Blair Collection > Beside the fire

158 TRUNK- WITHOUT-HEAD.
" 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
lire, you would be better." The dead man rose up and
warmed himself Then said Donal, " the bed is wide