"But I say it is," said Shemus, throwing the brooms on the ground, and seizing the cow by the horns. At that the red fellows drove her as fast as they could to this steep place, and with one leap she bounced over, with Shemus stuck fast to her horns. They made only one splash in the lough, when the waters closed over 'em, and they sunk to the bottom. Just as Shemus-a-sneidh thought that all was over with him, he found himself before a most elegant palace built with jewels, and all manner of fine stones. Though his eyes were dazzled with the splendour of the place, faith he had gomsh[48] enough not to let go his holt, but in spite of all they could do, he held his little cow by the horns. He was axed into the palace, but wouldn't go. The hubbub at last grew so great that the door flew open, and out walked a hundred ladies and gentlemen, as fine as any in the land. "What does this boy want?" axed one o' them, who seemed to be the masther. "I want my mother's cow," said Shemus. "That's not your mother's cow," said the gentleman. "Bethershin!"[49] cried Shemus-a-sneidh; "don't I know her as well as I know my right hand?" "Where did you lose her?" axed the gentleman. And so Shemus up and tould him all about it: how he was on the mountain--how he saw the good people hurlen--how the ball was knocked in his eye, and his cow was lost. "I believe you are right," said the gentleman, pulling out his purse, "and here is the price of twenty cows for you." "No, no," said Shemus, "you'll not catch ould birds wid chaff. I'll have my cow and nothen else." "You're a funny fellow," said the gentleman; "stop here and live in a palace." "I'd rather live with my mother." "Foolish boy!" said the gentleman; "stop here and live in a palace." "I'd rather live in my mother's cabin." "Here you can walk through gardens loaded with fruit and flowers." "I'd rather," said Shemus, "be cutting heath on the mountain." "Here you can eat and drink of the best." "Since I've got my cow, I can have milk once more with the praties." "Oh!" cried the ladies, gathering round him, "sure you wouldn't take away the cow that gives us milk for our tea?" "Oh!" said Shemus, "my mother wants milk as bad as anyone, and she must have it; so there is no use in your palaver--I must have my cow." At this they all gathered about him and offered him bushels of gould, but he wouldn't have anything but his cow. Seeing him as obstinate as a mule, they began to thump and beat him; but still he held fast by the horns, till at length a great blast of wind blew him out of the place, and in a moment he found himself and the cow standing on the side of the lake, the water of which looked as if it hadn't been disturbed since Adam was a boy--and that's a long time since.