But no one had been with Patch when he had seen the leprechaun. No one ever had seen the fairies; but they all believed. They believed so much that they were in daily dread of them.
They left milk upon window sills and made charms to keep the fairies from doing evil. They dressed their boys in red petticoats.
But Shaun would never again wear a red petticoat. He would never again return to his stepmother.
Even if the fairies did not steal him, he would never return. He would go somewhere. Perhaps to the "New Island"—America! As he was thinking these thoughts, he found himself walking toward the shore. There was a weak light in the sky. The rugged shore was blue in the haze of dawn.
The boy could see a boat. Men were hauling things and making ready to set off for somewhere. Shaun was quick, and before he knew what he had done he had slid into the boat.
He crouched upon the bottom, under a seat. He made himself as small as a bundle of rags.
He lay very still. He felt the boat leave the shore and he heard the men talking and singing. The water rolled the boat about, and sometimes the spray came in and wet the men.
But Shaun was dry and warm under the seat. He hardly breathed.