"Blood alive!" says he, "maybe these are my own that I lost." There was more bleating and more maaing. "There they are as sure as a gun," says he, and he tied his bullock to a sapling that grew in the hedge, and away he went into the wood. When he got near the place where the cries came from, he heard them a little before him, and on he followed them. At last, when he was about half a mile from the spot where he tied the beast, the cries stopped altogether. After searching and searching till he was tired, he returned for his bullock; but there wasn't the ghost of a bullock there, nor any where else that he searched. This time, when the thieves saw Jack and his prize coming into the bawn, they couldn't help shouting out, "Jack must be our chief." So there was nothing but feasting and drinking hand to fist the rest of the day. Before they went to bed, they showed Jack the cave where their money was hid, and all their disguises in another cave, and swore obedience to him. One morning, when they were at breakfast, about a week after, said they to Jack, "Will you mind the house for us to-day while we are at the fair of Mochurry? We hadn't a spree for ever so long: you must get your turn whenever you like." "Never say't twice," says Jack, and off they went. After they were gone says Jack to the wicked housekeeper, "Do these fellows ever make you a present?" "Ah, catch them at it! indeed, and they don't, purshuin to 'em." "Well, come along with me, and I'll make you a rich woman." [Illustration] He took her to the treasure cave; and while she was in raptures, gazing at the heaps of gold and silver, Jack filled his pockets as full as they could hold, put more into a little bag, and walked out, locking the door on the old hag, and leaving the key in the lock. He then put on a rich suit of clothes, took the goat, and the wether, and the bullock, and drove them before him to the farmer's house. Joan and her husband were at the door; and when they saw the animals, they clapped their hands and laughed for joy. "Do you know who owns them bastes, neighbours?" "Maybe we don't! sure they're ours." "I found them straying in the wood. Is that bag with ten guineas in it that's hung round the goat's neck yours?" "Faith, it isn't." "Well, you may as well keep it for a Godsend; I don't want it." "Heaven be in your road, good gentleman!" Jack travelled on till he came to his father's house in the dusk of the evening. He went in. "God save all here!" "God save you kindly, sir!" "Could I have a night's lodging here?" "Oh, sir, our place isn't fit for the likes of a gentleman such as you." "Oh, _musha_, don't you know your own son?" Well, they opened their eyes, and it was only a strife to see who'd have him in their arms first. "But, Jack asthore, where did you get the fine clothes?" "Oh, you may as well ask me where I got all that money?" said he, emptying his pockets on the table.