From that time the wise men of the island made their women go on foot and follow their husbands wherever they should lead, so that no such accident should happen again. If by chance a woman went first, anyone who saw her cried out ‘Tehi Tegi! Tehi Tegi!’
JOHN-Y-CHIARN’S JOURNEY
John-y-Chiarn took the biggest journey in his life without meaning to do it at all.
One night he was going towards Ballaquirk, taking his time and thinking of his younger days, when all of a sudden he heard a great murmur of people coming up behind him, and, before he had time to look round him, he felt himself getting jostled and a voice asked him—middling sharp, too:
‘What business have you here in our way at this hour of the night?’
‘I am sorry to give anyone trouble,’ said John; ‘I’ll get over the hedge out of the road.’
Then the leader came and touched him with the little stick he was carrying, and said to the others:
‘We’ll take him with us; he’ll be useful enough among the rest.’
At that there was a big titter and John felt himself all altered like, and a thing like a load came on to his back. Then they all went on together, Themselves talking and laughing away. As soon as they came near the Ballaragh Chapel though, all was as silent as the grave. The houses were dark and the only thing they saw stirring was Quilleash’s dog, and as soon as he smelt Themselves he took to his heels with his tail between his legs.