“You’d better keep a civil tongue in your head,” said the little fellow, who seemed to get quite soft at the sight of the knife. “But you’re a brave boy, Billy Thompson, and I’ve taken a fancy to you! I don’t say but I might get you your cow again, if you’ll give me back my skin.”
“Thank you kindly,” said Billy, winking slyly. “Give me the cow first; then I will.”
“Well, there she is for you, you unbelieving hound!” said the little Curmudgeon.
And for sure and for certain, what did Billy Thompson hear but his own cow bellowing behind him for the bare life! And when he looked back what should he see but his cow running over rocks and stones with a long rope hanging to one of her legs, and four little fellows, with red caps on them, hunting her as fast as they could!
“There’ll be a battle for her, Billy! There’ll be a battle!” laughed the little Curmudgeon.
And sure enough, the little Redcaps began to fight, and in the meantime the cow, finding herself at liberty, ran towards Billy, who lost not a minute, but, throwing the skin on the ground, seized the cow by the tail and began to drive her away.
“Not so fast, Billy!” said the little Curmudgeon, who stuck close by his side; “not so fast! Though I gave you the cow, I didn’t give you the rope that’s hanging to her leg.”
“A bargain’s a bargain,” said Billy, “so as I’ve got it, I’ll keep rope and all.”
“If you say that again,” said the little fellow, “I’ll be after calling the Redcaps that are fighting below there. But I don’t want to be too hard on you, Billy, for if you have a mind for the rope, I’ll give it to you for the little tuft of grass you have in your pocket.”
“There, take it,” said Billy, throwing down the grass with the Four-leaved Shamrock in it.