It all went by him so suddenly that he lost his breath with it, but he came to himself on the spot, and put an ear on himself, listening to what they would say.
Scarcely had they gathered into the rath till they all began shouting, and screaming, and talking amongst themselves; and then each one of them cried out: “My horse, and bridle, and saddle! My horse, and bridle, and saddle!” and Guleesh took courage, and called out as loudly as any of them: “My horse, and bridle, and saddle! My horse, and bridle, and saddle!” But before the word was well out of his mouth, another man cried out: “Ora! Guleesh, my boy, are you here with us again? How are you getting on with your woman? There’s no use in your calling for your horse to-night. I’ll go bail you won’t play such a trick on us again. It was a good trick you played on us last year?”
“It was,” said another man; “he won’t do it again.”
“Isn’t he a prime lad, the same lad! to take a woman with him that never said as much to him as, ’How do you do?’ since this time last year!” says the third man.
“Perhaps be likes to be looking at her,” said another voice.
“And if the omadawn only knew that there’s an herb growing up by his own door, and if he were to boil it and give it to her, she’d be well,” said another voice.
“That’s true for you.”
“He is an omadawn.”
“Don’t bother your head with him; we’ll be going.”
“We’ll leave the bodach as he is.”