But the brothers took no heed to Con, and before one could say, "whist," away rolled the keg down the hill, while all seven ran after it; but before any one could catch it, it rolled into a clump of bushes, and in an instant out hopped a hare. [Illustration] "Bedad, there's the foal," cried Con, and all seven gave chase; but there was no use trying to catch a hare. "That's the foinest foal that ever was, if he was five year old the devil himself could not catch him," Con said; and with that the seven omadhauns gave up the chase and went quietly home. As I said before, every one had it in mind to get all he could get out of the McAndrews. Every one said, "One man might as well have it as another, for they're bound to spend every penny they have." So their money dwindled away; then a fine horse would go for a few bits of glass they took for precious stones, and by-and-by a couple of pigs or a pair of fine geese for a bit of ribbon to tie on a hat; and at last their land began to go. One day Shamus was sitting by his fireplace warming himself, and to make a good fire he threw on a big heap of turf so that by-and-by it got roaring hot, and instead of feeling chilly as he had before, Shamus got as hot as a spare-rib on a spit. Just then in came his youngest brother. "That's a great fire ye have here, Shamus." "It is, indade, and too near it is to me; run like a good boy to Giblin, the mason, and see if he can't move the chimney to the other side of the room." The youngest McAndrew did as he was bid, and soon in came Giblin, the mason. "Ye're in a sad plight, Shamus, roasting alive; what can I do for ye?" "Can ye move the chimney over beyant?" "Faith, I can, but ye will have to move a bit; just go out for a walk with yer brother, and the job will be done when ye come back." Shamus did as he was bid, and Giblin took the chair the omadhaun was sitting on and moved it away from the fire, and then sat down for a quiet laugh for himself and to consider on the price he'd charge for the job. When Shamus came back, Giblin led him to the chair, saying: "Now, isn't that a great deal better?" "Ye're a fine man, Giblin, and ye did it without making a bit of dirt; what'll I give ye for so fine a job?" "If ye wouldn't mind, I'd like the meadow field nearing on mine. It's little enough for a job like that." "It's yours and welcome, Giblin"; and without another word the deed was drawn. That was the finest of the McAndrew fields, and the only pasture land left to Shamus. It was not long before it came about that first one and then another lost the house he lived in, until all had to live together in the father's old place. O'Toole and Giblin had encroached field by field, and there was nothing left but the old house and a strip of garden that none of them knew how to till.