When they had drawn up and faced each other, the signal was given to begin the battle.
What a fight it was! The man who saw it became so excited he began to shout. Then, lo and behold! every fairy vanished from sight, and he found himself lying all alone on the roadside.
Had he been asleep? was it all a dream, like that of Norah's? He declared that was impossible.
The mother and children listened eagerly to the story. They believed every word of it.
The father did not stop here. He told now of a grand ball given by the fairies. A woman in Sligo saw it her very own self.
It was out in a big field, and the moon was shining on the beautiful scene. Hundreds of fireflies flew about the fairies, who were dancing like angels.
But the music! There was never anything like it in the world. A big frog played the big fiddle, and two kittens performed on the little ones. Then there were two big drums beaten by cats, while fat little pigs blew the trumpets. It must have been a wonderful sight.
"The fairies are very fond of childer," said Mrs. O'Neil. "They are that fond of them, they sometimes carry away a sleeping baby to their own home and leave a fairy child in its place. And that's the very truth. But come, husband, tell one more story before we go to bed."
"Oh, do, do, father!" cried Mike, and Norah and Katie repeated, "Do, do," after their brother.