

   Address

   Dromore West, Co. Sligo

   Informant

   John Fox

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Farranmacfarrell, Co. Sligo